Martyrdom

“The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church.” -Tertullian the Scholar

Zakaria Toma, Mina Helmy Said, Bishoy Farid Labib, Boula Atef, Ayman Zakaria Hanna, and Abanoub Kamal.

Martyrdom is the highest form of love one can offer to God. This is so because, the Savior Himself says, “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. You are My friends if you do whatever I command you” (John 15:13-14).

Life is the most precious thing that we have, and if we give that to God as an offering for witness (“martyr” is a Greek word meaning “witness”), then we have given God the most precious thing we could have given.

Our Lord Jesus Christ, in His Humanity, was a Martyr, because He gave His life to God for us, His friends. As He said, “Greater love has no than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends” and we are His friends. So if we lay down our lives for Him, then we have shown the greatest love. We believe that martyrs are the closest people to God in the Kingdom of Heaven, because they have given the greatest love.

St. Clement of Alexandria clarified, "We call martyrdom perfection, not because the man comes to the end of his life as others, but because he has exhibited the perfect work of love."

Martyrdom also likens us more to Our Lord Jesus Christ because He Himself was martyred, and He referred to this as a baptism. He said to His disciples, “Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?” (Mark 10:38). And also, “But I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how distressed I am till it is accomplished!” (Luke 12:50). This baptism, as it is referred to in the writings of the Church Father is called the Baptism of Blood. Even if there was a catechumen who was not baptized and died as a martyr, this baptism saved them, and they went to Heaven.

The Martyrs hold a very high place in the Church, they are venerated as the greatest of Saints. Martyrdom is something that has been there since the beginning of the Church, in fact the Church began with a Martyrdom, that of Our Lord Jesus Christ, when water and blood ran from His side at the same time (John 19:34-35). This is why Tertullian made the observation that, “The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church.” His observation is also an observation of a paradox; that when Christians are killed for their faith, Christianity grows, not decreases.

St. Augustine records the situation at his time, and this situation is still the same in the Orthodox Church, “Now, who hasn't heard of martyrs, or in what Christian mouth does the word "martyrs" not daily dwell? (And would that it might also dwell in our hearts such that we may imitate the martyrs' sufferings and not trample them underfoot!)”

Eleven out of the Twelve Apostles died as martyrs to show us this example because Christianity is not ideas, but it is a life, and these martyrs show us that this life can be lived. One example after the Apostles is St. Cyprian of Carthage who used to write a lot in praise of the martyrs, he himself was martyred, and here is one account of his martyrdom,

“The proconsul Galerius Maximus ordered Cyprian to be brought to him…

Galerius: Are you Thascius Cyprianus?
Cyprian: I am.
Galerius: Do you appear as the pope of these impious men? [The word ‘pope’ was used of all bishops down to the fifth century. It means ‘father’]
Cyprian: I do.
Galerius: The most sacred emperors have commanded you to conform to the Roman rites.
Cyprian: I refuse.
Galerius: Take heed of yourself.
Cyprian: Do as you are bid; in so clear a case I may not take heed.

Galerius, after briefly conferring with his judicial council, with much reluctance pronounced the following sentence: ‘You have long lived an irreligious life, and have drawn together a number of men bound by an unlawful association, and professed yourself an open enemy to the gods and the religion of Rome; and the most pious, most sacred and august Emperors, Valerian and Gallienus, and the most noble Caesar Valerian, have endeavored in vain to bring you back to conformity with their religious observances; - whereas, therefore, you have been apprehended as principal and ringleader in these infamous crimes, you shall be made an example to those whom you have wickedly associated with you; the authority of law shall be ratified in your blood.’ He then read the sentence of the court from a written tablet: ‘It is the sentence of this court that Thascius Cyprianus be executed with the sword.’

Cyprian: Thanks be to God.”

Christians are martyred because of persecution, and persecutions happen because people hate the Truth and don’t want to change. Even in this country there is a saying that is said many times, and all of us have heard it at least once, it is, “You can’t handle the truth.”

Martyrdom is not something of the past, it is still occurring, and a very recent example of this is what happened in Nag Hammadi, Egypt, on January 7, 2010 (Coptic Orthodox Christmas). The names mentioned in the beginning of this article are the names of the martyrs of Nag Hammadi. What happened was, it was Christmas Eve in Nag Hammadi, Egypt, and the Bishop of Nag Hammadi, Bishop Kyrillos, received threats that a group of Muslims were going to attempt something against him and his church. So he let the service out two hours earlier than usual for Christmas, between 10:00 to 10:30. A group of youth as they were exiting the church, were gunned down by three Muslims with machine guns. These six were martyred and others were injured.

A group of youth martyred, because of openly practicing their faith and confessing Christ.

What an example!

“Can the lover of the martyrs ever have enough of their memory?” -St. Basil

May their prayers and their holy blessing be with us all and glory be to God both now and ever and unto the age of all ages. Amen.