Beautiful Egypt 190 – The Princess of Martyrs – January 22, 2017

   Tomorrow, we celebrate the fortieth day of the departure of the Petrine Church (al-Botroseya) martyrs. Some people might be surprised at my choosing the word “celebrate” for it is associated with joyful events that humans wish to commemorate. Yet, whatever is associated with martyrs is a celebration of people who acquired great dignity and departed to a life greater than that of earth. The memories that connect us to them are landmarks: for they paint a gallery of humans who had lived like angels. Thus, they deserved heaven’s honoring them.

   A martyr is a person who bears evidence of a certain matter. He testifies to his faith by his deeds and behavior. The word has become associated with whoever offers his life for duty, good-doing, or God. In Christianity, a “martyr” is the person who endures hardships for faith, even if he or she is or is not killed. Eventually, the word is lent to whoever is willing to offer his life for his faith.

   Egypt’s history chronicles the stories of martyrs whose courage amazed the world, be they adults or youngsters. The world has always been taken aback by their readiness for death calmly, patiently, and fearlessly. Rather, they were exceedingly happy and forgiving of those who put them to death. One of our saintly fathers says, “As St. Stephan (the first martyr) was being stoned, he prayed for the killers. I want you to be like him.”

   To them, death was a flight to heaven from which they obtained bravery. In one of his epistles, St. Cyprian says, “Those who were tortured were braver than those who tortured them: for the smitten members were stronger than the torture instruments that hit and tore them apart. Though whips hit bodies with all their strength, they could not defeat the unseen faith!”

   Today, we shall speak of a famous Egyptian martyr, St. Demiana, who is also known as the Princess of martyrs. Her martyrdom is commemorated on January 21, coinciding with Toby 13.

Demiana

   She was born at the end of the third century A.D. to a rich, pious family. Her father was the proconsul of al-Burullus, al-Za’faran and Wadi al-Saysaban. He rejoiced for her birth and made feasts for the poor. Her mother passed away before she was one year old. So, her father took good care of her. Thus, she became a role model for beauty, wealth, and virtue. When she was less than fifteen years old, a prince proposed to her, but she rejected him. So, her father postponed the matter. At that time, Demiana became very close to the church, Bible, as well as lots of fasting and prayer.

The First of Nuns

   At the age of eighteen, Demiana disclosed to her father her great desire to dedicate her life to God. She asked him to build her a palace in a remote place at al-Za’faran to be her place of worship, along with the girls who clung to virginity, fasting, and prayer. They were forty.

   Mark, her father, approved of his daughter’s choice. He built her a palace where she, and the forty girls, would worship. Thus, the girl led an angelic life on earth. Demiana was the first to think of becoming a nun and establishing a monastic life. So, she led the forty virgins in life and path to martyrdom.

A Painful Experience

At that time, Egypt was a Roman province. She was suffering from Roman despotism under Diocletian who persecuted Christians throughout the Empire. Being one of the important provinces, the Romans had always wanted Egypt to succumb to them. During the terrible persecution, the Emperor summoned Mark and compelled him to worship idols, which he did. No sooner had his daughter heard, than she left her retreat and headed to her father’s palace, deeply saddened.

The Daughter Knows

   Demiana met her father and told him of her deep sadness for his worshipping idols, declaring that she preferred he had been martyred to his worshipping idols and forsaking the living God. She told him not to fear death for it is departing to a greater eternal life. Rather, he had to fear God who is capable of destroying both the body and the soul, and that his obedience to any person, including the Emperor should never have priority over his faith and eternity. How brave martyrs are! They never fear death, remembering Christ’s words, “Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.”

   Mark was impressed by his daughter’s bravery and strong faith. So much so that he regretted what he did and wept bitterly. Immediately, he left her and headed to Antioch to meet Diocletian and declare his remorse, which made the latter marvel. He tried to persuade him many times to adopt paganism, but failed. So, he had him beheaded. However, due to Diocletian’s appreciation for Mark, he started investigating the reasons for his remorse. So, he got to know that his daughter Demiana was the reason. In effect, he sent his sentries to torture her.

Heaven

   The martyrs are fully aware that all worldly issues are temporary, if compared to afterlife. Thus, they live as strangers who long to return to their heavenly abode. They live in the peace that God grants them even during pain or upon death, which is why they depart in the peace that no sword could take off from them. When Demiana saw Diocletian’s sentries gathering around the palace with their torture instruments, she gathered her sisters to pray and acquire strength. She told them, however, that whoever feared death could escape from the back door. Yet, none of them feared it.

   The commander who Diocletian had sent tried to make Demiana worship idols, promising her money and a luxurious life. But she refused adamantly. The commander was infuriated. Thus, a series of tortures started. But Demiana endured pain so bravely that rulers and proconsuls were amazed: for she was quite patient. Time made her stronger, and attracted her to heaven. But her torturers were fed up. After lots of torture, the commander ordered her beheading. Thus, the Princess forsook all sorts of luxury to become the Princess of martyrs, along with forty virgins.

Canonization

   During the reign of Emperor Constantine who developed the Edict of Milan, allowing Christians to worship without oppression, he heard of Demiana’s account. So, he accompanied his mother to al-Za’faran where they had a church built in Demiana’s name. It is said that Demiana, “was ahead of her time. She was wonderfully brave.”

   As we recall and speak of martyrs, we celebrate their patience, love, and unshakable faith. Such great stories never end in Beautiful Egypt.

General Bishop
Head of the Coptic Orthodox Cultural Center