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The Armenian Genocide is commemorated on April 24 each year, the Pontian Greek Genocide on May 19. Together with the Assyrians and other Christians under Ottoman rule, the combined total of Orthodox and Eastern Christians massacred by the Muslim Turks from 1894 to 1923 reached 3.6 million. Still from the film 'Ravished Armenia', based on a survivor's eyewitness account. While it is essential to remember the Armenian Genocide and to work to stop the Islamic genocide against Christians in the Middle East and Africa being committed today, we must recall that the term 'genocide' is a secular one. As Christians we commemorate those killed not so much as 'genocide victims', but as Martyrs — Witnesses for Christ — for they were persecuted and killed by the Turkish Muslims primarily because they were Christians, who refused to renounce their faith in Jesus Christ. As the Lord tells us, "You will be hated by all for My Name's sake. But he who endures to th...

By God's providence, even as Europe collapses before the onslaught of Islam, we are given an inspiring example of a believing Christian, in this case a French lieutenant-colonel gendarme who was also a practicing Catholic, who faithfully witnessed to his faith in Jesus Christ, even unto death.  New Martyr Arnaud Beltrame shines especially through his self-sacrificial act of love, volunteering to take the place of a hostage being held by the murderous Muslim, laying down his life for another, adding Christian martyrdom to valiant heroism for his country. See also:   Catholic Priest beheaded in France during Mass by Muslims linked to Islamic State Arnaud Beltrame, Hero-Martyr Of France Compiled from Rod Dreher's post at The American Conservative and a related article from Familie Chretienne: France has produced a second martyr — the first was Father Jacques Hamel, slain at the altar while saying mass — in the contemporary battle against radical Islam. From Famil...

Each Christian Martyr in the Islamic world provides us with an opportunity to be shocked out of our pathetic Western sloth and ease, which is why Orthodox writers throughout the centuries have always compiled lives of martyrs to strengthen the faithful. New-Martyr Bassem was described by a friend (see below) as follows: “Bassem was a very good man... Honest, quiet, modest, a light-hearted person and close friend to me. From early childhood he loved the Church and he was a man of prayer and worship. He didn’t renounce the faith and didn’t deny his Lord Jesus Christ. He didn’t fear death. Actually, he didn’t die but has won the real life in Heaven...” The Muslims who killed Bassem were acting on the dictates of the demon Allah as recorded in the Qur'an: Kill the mushrikun [unbelievers] wherever you find them, and capture them and besiege them, and prepare for them each and every ambush. (Sura 9:5)  I will cast terror into the hearts of those who have disbelieved, so strike them over ...

"According to the now-annual tradition, Fr. Daniel’s memory was celebrated with a series of Divine services in the Church of St. Thomas and later at his grave... Notably, the panikhida was followed by the singing of the Paschal Stichera and the Paschal Troparion 'Christ is Risen!' which matched the feeling of triumph in Christ that pervaded the tiny church." Fr. Daniil Sysoev remembered with Paschal hymns in church where he was killed OrthoChristian.com , November 20, 2017: The funeral of New Marty Fr Daniil Sysoev, November 2009. The memory of Fr. Daniel Sysoev was celebrated and prayers were offered for the repose of his soul yesterday and today in the Church of the Apostle Thomas in south Moscow, which Fr. Daniel founded himself. The ever-memorable Priest Daniel was shot in his church late in the evening of November 19, 2009, and died in the hospital early the next morning. Fr. Daniel is remembered for his fervent missionary work through which he brought many forme...

Here is a deeply inspiring reflection on the Holy and Righteous Confessor and New Martyr under the sword of Islam, Fr. Daniil Sysoev, who was hated by the Islamic community in Russia for debating them openly and converting scores of them to the Holy Orthodox Christian Faith. Fr Daniil was shot and killed by a Muslim in his church in Moscow on November 19, 2009. In the years since, his legacy and witness only continues to grow, with his writings being translated into English and other languages, and his relics (portions of his priestly robe which he was wearing at the time of his martyrdom) spreading through the Orthodox world. On the American secular feast of Thanksgiving, let us give thanks for the powerful witness of this dynamic and fearless friend of Christ, who proved his love for the Lord with his very blood. May we be strengthened by his martyrdom and his intercessions, that we too may make the good confession, and not love our earthly lives more than Christ. 'When they kill...

"God, not forgetting his saints, and being ever-benevolent to his people, especially knowing we need grace in these latter times," has revealed to the faithful a forgotten monastic confessor and witness, the Monk-Martyr Jacob of Hamatoura, Lebanon, sparking the revival of an ancient and long-ago devastated monastery. In this Life, we see the example of an Orthodox Christian monastic who was pursued by Muslim invaders for witnessing to Christ by his holy life. They tried to convert him to Islam, but he refused to accept "the dark yoke of anther god." They then beheaded him and destroyed his monastery, burning his body and trying to eradicate all evidence that he had ever lived. This happened six centuries ago. Sound familiar? Now a new monastic brotherhood has revived the monastery and is openly venerating the great Martyr St Jacob! May the Lord protect them and multiply their efforts during these latter days! And may we all draw strength from their courage and the w...

The Quran's commands in action: Islam's fourteen centuries of using the sword to try to force Christians to commit apostasy and deny Jesus Christ continues with the execution of two Russian soldiers. The Quran explicitly commands Muslims to fight against and terrorize the unbelievers till they embrace Islam or “feel themselves subdued” as is seen in these verses: Fight against those who believe not in Allah, nor in the Last Day, nor forbid that which has been forbidden by Allah and His Messenger and those who acknowledge not the religion of truth [i.e. Islam] among the people of the Book [Jews and Christians], until they pay the jizya with willing submission, and feel themselves subdued. (Sura 9:29)  So, when you meet those who disbelieve, smite at their necks till when you have killed and wounded many of them, then bind a bond firmly on them... Thus you are ordered by Allah to continue in carrying out jihad against the disbelievers till they embrace Islam. (Sura 47:4) This of ...

While I am glad to see this focus on the New Martyrs of the 21st Century, organized by one of American Orthodoxy's most important institutions, and am very interested to explore the various materials, talks, and hoped-for reviews, there remains an enormous question looming over the event, an 'elephant in the room' if you will: Will Islam be discussed? And if so, will Islam's commands to wage jihad against Christians — especially those verses in the Quran explicitly cited by all Muslim persecutors of Christians, from ISIS to Boko Haram to "known wolf" jihadis in Europe and North America, to the "ordinary" Muslims in Egypt, Pakistan, Iraq, Syria, Turkey, Kosovo, Indonesia, etc. — be honestly and straightforwardly addressed? Judging from the more thorough event description recently posted on the SVS and OCA websites and featured below, it appears Islam may only be mentioned in an oblique manner if at all, but I am hopeful the truth will be spoken. Some ...

"The work of the Church is not exclusively to battle with heretics [and heresies - like Islam, and those who say Muslims worship the same True God as we do], but also to train the faithful so that at the appropriate moment they might become confessors of Christ and martyrs out of their love for Him..." See also: Perfected by the Sword - The Way of Martyrdom in Our Times, by Metropolitan Hierotheos Vlachos Posted to YouTube by Nicodemos Hagiorite

"Perhaps some today find Christianity irrelevant to their lives because they have never seriously encountered the Orthodox experience of Jesus Christ." American Christianity declines as the Martyrs of the Middle East bear Powerful Witness to Christ Homily for the Sunday After the Ascension in the Orthodox Church by Fr Philip LeMasters, Pravoslavie , June 2, 2017: A recent survey of Americans about religion is getting a lot of attention, especially because it shows that fewer people now identify themselves as Christians and more consider themselves unaffiliated with any religion. Perhaps at least part of the reason for these declines is that many people have not found something worth living and dying for in the churches with which they are familiar. Their experience reflects the failure of so much Christianity in our culture to embody with integrity the good news that we celebrate during this season of the Ascension, which invites us to participate personally in the fulfillmen...

St Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary has announced a landmark event for its annual Orthodox Education Day, October 7, 2017: MODERN MARTYRS - Christians of the Middle East and North Africa - Orthodox Education Day - October 7, 2017 10AM - Divine Liturgy Public Lectures, Children's Activities Coffee, Ethnic Food, Icon Display, Book Sale Akathist Service  to the New Martyrs Free Admission to SVS Grounds Click to enlarge for event info. We look forward with hope that this gathering truly honors the heroic New Martyrs and Confessors of Jesus Christ, who refuse to submit to or worship a false god and false prophet, but faithfully witness — even unto death — to Jesus Christ as Lord and God.  These 'Modern Martyrs' — men, women and children — are a powerful sign of faith and light in our age of lukewarmness, apostasy, darkness, and insanity. Today's 'Modern Martyrs' are certainly becoming known by Orthodox Christians in the USA. Recently, the Orthodox Christi...

“When people see this attitude [of forgiveness] from Christians and the church, they ask themselves, ‘What kind of power is this?’” he said. “But with this witness we must also declare the message of Christ, which we are fulfilling—literally. We may not see the response immediately. But we will in the near future.” The Lord's grace is present and real among the Coptic faithful, as they persevere through the valley of the shadow of death, bearing their heavy cross of mass martyrdom, following Christ to their own Golgotha. Their profound faith — and their forgiveness of their Muslim persecutors — may be planting seeds for a new Orthodox Christian harvest in Egypt. May it be so! Forgiveness: Muslims Moved as Coptic Christians Do the Unimaginable Amid ISIS attacks, faithful response inspires Egyptian society. by Jayson Casper, ChristianityToday, April 20, 2017 Coffins are carried to the funeral of Egyptian Christians killed in Palm Sunday bombings. (Photo: Mohamed El-Shahed/AFP) Twelv...