The Martyrdom of St . Shenouda (Sinouti) El Bahnasawy .

On this day also St . Shenouda (Sinouti) El Bahnasawy was martyred . Certain men laidaccusations against him before Maximianus, a governor appointed by Diocletian, that he wasChristian . The Governor brought him, and asked him about his faith, and the Saint confessed hisfaith in the Lord Christ and that He was the True God . He ordered the soldiers to throw him onthe ground, to beat him with hammers until his flesh was torn, and his blood flew on the ground,then they casted him into a prison with repulsive odor . The Lord sent Michael the Archangel tohim, healed his wounds, encouraged and strengthened him . He told him that he will receive thecrown of glory after he had endured what would befall him from severe tortures .259On the next morning the Governor ordered his soldiers to go and look at him, and they found himstanding up praying . When they told the Governor about him and when he saw him whole and unharmed,he was amazed and said: "He is a sorcerer ." Then he ordered to crucify him with his headdownwards, and to light fire under him, but it did not harm him . They squeezed him with thewheel and finally they beheaded him and hacked his body into pieces with swords and casted himto the dogs which did not come near him . During the night the believers took him and pouredover him expensive perfumes, shrouded him in costly wrappings, laid him in a coffin and buriedhim .May his prayers be with us . Amen .