Martyrs are strong and victorious – said in Alexandria

On the commemoration of the martyrs (Anrouz) His Holiness Pope Shenouda reflects on the example of the martyrs who showed strength and victory over temptations, tortures, and the fear of death, and accepted martyrdom with joy, thus becoming a lesson for us in struggle and perseverance.
He mentions the divine promise to the overcomers as in the Book of Revelation, and whoever overcomes is given to sit with Christ on the throne; these promises encourage the believer to strive for spiritual victory.
Christ Himself was an example of strength and victory in the mountain temptation, in His dialogue with the Pharisees, and on the cross, and His power is what leads the believer if he surrenders his will to God.
True strength is not bodily but spiritual: strength of love and sacrifice, strength of faith and prayer, and strength of self-control and holiness that make the believer victorious over himself and the devil.
The Scripture, angels, and saints accompany the believer’s struggle and pray for him; therefore the believer is not alone in his fight but hears the encouragement of heaven and draws grace.
The Pope calls to arm oneself with the full armor of God: prayer, the word of God, the sacraments (confession and communion) and the spiritual means that grant strength for spiritual warfare.
He warns of the necessity to avoid the occasions of sin and to treat points of weakness, and to continue the struggle with God and with the self as Jacob did until he received blessing and a new name from the Lord.
He concludes with a call to be inspired by our martyrs so that their work and blessing be in our lives, asking God to grant us the blessing of the martyrs so we may stand firm in the struggle and receive the promises of the overcomers.

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