SAN ANTONIO – The recent reported beheadings of 21 Egyptian Coptic Christians in Libya by ISIS militants have local Coptic Christians praying for peace.
Dr. Eman Mina, a Coptic Christian, is sad for the Copts killed. She said they were executed for nothing more than being Christians.
"What we're proud of is that these people died for the name of Christ. They didn't deny Christ. They were very proud. One of them was saying, 'Oh, Jesus Christ, help me,'" Mina said.
Mina is just one person among the more than 80 families who attend St. Antony the Great Coptic Orthodox Church in North Bexar County. Father Antonios Girgis said no one in his congregation is directly related to any of the martyrs, but they all continually pray for them and their families during this time.
"We were amazed by the steadfastness the faith of these young people facing what they're about to," Girgis said.
The Coptic church is one of the oldest branches of Christianity, and has produced countless saints and martyrs whose lives and writings continue to influence Christianity today.
Girgis believes the recent killings are an awakening for Christians around the world.
"These events are maybe a refreshing of our memories and reaching our very being as Christians in America and anywhere in the world," Girgis said.
"And for these young people to just go stand over there and die for Christ, that's amazing. We're proud of these people and we're praying for the families," Mina said.
The bishop for the southern Coptic Christian churches in the United States is calling for all its parishioners to dedicate this Sunday to pray for the 21 martyrs beheaded by ISIS.
Egypt has responded with military force, carrying out air strikes Monday against ISIS targets in Libya.