Every Christian must have a cross
— a real one and a symbolic one,
and both must be present.
Every Christian must live
the life of Jesus anew.
+ The 21,
pg. 130
Since the martyrdom of The 21 in 2015, God has used the story of these humble, bold, and steadfast modern saints and martyrs to help me continue to turn to Jesus as Lord.
One of the ways I have pondered their journey is through acclaimed German journalist Martin Mosebach's international bestseller, The 21: A Journey into the Land of Coptic Martyrs. His sharp and concise words pierce my soul and stir my mind in relation to all that I need to continue to learn as a disciple of Jesus Christ from these Coptic brothers:
The Copts have relevant experience
when it comes to the future
of Christianity.
How might Christianity look,
and continue on,
once societal majorities
and governments are no longer
tolerant and benevolent, but hostile?
And what if Christians are denied
the ability to participate in public life
simply because they refuse to submit
or convert to another religion?
Could it perhaps be that the path
the Western church has taken
over the centuries has just been
a huge, highly eventful detour
that is now leading right back
to the fork in the road where the
Coptic Church has
patiently persevered this entire time?
+ The 21,
pg. 213
Patiently persevered.
That has been an invitation from God for me to mirror during my decade of getting to serve as a minister and priest among His Kingdom of priests in Worcester, Massachusetts. So often my mind, heart, and will are not aligned with the Love that is patient (i.e. 1 Corinthians 13:4) nor does my posture towards my calling embody enough The Patient Ferment of the Early Church. Though it would be hard to pinpoint every moment, these Coptic brothers' deaths have helped me lean into St. Paul's transcendent words,
To live is Christ,
to die is gain.
+ Philippians 1:21
My desire is to continue to learn how to embody the posture of the patient and present 3-mile-an-hour God who walks among us. One way I am learning to practice this needed daily liturgy is through remembering the meaning of the Coptic iconography tattooed on my right forearm. Here, the Word of God is written in flesh for me to see and to follow His lead through death and resurrection like those who have gone before me.
In relation to how tattoos have helped Christians for more than a thousand years be unashamed of the cross, in The 21 book, Mosebach shares:
Abuna (i.e. title given to Orthodox bishop)
Bolla's daughter showed me the tattoo
at the base of her thumb,
a little Greek cross which,
like a four-leaf clover,
had uniform filial ornaments;
she had gotten it as a child ...
The two priests showed me the crosses
tattooed on the back of their hands, too ...
The custom of tattooing a cross
on one's hand is quite ancient,
she explained to me, and
people were doing it as early as
the second century after Christ.
According to legend, the first instance
was when a couple had their young son
before their own execution,
so that he would be recognizable
as a Christian when they were gone.
When Egypt came under Muslim rule
in the seventh century,
the custom spread,
especially among the poor.
"We're proud of the cross;
our faith is strong,"
the young woman said.
+ The 21
pgs. 125-126
Alongside this daily visual reminder, now a new motion picture has been provided in the instant classic short film, The 21. When I heard at the end of last year that an animated short film in the style of Coptic iconography was being produced to honor The 21's story in collaboration with the global Coptic community and a team of more than 70 artists from more than 24 countries, I anticipated a masterful work to be unveiled.
I was not disappointed.
This post features links to The 21 short film along with screen shots and the script. Please be advised that some of the story is graphic and may prove hard to take for some sensitive viewers. But whether you watch the film or simply skim the screenshots and script, my hope and prayer is that you will see the same Christ in the midst The 21's story is in the midst of your story and believe.
One of the guards who murdered The 21 reportedly recognized Jesus, Emmanuel, God Himself, was with them and him:
(Earthly salvation) ideally sharpens
one's senses, especially in defeat,
making one better to recognize
the presence of the divine.
This is the spirit
out of which tales regarding
the Twenty-One's imprisonment arise.
One recurring story involves an
unknown witness, a guard who,
impressed by his captives' faithful
steadfastness, is said to have
converted to Christianity.
(He'd had access to the martyrs'
(He'd had access to the martyrs'
mobile phones, and had called
their family members and told them.
Then he went into hiding and disappeared.
He had apparently managed to escape
the killers, who would naturally have
punished him severely for converting.)
It is reminiscent of many ancient tales
— the first concerning the Roman centurion
who stood under the cross and confessed,
right after Jesus' death, "Truly,
this was the Son of God." He is followed
by many others throughout history who,
confronted with the sight of a martyr,
switched sides and turned from
persecutor to persecuted.
(The thinnest veil separates
earthly life from the heavenly sphere.
One must always be prepared for
the possibility that this veil might tear,
letting a golden ray of light fall
into the realm of everyday life.)
+ The 21
pgs. 193 (128, 82)
May God sharpen each of our senses so that the veil tears and we can recognize the presence of the divine in our lives (ex. look for the presence of Jesus with the 21 in the screenshots throughout the film). May this story be listened to and seen again and again so that we may be healed. And may Jesus Christ who was with these men be believed by us as the Savior and Lord He is.
 |
| The 21: Christ in the Car with the Captured |
The 21 Script + Screenshots
In 2015, ISIS moved the 21 Christian migrant workers on a beach in Libya. This is the story of the men who died as told by those who loved them and those who hated them.
(Church prayers during liturgy
spoken in Arabic and quoted in English)
"May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ,
the love of God,
and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit,
be with you all.
Go in peace.
And may God's peace be upon you."
In the early 21st century, ISIS began a reign of terror in attempts to cleanse North Africa of Christians. One of their favorite prey: Egyptian Coptic Christians. In December 2014, ISIS captured 7 Coptic Egyptians as they were making their way home to Egypt. A week later, ISIS raided the housing complex where the Egyptians had been staying, capturing 13 more Coptic Christians. In all, 20 Coptic Egyptians were gathered together in an underground prison.
 |
| The 21: Together in Underground Cell |
There was some confusion regarding Matthew from Ghana. He had been captured in a separate raid and when ISIS tried to let him go, he insisted he was the same as the Egyptians. Their God was his God. With Matthew, the group became 21.
For the first few weeks, the 21 were treated well and were given clean food and water. ISIS tried to reason with the Christians. Some of the men were offered money to deny their faith.
But it was of no use.
The men wouldn't be moved.
Thus the journey of torture began. The Christians were taken to the beach and forced to pull heavy bags of wet sand. And when a man fell, he was beaten.
"Just deny your faith and
all this can end.
What's the point of all this suffering?"
"Jesus said, 'You will be hated by all
because of My name,
but the one who endures to end
will be saved."
"No one is coming to save you,
Nazarene."
 |
| The 21: The Wounded Christ with Them in the Torture |
The ground was continually doused with water so the men couldn't sleep.
(Prayers of "Kyrie Eleison"
sung in Arabic, quoted in English)
"Lord, have mercy."
God was with them.
The more they were tortured, the more their faith seemed to grow. One night, the men prayed in one voice,
"Kyrie eleison,
Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy."
Then suddenly the ground began to shake like an earthquake, and ISIS became afraid.
The Christians were forced to wear orange jumpsuits as ISIS filmed them walking along the beach.
At times, ISIS saw strange figures walking among the Christians.
Some of these figures held swords. Others wore black. And still others were riding horses.
 |
| The 21: Heaven and Earth Walk the Beach |
At times, the color of the sky seemed to change as the men were walking along the beach.
All of these things brought terror to the hearts of the Islamic State soldiers. They were anxious to kill the Christians before those with the Christians killed them.
ISIS filmed the Christians three different times. The third time the men were brought to the beach was the last. The men walked, looking toward the sky and didn't say a word except their prayers to God.
(Prayer in Arabic,
quoted in English)
"Jesus, Lord, forgive them."
ISIS slaughtered the men one by one, hoping that some would deny their faith.
None did.
And they all died
with the name of Jesus on their lips.
On February 15, 2015, ISIS published a 5-minute video showing the beheading of the Christians.
The act was condemned
by Muslims and Christians alike.
The 21 were formally declared as martyrs
by the Synod of the Coptic Orthodox Church
... and by the Catholic Church in 2023.
The men's remains were returned
to Egypt in 2017
where a sanctuary was built in
the martyrs home province
to honor them.
Their example continues to inspire
millions to greater faith.
The 21
Tawadros Youssef Tawadros
Magued Seliman Shehata
Hany Abd el Messiah
Ezzat Boushra Youssef
Malak Farag Ibrahim
Samuel Alham Wilson
Malak Ibrahim Seniut
Luka Nagati Anis
Sameh Salah Farouk
Milad Makin Zaky
Issam Baddar Samir
Youssef Shoukry Younan
Bishoy Stefanos Kamel
Abanub Ayat Shahata
Girgis Samir Megally
Mina Fayez Aziz
Kiryollos Boushra Fawzy
Gaber Mounir Adly
Samuel Stefanos Kamel
Girgis Milad Seniut
Matthew Ayariga
They triumphed over ...
by the blood of the Lamb
and by the word of their testimony;
they did not love their lives so much
as to shrink from death.
+ Revelation 12:11
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With presence and peace in Christ,
Rev. Mike “Sully” Sullivan
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