The Martyrs of Damascus: Witnesses of Faith unto Blood
1. The Meaning of Martyrdom in the Christian Vision
The word "martyr" comes from the Greek martys, meaning "witness." In the Christian tradition, a martyr is one who, through their testimony in favor of Jesus Christ, willingly gives their life for the faith. The concept is rooted in the Book of Revelation, where those who testify to Jesus at the cost of their lives are honored. The martyr is seen as an imitator of Jesus, who gave His life for humanity. Throughout Church history, accounts of martyrs depict Christians facing death by violent means such as crucifixion, stoning, or torture. They thus become models of faith and courage for believers, and their testimony a victory of love over hate and of life over death.
2. The Martyrs of Damascus and the Context of Their Martyrdom
In 1860, the region was under Ottoman rule, but the weakening of the Empire allowed foreign powers to destabilize the area through religious influences, while Christians, Muslims, Druze and Jews had lived together in peace until then. In this context, a wave of violence swept over the Christians of the Levant, especially in Lebanon and Syria. This was a period of massacres, during which thousands of Christians were killed, and their villages destroyed. It is estimated that around 23,000 Christians were murdered in Syria and Lebanon. In Damascus, a fanaticized Muslim group attacked the Christian quarter and the Franciscan convent, where many Christians had taken refuge. In this tragic context, eight Franciscans and three Maronite laymen were martyred for refusing to renounce their faith in Jesus Christ. These martyrs, beatified in 1926 by Pope Pius XI, are canonized on October 20, 2024, by Pope Francis, during the second session of the Synod on Synodality.
3. The Eight Latin Franciscan Martyrs
1. Manuel Ruiz Lopez
2. Carmelo Bolta Banuls
3. Engelbert Kolland
4. Nicanor Ascanio de Soria
5. Pedro Soler Méndez
6. Francisco Pinazo Penalver
7. Juan Jocobo
8. Fernandez y Fernandez
Blessed Engelbert Kolland was Austrian, while the other seven were Spanish. The first six were priests, and the last two were non-ordained monks.
4. The Three Massabki Brothers
Coming from a wealthy Maronite family in Damascus, the three Massabki brothers were actually four: Francis, Abde-el-Mooti, Rouphaël, and Abdallah. The latter, a priest, was not with them at the time of their martyrdom. The first three were very devout laymen who regularly attended the Franciscan convent and were involved in the spiritual and charitable life of their community.
Francis Massabki, a father of eight children and a prosperous merchant, was known for his generosity and great devotion to the Rosary. He even represented the Maronite Patriarch in matters in Syria. On the night of his martyrdom, he took refuge in the church to pray before the statue of Our Lady of Sorrows and was filled with supernatural hope. After midnight, a group of armed Muslim rioters stormed the monastery. Terrified, the Christians tried to flee or hide. The assassins who found Francis told him: “The Governor, Sheikh Abdallah, sent us to save you, your brothers, your families, and all who depend on you, provided you renounce your faith and convert to Islam.” Francis courageously replied: “Sheikh Abdallah can take the money I lent him; he can also take my life, but no one can make me renounce my faith. I am a Maronite Christian, and I will die in the faith of Christ. As our Lord Jesus commanded, we do not fear those who can kill the body.”
Abde-el-Mooti Massabki, married and a man of cultivated faith, was known for his good morals and respect for all, both great and small. He taught at the Franciscan school, regularly visited the Blessed Sacrament, and was faithful to the liturgical rhythm.
He never missed his prayers, fasts, and penances, and encouraged his students to remain true to their faith. A few hours before his death, he gathered them and explained the importance of the grace of martyrdom, urging them to bear witness to their faith without fear of death. He was executed minutes after his older brother, also refusing to renounce Christ.
Rouphaël Massabki, the youngest and single, was the simple-hearted child of the family. In his purity, he held a deep and filial love for the Virgin Mary. In his simplicity, he joyfully imitated his older brothers and faithfully served the church as a sacristan. Later that night, the rioters found him, and unaware that his brothers had refused to renounce their faith, he inadvertently joined them in martyrdom, gently and simply testifying to Christ before being killed.
5. The Spirituality of the Massabki Brothers
The spirituality of the Massabki brothers was characterized by a simple faith, deeply rooted in their daily lives. They were neither priests nor religious, but laymen deeply devoted to their family, work, and God. Their piety was similar to that of the Holy Family: a humble, discreet life, yet marked by intense faith. Their dedication to prayer, the sacraments, and charity toward the poor reflects a spirituality accessible to all Christians, based on a living and active faith.
They fully embraced their Christian vocation, bearing witness to Christ in their daily lives and sealing their testimony with martyrdom. Their fidelity to Christ echoes the Church's call to holiness for all its members, as highlighted in the Dogmatic Constitution Lumen Gentium from Vatican II: "All are called to holiness."
6. Conclusion
The martyrs of Damascus, and especially the Massabki brothers, are powerful examples of faithfulness to Jesus Christ unto the ultimate sacrifice. Their testimony reminds us that even in the most difficult moments, Christian faith can triumph over fear and death. However, while living our faith with zeal, we must avoid the error of intolerance and hatred. Instead, while recognizing evil and praying for God to remove it from us, the example of the Massabki brothers inspires us to persevere in our pursuit of knowledge, love, and service to Jesus, the perfect object of our adoration.
This love must also be reflected in how we treat others, those whom life places in our path. We must not allow our actions to be influenced by their behavior, but rather inspire them by our own.
Their canonization is a solemn recognition of their spiritual heroism and a call to all the faithful to renew their commitment to the faith, united with Christ on the cross, who said: “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34).
7. Prayer for the Intercession of the Holy Massabki Martyrs
Lord Jesus, Son of the living God, with Your holy martyrs Francis, Abde-el-Mooti, and Rouphaël Massabki, we wish to love and adore You at this moment. Look upon us with mercy and grant us, through the power of Your Holy Spirit, the courage to love You as they did, the gentleness to witness Your name as they freely bore witness to their faith, and the will to forgive as they forgave those who took their lives. May their example inspire and guide us on the path of faith, for the glory of Your Holy Name, forever and ever. Amen.
+Selim Sfeir
Maronite Archbishop of Cyprus