Among those killed were two Catholic bishops. They were Sts. Gregory Grassi and St. Franjo Fogolla. The executions were carried out by beheading.
On July 9, 1900, about 45 Christian missionaries and other Christians, including even children, were executed in China. It happened in the city of Taiyuan, located in northern China, a few hundred kilometers from Beijing. It was about the period of the so-called The boxing uprising, which was largely directed against foreigners and Christians.
Among those killed were two Catholic bishops. They were Sts. Gregory Grassi and St. Franjo Fogolla. A number of Catholic priests and Franciscan monks were also executed. Among them were Sts. Elijah Facchini, St. Theodoric Balat and St. Andrija Bauer. The executions were carried out by beheading. In the massacre, St. was also executed. Maria Amandina, a nun who worked as a Franciscan missionary in China (she was originally from Belgium). During the Boxing Uprising, six more nuns of Franciscan missionaries were executed, who were also proclaimed saints and martyrs of the Catholic Church (among them three French, two Italian and one Dutch). Here are their names:
st. Mary Hermione of Jesus, st. Mary of Peace, St. Marija Klara, st. Mary of the Most Holy Birth, st. Mary of St. Just and St. Maria Adolfina.
In addition to Catholics, a significant number of Protestant Christians were among the Christian missionaries killed. Indeed, among those executed were some Chinese converts to the Christian faith. According to testimonies, some women and even children appear to have been executed.
The Catholic Church canonized the mentioned bishops, priests, Franciscans and missionary nuns, and declared them martyrs. Protestant churches also granted martyrdom status to those killed. During the Boxing Uprising, a number of Orthodox priests were executed, who were accordingly proclaimed martyrs (among them Metrophan, the first martyr among Chinese Orthodox priests).
Today, the Catholic Church remembers all Chinese martyrs and saints on July 9, because this day of the year is dedicated to them as a common memorial. In total, more than 100 Catholics have been martyred in China throughout history, many of whom were beheaded just at the time of the Boxing Uprising.
