The 21 Coptic Martyrs: An Enduring Legacy

The enduring legacy of the 21 Coptic Martyrs

Ten years ago in February of 2015, 20 innocent Egyptian Christians and one non-Christian were brutally martyred by ISIS, a Sunni Islamist terror group, for refusing to renounce Christianity and convert to Islam. These individuals were laborers. They were not violent men, and guilty of nothing aside from professing their Christian faith. ISIS published the video of their brutal execution from the Southern Mediterranean Sea Coast of Libya. The viral video put the International Community on high alert to the insidiousness of extremists such as ISIS and Hamas.

Christian Martyrs

The martyrs’ final words were, “Ya Rab Yasua,” or, “O Lord Jesus,” as they were decapitated merely for their faith. These individuals are now recognized as martyrs and even canonized by Pope Francis as saints of the Church.

Pope Francis lauded their heroism, stating:

“These martyrs were baptized not only in the water and Spirit, but also in blood, a blood that is the seed of unity for all of Christ’s followers.”

 

Lessons from Sacrifice

Though it is easy to focus on the unspeakable terrorism of ISIS, it is important to reflect on the heroism of these 21 ordinary men who sacrificed their lives to witness in an extraordinary way to their faith.

In Christianity, martyrdom is a deliberate act of self-denial and giving of oneself for one’s faith and profound witness to Christ’s love – instead of killing oneself or others.

SOURCES | FDD: The Problem with Christian Martyrs

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