Confessor of the Faith

Confessor of the Faith is a title given by some Christian denominations. In Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy, Christians who professed their faith in times of Christian persecution and therefore had to suffer persecution, expulsion, torture, mutilation and imprisonment, but not directly undergo martyrdom, are called confessors (Latin: confessores). Later, popes, bishops, abbots, kings and hermits were also counted among the confessors.

With the spread of Christianity and the decrease in persecution of Christians in the 5th century, this designation was also given to those Christians who lived a holy life, such as the English King Edward the Confessor.