The ecclesiastical phenomenon of Christian martyrdom has accompanied the Church since its beginnings. The focus of the course is the martyrdom in the first three centuries. The lectures will deal with the phenomenon´s Jewish roots, its New Testament context, its historical environment and its theological interpretations. The evaluation of patristic sources and figures is part of the course. Finally, starting from the early church up to today’s experiences, different periods of church history are examined, in which Christians gave their lives for the faith.