Martyrdom in Twentieth Century Conditions

Icon of the New Martyrs and Confessors of Russia

From an interview with Igumen Damascene (Orlovsky):

What is particular to the podvig of martyrdom and confession of Christ under twentieth century conditions?
 
—It must be said that, unlike the early Christian period, when the podvig of martyrdom was something public, martyrdom in the twentieth century became something unknown to the public at large. Even in the year 2000, the canonization of so many saints was a revelation for many people. That is to say, that this was an even greater feat; for after all, under such conditions a person has more excuses to apostatize—no one would know about it. But there turned out to be very few apostates in the Russian Orthodox Church, and that is why so many saints have shown forth.

HT: here