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In the previous article we spoke of the Coptic Year Eve which has been linked with the era of martyrdom that Egypt went through during the Roman epoch. We also tackled how loving to God those martyrs were. So much so that they sacrificed their lives. St. Mina was an example of those martyrs.
Nevertheless, martyrdom has several aspects. As we mentioned beforehand, the word “martyr” derives from the Greek “martur” which means “witness”, that is, a person who has information about something he saw. The meaning has developed to indicate those who sacrifice their lives for the love of God. We can also say, “He was martyred for so and so.” This means that man sacrifices his life for a particular reason which could be God, truth, country, or a lofty purpose that serves humanity at large.
However, man cannot sacrifice his life, unless he is enamored with the purpose.
A Variety of Martyrs
Truth Martyrs
Truth is an important principle for which man lives. Even more, some people die for the truth they declare during their lifetime. St. John the Baptist is one of the greatest examples of those who declared and died for truth.
The Greatness of John the Baptist
Heaven declared John’s greatness before his birth, for the angel told his father Zechariah, “…and many will rejoice because of his birth for he will be great in the sight of the Lord.” Likewise, John was loved by all the people. Whenever he spoke, they listened gladly. He was also awed by them, for they believed he was a great prophet. So much so that the chief priests, scribes and elders did not dare declare that John was not a prophet when Christ asked them if John’s baptism was from heaven or from the people. They discussed the matter, saying, “From heaven,’ he will ask, ‘Then why didn’t you believe him?’ But if we say, ‘Of human origin’—we are afraid of the people, for they all hold that John was a prophet.” This prophet was not awed by the people only. He was also awed by Herod, ruler of Galilee, who realized he was a saintly man whose advice should be heeded. He used to listen to him joyfully.
The Annunciation of John’s Birth
John is a Hebrew name. It means “The Lord is tender”. He is the son of Zechariah the priest and Elizabeth who the Bible said were, “righteous in the sight of God, observing all the Lord’s commands and decrees blamelessly.” When it was Zechariah’s turn to serve in the temple, angel Gabriel appeared to him and told him that God answered their prayers and that they will have a son called John. The angel said, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John. He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before he is born.” The angel also spoke of John’s call for repentance, saying, “And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the parents to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”
Yet, Zechariah was surprised by the angel’s words, for he and his wife were quite old. So, the angel answered him, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news. And now you will be silent and not able to speak until the day this happens, because you did not believe my words, which will come true at their appointed time.” Afterwards, Zechariah remained unable to speak. When the child was born, his relatives asked him about his name. “He asked for a writing tablet, and to everyone’s astonishment he wrote, “His name is John.” Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue set free, and he began to speak, praising God.”
John was born six months before Christ. The Lord was with him. He led an ascetic life in the desert where, “[his] clothes were made of camel’s hair, and he had a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey.” He started his service at the age of thirty, the legal age of starting service at which he began calling the people to repent.
John the Baptist and the Truth
The truth mission started with John’s starting his service. It lasted for six months in which he called the people for truth, and that there was no other way for salvation before them except repentance. He kept crying out, “Repent! The kingdom of heaven is at hand.” This took place during the fifteenth year of Tiberius’ tenure. The religious authority was represented by Ananias and Caiaphas. St. John stayed in the wilderness until God ordered him to go to the people living by River Jordan, calling for repentance.
Thus, the great prophet conveyed the message of truth as he taught the people to do good and mercy, warning them from evil deeds that would bring about God’s wrath. When the multitudes asked him what to do, he answered, “Anyone who has two shirts should share with the one who has none, and anyone who has food should do the same.” He told the tax-collectors, “Don’t collect any more than you are required to,” and the soldiers, “Don’t extort money and don’t accuse people falsely—be content with your pay.”
Yet, the voice of truth which shook the Roman proconsul was clear when John cried out fearlessly, forbidding Herod from marrying Herodias, his brother’s wife, saying, “it is unlawful that you marry your brother’s wife.” His zeal led him to jail. We read, “Now Herod had arrested John and bound him and put him in prison because of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, for John had been saying to him: “It is not lawful for you to have her.” Though Herod tried to kill John, he could not, for he feared the people who considered him a great prophet. Likewise, Herodias tried to kill him, but could not. But she seized the opportunity on Herod’s birthday, when her daughter danced before him. So, he and the attendees were pleased with her. He promised her to grant her what she wanted. She answered that she wanted John’s head on a plate. The tetrarch could not retract, and had John beheaded. This is how John became a martyr for truth.
Few days ago we celebrated the martyrdom of this great prophet. However, Egypt has always had her great martyrs who still sacrifice their lives for truth. How great their stories are! Stories never end in Beautiful Egypt.
General Bishop
Head of the Coptic Orthodox Cultural Center
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