Following in the footsteps of Christ, they bravely bore the cross of spiritual struggle and persecution, to journey from Golgotha to resurrection and to be deemed worthy of the Christian name. Men and women, vigorous youth and white-haired elders, clergy and laity, kings and soldiers, nobles and slaves, wise and unlettered, some with the blood of martyrdom, others with the sweat of struggle and asceticism, and others with the tears of repentance, opened the gates of heaven and entered triumphantly into eternity.