Beautiful Egypt 223 – How Can Egypt Be Stable? – October 15, 2017

   Words fade when man tries to express his feelings, be they joy or pain. The martyrdom of Father Sama’an Shehata, pastor of St. Julius of Iqfahs’s Church, al-Fashn is one in which these feelings are mixed. We are pained to lose an innocent person. Yet, we are happy to see him enjoying a happy afterlife.

   Martyrdom, as we pointed out in a previous article, had first to do with man’s testimony to his faith through his deeds and conduct. Then, it came to stand for whoever sacrifices his life for duty, good, or God. In Christianity, martyrdom has always been an attribute of those who sacrifice their lives for their faith. Thus, it means that man gives his life to God.

   Martyrdom is not new in Christianity. It was even declared in the Bible, “the time is coming that whoever kills you will think that he offers God service.” As such, martyrdom has been linked to death. Yet, it has a more profound meaning. Death is no longer the end which scares man, as he will face the unknown. Rather, it has become a sleep whereby man crosses to a happy, comfortable place in the presence of the loving God.

   Now, all the faithful believe that death is moving from one place and life to others. Even more, it is the golden bridge that links us to eternal life. Throughout, martyrs have expressed this very idea. In fact one of them writes, “The immortal spirit dwells in a mortal tabernacle. Christians live as strangers in corruptible bodies, yearning to the incorruptible abode in heaven.”

    Thus, martyrs love death. St. Igantius of Antioch wrote an epistle to the Romans when believers informed him that were getting ready to save him from death. He wrote, “Can I ever achieve my goal without obstacles? I won’t have a chance like this to go to God. I am going willingly to death for God. I don’t want you to hinder me. I implore you not to have untimely pit. Let beasts devour me, for, through this I will reach God.”

   Yet, martyrdom is not for all men. Each person has a mission in life which God entrusts him with. For instance, St. Anthony the Great left his cell to Alexandria during the martyrdom era to attain martyrdom. But God preserved him for another mission: presenting monasticism, not only to Egypt, but to the whole world.

   Likewise, martyrdom crowns a life full of love, good, and purity of people who lead a strong spiritual life. True, they live on earth, but their hearts yearn to heaven. Thus, it is all well-contrived for certain souls. In effect, a person’s presence or absence from the place of martyrdom is no coincidence.

   Martyrdom is not a sudden attack of bravery, or carelessness about life’s matters, or escape from its problems. Martyrs never escape their responsibilities. They endure hardships through steadfastness in faith. Henceforth, martyrdom is man’s rise in thought and conduct to something loftier than life, which enables him to forsake everything, including his life.

   Ever since the first century A.D., Christians have embraced spiritual principles which affected their concepts and outlook on life. Martyrs’ lives are, thus, full of many virtues as:

   Asceticism: Martyrs never cared about their worldly possessions, for the world is too poor to give them anything.

   Love: Love has always shone in martyrs’ lives. So much so that they neglected their lives, sacrificing them happily. In fact,. they, “didn’t love their lives to death.” Here, I recall what reposed Pope Shenouda III said, “Many people give, but whoever gives his life is greater than all.” Their love extended to encompass everybody, including their enemies. We read, “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you.” They do love and forgive.

   Sacrifice: Martyrdom includes man’s sacrificing his life for what he believes in. In order to reach such a rank, he has to train himself on it, as well as giving during his earthly life. He gives money, effort, encouragement, and love.

   Meekness: Martyrs lead a meek life. In fact, they are but great role models for meekness. They never rebelled or made riots. Nor did they fight back. Rather, they had great meekness at which everybody marveled.

Finally,

   Martyrdom never hurts martyrs, but takes them to a better life. It negatively affects the persecutors. History presents the terrible ends of such people. In fact, God’s justice never accepts man’s injustice toward his fellows. Every man will be rewarded according to his deeds, be they good or bad. God waits, but never forgets or neglects. He preserves martyrs’ rights. But, how can peace ever live when threatened by death? How can edification endure amidst hatred and cruelty? How can Egypt rise when she is weighed down by sadness? How can she be stable? Such questions never stop in Beautiful Egypt.

General Bishop

Head of the Coptic Orthodox Cultural Center