Sidhom Bishay | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Martyr | |
| Born | 19th century Damietta,Egypt |
| Died | 25 March 1844 Damietta,Egypt |
| Venerated in | Coptic Orthodox Church |
| Majorshrine | St. Mary Coptic Orthodox Church (Damietta,Mokattam) |
| Feast | 17Paremhat[1] |
| Part of a series of articles on the |
| Modern persecution ofCoptic Christians |
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| Overview |
| Terrorist attacks |
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Sidhom Bishay (Coptic:ⲥⲓⲇϩⲟⲙ ⲡⲓϣⲁⲓ; died March 25, 1844[2]) was aCoptic Orthodoxmartyr andsaint.
Bishay was a government employee in the city ofDamietta,Egypt, at the time ofMuhammad Ali.[3]
He was accused byMuslims of cursingIslam. Bishay was therefore brought to trial before a Muslim religious judge, who decreed that Sidhom Bishay must acceptIslam and renounceChristianity, or else beput to death. Bishay refused to embraceIslam and insisted on his innocence.[citation needed]
He was whipped and brought beforeDamietta's governor, who confirmed the decree of the religious court. Sidhom Bishay was again flogged and put on a buffalo facing the tail. He was paraded aroundDamietta in this state and subjected to insults and humiliation. Eventually, moltentar was poured over his head and he was left outside the door of his home. His family attempted to nurse him, but he died five days later on 17Paremhat 1565A.M. (March 25, 1844). During these five days, members ofDamietta'sChristian community locked themselves in their homes for fear of attacks by the enraged mobs.[citation needed]
Sidhom Bishay's death outragedDamietta'sChristian community, andChristians of all denominations gathered at his funeral. TheCoptic Orthodox priests put on their vestments. Led by chanting deacons bearing banners surmounted by thecross, and headed by Hegoumenos Youssef Mikhael, the senior priest inDamietta, they progressed through the streets of the city until they reached the church where the funeral was held.[citation needed]
Following this incident, the leadingChristians inDamietta asked theEuropean consuls for help. Eventually, Mr. Michail Sorour, the official representative of sevenEuropean countries inEgypt, agreed to act as mediator between the Egyptian government andPope Peter VII of Alexandria. Two government officials were charged with conducting an official enquiry, and the case was officially reopened. As a result, both the judge and the governor were dismissed. As a concession to theChristians ofDamietta, they were granted the right to raise theCross at their funerals and over their churches. This privilege was ultimately extended to the whole ofEgypt during the pontificate ofPope Cyril IV of Alexandria.[citation needed]
Sidhom Bishay was subsequently canonized by theCoptic Orthodox Church. His body rests today in a glass-fronted shrine in the Cathedral of Saint Mary inDamietta.
