Church of England Introduces Annual Commemoration for 21 Christian Martyrs
In a historic decision, the Church of England has elected to honor 21 Christian laborers, beheaded by Islamic State militants in 2015, with an annual commemoration. This marks the first modification to the church’s liturgical calendar in over a decade.
The General Synod, the church’s legislative body, approved this measure to include the “21 Martyrs of Libya” in its official calendar. The commemoration will take place every year on February 15, making it the first update to the Church’s liturgical schedule since 2010.
The group, consisting of 20 Egyptian Coptic Christians and one Ghanaian, were primarily migrant workers in Libya. They were targeted and executed by Islamic State militants, known as Daesh, due to their Christian faith. Reports indicate they faced death with the words ‘O my Lord Jesus’ on their lips, showcasing their unwavering faith.
While the militants likely intended the release of execution footage to instill fear, the global response was one of admiration for the men’s bravery and steadfastness in their faith.
Shortly after their deaths, the Coptic Orthodox Church recognized these men as martyrs, designating February 15 as their feast day. The Roman Catholic Church also honors their sacrifice.
During the Synod debate, members reflected on the Bishop of Chelmsford’s remarks from the previous year, which emphasized that “martyrdom is a present reality in the life of the Church.”
Concluding the discussion, Bishop Michael Ipgrave, Chair of the Liturgical Commission, remarked that the commemoration would focus “our gaze on a beach in Libya where the same Lord was confessed by men whose worldly power was small but whose witness has become immense.”
This article was originally written by www.christiantoday.com
