Today, February 9th, is another sad, but proud, day on our Norse Heathen calendar. Today we honor another martyr of the old religion, who was tortured and killed, for no other reason than his faith in the old Germanic Gods. His only crime the love and devotion he wanted to freely show to the Gods and Goddesses that his ancestors honored and worshipped. His life taken from him for refusing baptism and for not accepting the mono – God of the Christians and his son the Christ savior.
On this day we honor the martyr, Eyvind Kinnrifi, who was captured, tied to a table, and tortured to death in a most horrible of ways. A brazier filled with red – hot coals was placed on his stomach until his body, it is said, literally burst open. This unforgiveable act was perpetrated by the Christian King, Olaf.
There is no greater act of love and loyalty than to give the ultimate sacrifice for something that you have placed your total faith into. He gave the greatest gift of all to his Gods, Goddesses, ancestors, and his like folk. That is the kind of man that Eyvind Kinnrifi was. And that is why we still honor those, who laughed in the face of death, and refused to dishonor our Gods and Goddesses by turning their backs on our ancestral deities.
For your bravery, loyalty, and love of our ancient Gods and Goddesses, we honor you here this day, as you honored all of us all those years ago. For your ultimate sacrifice we will never forget you ! May you forever sit on the hallowed benches in the great halls of Valhalla ! Hail our ancient martyrs ! Hail Eyvind Kinnrifi !
Cattle die and kinsmen die,
thyself eke soon wilt die;
but fair fame will fade never,
I ween, for him whom wins it .
- Havamal
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