The brother of two of the 21 Coptic Christians murdered in Libya last week has thanked their killers for including the men’s declaration of faith in the video they made of their beheadings.
Speaking on a live prayer and worship programme on Christian channel SAT-7 ARABIC yesterday, Beshir Kamel said that he was proud of his brothers Bishoy Estafanos Kamel (25) and Samuel Estafanos Kamel (23) because they were “a badge of honour to Christianity”.
Harrowing scenes of the murders have been seen around the world. The last words of some of those killed were “Lord Jesus Christ”.
Meanwhile the Coptic Orthodox Church has wasted no time and today (Feb 21) effectively declared them to be martyr saints. Their feast day will be on the 15th of Feb (new calendar).
http://www.news.va/en/news/coptic-church-recognizes-martyrdom-of-21-coptic-ch
When I read those last words “Lord Jesus Christ”, I could think of
nothing except what Jesus himself said, “Your faith has saved you”.
Amen.
Deeply moving. I plan to put the URL in next week’s parish newsletter.
Beautiful iconography from Tony Rezk, who writes: “I want to be abundantly clear everyone is given permission to share the picture, no one is given permission to print and make money from it.”
Here:
http://lacopts.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/10359492_10204650500077029_7422104080444904887_n.jpg