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The Vehement Violence Against the Christians of Nag Hammady

Must be Subdued

"When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the Word of God and for the testimony which they held. And they cried with a loud voice saying, 'How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on this earth?'" (Revelation 6:9-10)

Tertullian c. 213 explains the sixth chapter of the Holy New Testament Book of Revelation, "The souls of the martyrs peacefully rest in the meantime under the altar, and they support their patience by the assured hope of vengeance...The flesh is the clothing of the soul. The uncleanness, indeed, is washed away by the baptism. However, the stains are changed into dazzling whiteness by martyrdom."

The horrific massacre in Nag Hammady on the eve of the Holy Feast of the Nativity was both terrifying for those who experienced it, unjustifiable for the families who buried their departed loved ones, and unpardonable as an unremorseful criminal activity. To take the life of an unsuspecting, unprotected human being is considered murder by all measures in any civilized society. To take the life of someone without shelter or defense in a place of worship is adulterated murder. The unprecedented terrorism and torment and the killing of the Coptic Christians must be punished, subdued, and banished throughout the land of Egypt.

While the calls for retribution of the slain souls ring out, Egypt's reputation as a terror stricken land for Christians grows. Does Egypt's nationalism and patriotic and communal sense lie dormant? Does its duty towards unison of society remain unchecked in the blood soaked southern part of its land?

While the blood of the martyrs lies heavy upon our hearts, we can all rest assured their blood has already been planted as seeds. These seeds will sprout spreading the Christian faith and making it as strong and determined as iron.

Tertullian c. 197 states, "The blood of Christians is seed...For who that contemplates it, is not excited to inquire what is at the bottom of it? Who, after inquiry, does not embrace our doctrines? And when he has embraced them, who does not desire to suffer so that he may become a partaker of the fullness of God's grace, that he may obtain from it complete forgiveness, by giving his blood in exchange? For martyrdom secures the forgiveness of all offenses."

Therefore it is upon a golden heavenly lining have the eight souls departed from this world with good courage on the day of the blessed celebration of the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Justin Martyr c. 160 wrote...

"Though threatened with death, we do not deny His name."

Through church attendance and participating in the Holy Sacraments of the Coptic Church we are not denying the name of the Lord Jesus Christ in the fear of danger. We should attend church regularly, faithfully, partaking wholesomely of its blessed sacraments.

Martyrdom in not new among Christians and has existed from the most ancient of times following the example of our beloved Lord upon His Holy Cross. It is written in ancient times concerning the martyrdom of St. Polycarp c. 135...

"All the martyrs were blessed and noble, and they took place according to the will of God...The martyrs despised all the torments of this world, redeeming themselves from eternal punishment by the suffering of a single hour."

A bullet through the heart of a youth cannot be excused nor explained away by aggressors but perhaps can be understood more fully through the teachings of the early church fathers. While lamenting and bemoaning the loss of those faithful who died after having attended the Nativity Divine Liturgy we must remember the writings of St. Clement of Alexandria, who resided not too very far from Luxor where this random unmerciful killing took place claiming the lives of the young as well as the old.

St. Clement c. 195 teaches us,

"We have exhibited before our eyes every day abundant sources of martyrs who are burned, impaled, and beheaded. The fear inspired by the Law (leading as a pedagogue to Christ) trained all of them so as to manifest their piety by their blood."

St. Clement further teaches us...

"In love to the Lord the spiritual man will most gladly depart from this life—perhaps giving thanks both to him who afforded the cause of his departure from here, and to him who laid the plot against him...With good courage, then, he goes to the Lord, his friend, for whom he voluntarily gave his body."

Recognized by all is the fact that martyrdom is the work of perfection. St. Clement further writes,

"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."

Not only does St. Clement of Alexandria teach us about martyrdom but he also answers the questions many of us pose, such as why this particular person or that particular church?

He writes, "They say, if God cares for you, why are you persecuted and put to death? Has He abandoned you to this? No, we do not suppose that the Lord wishes us to be involved in calamities...So that it was not that He wished us to be persecuted, but He indicated beforehand what we will suffer by His prediction of what would take place, training us endurance.

He who is truly brave with the peril arising from the hostility of the multitude before his eyes, courageously awaits whatever comes. In this way, he is distinguished from others who are called martyrs. For some furnish occasions for themselves and rush into the heart of dangers...In contrast those who are in accordance with right reason protect themselves. Then upon God, really calling them, they promptly surrender themselves and confirm the call."

St. Clement also teaches what becomes of those who murder Christians...

"If he who kills a man of God sins against God, he also who voluntarily presents himself before the judgment seat becomes guilty of his death. And such is also the case with him who does not avoid persecution, but out of daring presents himself for capture. Such a one—as far as in him lies—becomes an accomplice in the crime of the persecutor."

Let us all pray to God for the control of terrorism in our land of Egypt, the highest application of justice among its perpetrators, and the prevalence of peace for all the inhabitants of the land of Egypt.

May the consoling love of the Lord, our God, dwell among the bereaved families of the martyred and the church sorely affected by this unruly and unmerciful violence.

God bless all those affected by violence in the areas of Farshout, Abu Shusha, Aerky and Alshokeify and in the village of Higaza, Quena Governorate,

Bishop Youssef
Bishop, Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Southern United States