The Martyrdom of St . Sedhom Bishay in Domiat

The Martyrdom of St . Sedhom Bishay in Domiat .

On this day also the church commemorates the martyrdom of Sedhom Bishay in Domiat on the17th . of Baramhat year 1565 A .D . (March 25th ., 1844 A .D .) . He endured the torture for theName of the Lord Christ and his martyrdom made the rising of the Cross during the Christianfuneral processions openly, for it was forbidden before .This martyr was a clerical employee in the government of the port of Domiat during the days ofMohammed Ali Basha the Governor of Egypt . A revolt of mobs in the port arose, they seizedSidhom Bishay and accused him falsely that he cursed Islam and witnessed against him before thereligious judge a low uncivilized person and a donkey driver . The judge decided either he wouldforsake his faith or be killed, he whipped him and then sent him to the Governor of the city . Afterthe Governor had examined his case he issued the same judgement against him as the judge did .Sidhom was steadfast in his Christian faith, not caring to be killed . They whipped, dragged him onhis face down the stairs in the Governor palace, then they put him on a buffalo facing the tail andwent around with him in the streets of the city insulting and degrading him . The Christians in thecity became afraid and locked themselves in their houses .The mob continued to insult him and tortured him in different ways until he was about to deliverhis soul; so they brought him to the door of his house and left him there . His family went out andbrought him inside and five days later he departed to heaven .His departure was a great martyrdom, and the Christians counted him among the holy martyrs .They gathered regardless of their denomination and joined in his funeral in a celebration that therewas nothing like it before . The Christians carried their arms and the priest put on their vestmentsheaded by the Archpriest Yousef Michael who was the head of the Coptic congregation in Domiatand accompanied by the priests of the other denominations . They marched in his funeral in thestreets of the city and in front of him the deacons carrying the banners of the Cross, and theyarrived to the church where they prayed the funeral rites . The people went on objecting thisreprehensible and painful incident and talking about the patience and endurance of the differentkinds of torture in silence and the steadfastness of Sidhom the martyr .The prominent people of the Christian community in Domiat deliberated as how to avoid theseincidents in the future . They decided to ask the consuls of the foreign countries to mediate withthe ruler of the country and the Pope the Patriarch of the Copts and sent to them detailed reports .Mr Michail Sorour the official representative of seven countries in Domiat was in charge of thismediation .The ruler of Egypt was concerned about this incident and sent two official representatives toexamine the case . So they reopened the inquiry and they realized the injustice and the ill-treatmentthat befell the great martyr and convicted the judge and the governor for their wrong doing,stripped them from their honor then exiled them . They asked, as a good will and to comfort the264people, to allow the raising of the Cross publicly before the Christian funerals, and the rulerallowed that in Domiat . This was allowed later on all over the country during the Papacy of PopeKyrellos IV .The blessings of this great martyr be with us and glory be to God forever . Amen