THE FIVE & THEIR MOTHER[(16)]

In a small village in the province of Giza, just south of the city of Cairo, there stands a small but old church called the Church of ’The Five & their Mother', Copts from all over the country visit this church in remembrance of the saintly martyrs after whom it is named. This prompts the question - whom are these martyrs and why is the church so - called?.

These martyrs were five brothers whose father had died when they were very young, and whose mother was a pious, Christian woman. When her husband died, she consecrated her life to bringing up her sons to be virtuous & God - fearing. The two older ones named Kuzman & Dimian studied, medicine & became doctors. The three younger ones retired to the desert and became monks.

When the Diocletian persections started, Kuzman & Dinian spent a lot of their time among the distressed and the suffering, dispensing physi¬cal as well as spiritual healing. Their activities brought them to the attention of the Roman authorities, who were told, also, of their mother & brothers and how they were all Christians. Kuzman & Dimian were immediately summoned, ordered to bring the rest of their family & appear together before the governor on a certain day. When they did, they were told to relinquish their faith and bow their knees to the Roman gods. This they categorically refused, proclaiming they were Christians. When neither coercion nor threats succeeded in making them change their firm stand, orders were given that they be tortured with progressive severity until they either give in or die. At first their mother was left standing by to behold what was happening to them, but when instead of breaking down, she kept encouraging them to withstand the suffering by constant prayers and hymn - singing, she was beheaded in front of their eyes and left lying on the ground.

Seeing her lying there, her eldest son Kuzman appealed to the standers - by, saying 'will he who has a compassionate heart among you remove the body of this old woman and give her a decent burial’. No sooner had he said this than someone's heart was stirred and the mother was carried away for burial. As for the five sons they continued steadfast in their faith bearing all suffering for their Master's sake until they, too, were beheaded and received the crown of martyrdom. Because they were persecuted together and as one family group, they came to be remembered & celebrated as the 'Five and their mother'.

When the era of persecutions came to an end, several churches were built in their names, and many of those who prayed fervently to the Lord there evoking their blessed names received miracles in accordance with their faith.