ONE OF THE 21

 

Sometimes  when we think of war, it is a major blowout, like Ukraine or Iraq, but there are so many warring factions across our globe at any time.  One we do not know much about, as it involved Catholics of another culture.

ST. MATTHEW AYARIGA was one of 21 Christian migrant workers in Libya kidnapped and then beheaded by the terrorist group ISIS on a beach near Sirte, Libya, on Feb. 15, 2015.  

They men were kidnapped and held ransom by ISIS. They became part of a propaganda film by their captors who denounced them as followers of the Cross. They were told that if they publicly renounced the faith and accepted conversion to Islam they would live. None did.

 The world learned their fate when ISIS released their names and its horrifying video of their martyrdom, lined up and kneeling before their executioners.

Originally from Ghana, St. Matthew Ayariga was the only Black African among the 21 men. The others were all Coptic Orthodox Christians from Egypt. When questioned about his faith by his kidnappers, he reportedly replied: “Their God is my God.”

After the beheadings, the Coptic Orthodox Church released the martyrs' names, but there were only 20 names.  The 21st victim was of Black African descent, in contrast to the others, who were ethnic Copts.

It is most likely that he was already a Christian, because sources reported that he said "I am a Christian and I am like them". 

When the remains of the 21 bodies were found, the bodies of the 20 Egyptians were returned into Egypt. On September 29, 2020,  St. Matthew Ayariga's remains were received in Egypt by the new church in Al-Our, the Church of the Martyrs of Faith and Homeland, a shrine built in honor of the martyrs.

The family members of the other martyrs "expressed their joy at the return of the remains of the martyr [Matthew Ayariga]", saying "Our joy is complete."

 Majid Shehata, a daughter of one of the martyrs, said, "It was a surprise to all of us that we see the remains of the martyr Matthew inside the Church of the Martyrs, and this is a long-awaited news and all the families are in great joy and we thank God for having responded to us in the return of the martyr."

The Coptic Orthodox Church canonized all 21 men as saints and martyrs on Feb. 21, 2015, under Coptic Orthodox Pope Tawadros II.

In an ecumenical sign of communion between the two churches, Pope Francis announced that the 21 martyrs would be inscribed in the Roman Martyrology on May 11, 2023, during a meeting at the Vatican with Pope Tawadros II. The Pope described the men as baptized “not only in water and the Spirit, but also in blood.”  (Blog 8/12/2023)

The martyrs’ feast day in both churches is Feb. 15.

Icon by my “friend” Sacred artist Nikola Sarić  (Blog 4/23/2016)