The Martyrs of Ansena
"Unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain."
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Martyrdom in the Coptic Orthodox Church
Martyrdom has been the story of Christianity since its inception. It is a story of spreading the Holy Gospel all over the world. The witness of the martyrs' blood has been greater than any teaching or preaching. Throughout the ages, martyrdom has been a deep philosophy founded on strong spiritual principles to which Christians from all social levels and cultures have been attached.
We read in the Coptic church history about thousands of people who believed in Christ when they saw a Christian martyr being tortured for the sake of the faith with complete steadfastness, peace and bravery. The death of the martyrs was like the death of the seed in the ground to germinate and give fruit. And that was the teaching of the Lord Jesus Christ Himself when He likened His death on the cross to the death of a wheat grain to give much grain (John 12:24).
The City of Ansena
Ansena (also known as Antione or Antionopolis) is an ancient city in Upper Egypt on the eastern side of the Nile River. It was the dwelling place of the famous magicians in the time of the Pharaohs in ancient Egypt. During the time of the Roman Empire, most of Ansena's population were worshipping idols until Christianity entered Egypt through the preaching of Saint Mark the apostle in the first century. During the reign of Diocletian the Roman emperor in the third century, a great persecution against the Christians took place. And the city of Ansena was one of the cities that presented a great number of martyrs who offered their lives for the Christian faith.
There is a hill in the southern side of the city known as "the hill of the martyrs," where thousands of Christian martyrs were buried after being killed by the pagan governors during that persecution. And this hill is a source of blessing to all who visit the city and many miracles are being performed by the blessing of the relics of those martyrs. Beside this hill there is an old well, and it is said that the Holy Family stayed beside this well during their stay in Egypt and drank from it, and a cloud was overshadowing them. That's why it is called "The well of the cloud."
Arianus the Governor
Arianus was the governor of Ansena during the Reign of Diocletian the Emperor. He was well known for his severe aggression in torturing the Christians to the extent that the governors of other regions sent him those who were very stubborn so that he could force them to leave their Christian faith and worship the idols.
Later, Arianus believed in Christ through a great miracle that happened when he was torturing a Christian believer called Apollonius. When he ordered to shoot Apollonius with arrows, one of the arrows glanced back and struck Arianus in his eye. One of the Christians who was there told him to take from Apollonios' blood and apply it to his eyes and he will be healed. Arianus did so, and he got his sight back. He believed in the Lord Jesus Christ and confessed his faith before Diocletian who ordered to torture Arianus severely. Finally Arianus received the crown of martyrdom. The church celebrates his martyrdom on March 17th, the 8th day of the Coptic month of Baramhat.
The Martyrs of Ansena
The Martyrs of Ansena were 150 men and 24 women who when they were worshipping idols came once to the Governor's place and watched the torture of St. Paul the Syrian. The Governor ordered the soldiers to torture him then they cast him in prison. The following morning when they brought him, these men and women were present, and they saw that he was healed as if he had never been tortured.
They marveled saying, "No one can do this miracle except the true God alone, Who is the Creator of nature from nonexistent." They cried with one accord, "We believe in the God of St. Paul."