The believers – the vast majority of whom were day labourers from neighbouring Egypt – prompted the Coptic Orthodox Church to declare a day to commemorate all modern-day martyrs around the world.
Archbishop Angaelos, the Coptic Archbishop of London, told Premier the men displayed a “godly peace” in footage capturing the moments before their deaths.
He drew parallels to the biblical account in Daniel 3 of a fourth figure joining Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in King Nebuchadnezzar’s furnace.
The Coptic leader said: “There must have been a 22nd [being] with those 21 men on the beach because the peace that was in their faces, the graciousness, the power, the absolute resilience could only be godly.”
Scores of Coptic Christians in Egypt have died since the massacre in the Libyan city of Sirte – through subsequent attacks on the country’s Christian minority.
Archbishop Angaelos said: “We’ve had Coptic Christians killed in church bombings and shootings in targeted attacks…
At @LambethPalace on eve of #LibyaMartyrs Commemoration to launch @MartinMosebach’s #The21 through @TheBruderhof @PloughBooks. Thankful to speakers Bishop Nicolas Holman, representing @JustinWelby, @BaronessEB, #Egypt Amb Adel and Bishop Hovakim, and all those in attendance. pic.twitter.com/ay8YrZuCXN
— Archbishop Angaelos ن (@BishopAngaelos) February 15, 2019
“And so, today marks the Libya…
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