10/24/2019 Egypt (International Christian Concern) – The shrine of the Martyrs of Faith and Homeland Church in Al Our, Egypt, dedicated to the 21 martyrs who died in 2015 at the hands of ISIS in Libya, is looking to reunite the final body with the rest of the group.
The church, dedicated last year on the three-year anniversary of their death, and the Coptic church, reached an agreement with the Libyan government to receive the body of the 21st victim, the only non-Egyptian Coptic.
In February 2015, the Islamic State released footage of them beheading 21 men whom were dressed as prisoners. Before their death, they were chanting Christian hymns and praying. Twenty of the men were Coptic Egyptians and one man was a Christian from Ghana.
When their bodies were discovered in 2017, the 20 Egyptians were laid to rest a year later in the Martyrs of Faith and Homeland Church shrine. Two months ago the Coptic church met with the Libyan ambassador but no official date has been set for the transfer of the 21st victim.
In light of the pending transfer, Coptic Christians lamented how quickly the horrific act left the world’s mind. However, for those living in Al Our, the shrine offers continual remembrance to the 2015 event. The call from the Coptic Christians is to remember the world’s martyrs and face the realities of Christians living in the region.
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