02/17/2026
Many of them were less than 25 years old. I ask myself often, if I was there, if I was tested, what would I do? What would I say? Especially at such a young age. I hope I would see it to the end.
Pray for us. Sometimes I think, how blessed we are, even in the midst of great difficulties many of us face in this life, we are children literally of the blood of the martyrs. What else can be said?
Coptic Catholic Bishop, Bishop Antonious Aziz Mina of Guizeh says of the 21,
“…the name of Jesus was the last word that came to their lips. As in the passion of the first martyrs, they entrusted themselves to the One who would welcome them shortly afterwards. And so they celebrated their victory, the victory that no executioner can take away from them. That name whispered at the last moment was like the seal of their martyrdom”.
Since their sacrifice on that cold day of February 15, 2015, the world literally has seen the immeasurable and unspeakable faith of these men – one of whom converted to Christianity by blood (as the early fathers often spoke of when Christianity was illegal before the 4th century). What an event we witnessed, what a time we are living in, what an act of love, faith, and hope.
Pray for us, we will never forget, and will continue while here on our time on earth, to witness to you, the 21, to our unbroken apostolic Church, and to Christ above all – and keep the faith.
Image 1 logo: Taken from the great work of “The21” Film – follow them for their great work!
Image 5: Comes from Martin Mosebach’s best-seller and epic book, “The 21: a Journey into the Land of the Coptic Martyrs”
Image 6: On May 21, 2023, Pope Francis alongside praying with Pope Tawadros, declares the 21 martyrs as saints in the Roman Catholic Church.
Image 7: A family member holding a real photo of the 21 men who were martyred.
Image 8: Credit due to the talented , who wrote this icon for a Coptic Church in Irvine, CA – what a breathless image!
