<\/p>\n
Do excuse us: as we have to pause for a while. It is high time we connected Egypt\u2019s present with her past. During the tenures of the despots Nero and Diocletian who Egyptians resisted steadfastly, many Egyptians were martyred. Yet, their blood marked the end of these despots\u2019 tenure. In like manner, 21 Egyptians were martyred in Libya few days ago. They were slaughtered by terrorists, thus, writing a new history and restoring the martyrs\u2019 history to our minds.<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n \nThe Dictionary Meaning of \u201cMartyr\u201d<\/strong><\/span> Why Death?<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/span> The World and Eternity<\/strong><\/span> Tiredness and Rest<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/span> The Lives of Martyrs<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/span> Bravery<\/strong><\/span> Endurance<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/span> Patience<\/strong><\/span> Meekness<\/strong><\/span> Love<\/strong><\/span> Peace<\/strong><\/span> General Bishop<\/strong><\/span> <\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Do excuse us: as we have to pause for a while. It is high time we connected Egypt\u2019s present with her past. During the tenures of the despots Nero and Diocletian who Egyptians resisted steadfastly, many Egyptians were martyred. Yet, their blood marked the end of these despots\u2019 tenure. In like manner, 21 Egyptians were […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":19638,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[51],"tags":[127,1184,682,1185],"class_list":["post-26222","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-articles","tag-127","tag-1184","tag-682","tag-1185"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/copticocc.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26222"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/copticocc.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/copticocc.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/copticocc.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/copticocc.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=26222"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/copticocc.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26222\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":39813,"href":"https:\/\/copticocc.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26222\/revisions\/39813"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/copticocc.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/19638"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/copticocc.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=26222"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/copticocc.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=26222"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/copticocc.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=26222"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
\n\u201cMartyr\u201d derives from the Greek \u201cmartur\u201d which means \u201cwitness\u201d, that is, a person who has some information about something he saw. Thus, he presents this information, having borne \u201cwitness\u201d of it. Also, the word bears a religious connotation, as a \u201cmartyr\u201d sacrifices something precious for his faith or belief. Thus, \u201cmartyr\u201d has become characteristic of those who die willingly for God, or forgo their lives for a purpose.<\/span><\/strong><\/span>
\nIn Christianity, the word was first ascribed to Christ\u2019s disciples and apostles who evangelized with Christianity. In the Book of Acts, we read, \u201cand you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.\u201d Then, it was attributed to whoever bore tribulation for faith, whether they were killed or not. Finally, the word came to describe whoever accepted to give their lives willingly for their belief.<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n
\nMan loves life, and evades death. Yet, what is so attractive about Christian martyrs is that they encounter death as if they had had a long awaited appointment with it! They would approach it bravely, faithfully, meekly, and happily, which amazes their persecutors and torturers. This raises a question: why do they approach death calmly and patiently? Why are they not scared to die, like many people? They really must possess the motives and ideologies that make them do so.<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n
\nMartyrs realized that worldly life is but short and temporary if compared with the life after death. St. James writes, \u201cWhy, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.\u201d So, they lived as strangers who were sure that they will return to the heavenly home, and that this world will end. When their journey ended, they returned happily to their home. Here, one would recall Pope Shenouda III\u2019s words, \u201cAlways remember that you are a stranger on earth, and that you will return to your heavenly home.\u201d<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n
\nMartyrs got to know that earthly life is one of tiredness. It has no true rest. Yet, being God\u2019s gift, they utilized their life honestly and faithfully. Though they knew life is tiresome, they did their best. When they were put to death, they never feared it, for they were sure that the virtuous life and true rest are only in heaven.<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n
\nWhen we delve deep into martyrs\u2019 lives, we shall find they are full of virtues. Martyrdom crowns this pure life among which virtues are:<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n
\nMartyrs proved their bravery in facing death, for they remembered Christ\u2019s very words, \u201cI tell you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear the One who, after you have been killed, has power to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear Him!\u201d<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n
\nMartyrs endured pain in such a wonderful way that even their enemies were amazed. They never preached endurance, for they themselves were role models of endurance. Rulers and proconsuls used to marvel at the indescribable endurance which all martyrs enjoyed, be they elderly, men, women, or children.<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n
\nMartyrs were sometimes persecuted and tortured for years, whereby despots tried to weaken their resolve and consume their patience. Yet, days brought them closer to their heavenly home which they yearned to return to. Rather, it was the rulers\u2019 patience that was consumed. Whenever a ruler got fed up with a martyr\u2019s patience, he would send him to another to torture him.\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n
\nMeekness is part and parcel of a Christian\u2019s life. Martyrs were role models of meekness. They never rebelled. Nor did they ignite riots or resist whoever tortured them. Rather, they would endure meekly. The Theban Legion which members were all martyred is the best example for meekness. They wrote a message to the Emperor, saying, \u201cO mighty Caesar! Though we are your sentries, we are servants of God. We are not rebels. Though we have weapons with which we can defend ourselves and mutiny, we prefer dying innocent to living sinful. We are ready to endure all your torments, for we are Christians. We do declare our Christianity.\u201d<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n
\nLove is the gem that lighted the lives of martyrs. They offered indescribable love to everybody, especially their enemies. Indeed, they abided by Christ\u2019s words, \u201cLove your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.\u201d<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n
\nMartyrs led a peaceful life. With that very peace, they encountered death. The peace given by God cannot be taken away by anybody. Here, it is worthy to point out what Pope Cyril said, \u201cNothing can ever disturb me in this world, for I am well protected by Christ. I reside in His bosom. I am consoled by Him.\u201d<\/span><\/strong><\/span>
\nPeace summarizes the lives of martyrs. They live peacefully, and die in peace which no sword can take away from them.<\/span><\/strong><\/span>
\nTwenty-one of our children were martyred in Libya. We watched photos and a video that were shot prior their martyrdom. Dr. Mushira Hanafy, parapsychologist, explained this, saying, \u201cIf you look at the martyrs\u2019 faces, you will see that they enjoy great faith and satisfaction, which is testified to by the fact that as they were sitting on the ground, they were quite silent. Yet, they were praying to God. They were quite strong and calm.\u201d She continues, \u201cWhen the man\u2019s spirit is in solidarity with God, man reaches the peak of faith. What made them pray with their eyes shut was that they saw a place lovelier than the world, thus, surrendering everything.\u201d<\/span><\/strong><\/span>
\nThroughout history, despots had had a terrible death, for God is just. He never forgets the wronged. Nero was one of those despots. He was ousted from authority at an early age, then, disappeared. Nobody found his corpse or grave. Also, Dometian was killed by his enemies: right inside his palace. The Senate decreed the annihilation of his name. There is also Decius who was slaughtered by enemies, along with his son and the majority of his troops. Likewise, Orlean was slaughtered by his close friends. Diocletian abdicated and got so ill that, it is said, that he committed suicide. God, the Almighty, is patient. Yet, He is never forgetful. He waits, but never neglects. He gives the wicked chances, but not for good.<\/span><\/strong><\/span>
\nWe are proud of you, O martyrs! You are brave, patient, meek, loving, peaceful, and faithful. Congratulations on the Crown of Martyrdom. So is one story. Stories never end in Beautiful Egypt.<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n
\nHead of the Coptic Orthodox Cultural Center<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n