On Wednesday, January 29th, 2025, the sacred walls of Al-Aour’s Martyrs Church in Minya, Egypt, held more than just prayers. In the morning, families gathered in reverent anticipation for a screening of The 21, a short film animated in the style of Coptic iconography to honor the families’ lost loved ones—twenty-one Coptic martyrs killed by ISIS whose unwavering faith led them to sacrifice their lives in Libya a decade ago.
The screening began in the wake of the Divine Liturgy, where the words of Hebrews 12:2 echoed through the church: “For the joy set before him, he endured the cross, scorning its shame.” This reflection would take on deeper meaning as the event unfolded, foreshadowing the spirit of sacrifice that the film sought to capture.
Created through a remarkable five-year journey, The 21 represents a unique collaboration that brought together more than 70 artists from 24 countries. The filmmakers, present at the screening, shared how the project had affected them during its development. Through interviews with the martyrs’ families and careful study of neo-Coptic iconography, they crafted a visual language that could speak to both the profound loss and enduring faith at the heart of this story.
The church grew heavy with emotion as the film began to play. Tears flowed freely as families witnessed their loved ones’ story told through the lens of faith rather than violence. One mother, watching her son’s image appear on screen, touched her heart and whispered, “My dear, my son, always holding our heads high.” The moment captured what many present felt: a complex mixture of grief and pride, loss, and triumph.
Father Epiphanios, the church’s priest, was moved in unexpected ways. Though intimately familiar with the events, from the kidnapping through the final moments of martyrdom, he discovered new dimensions in the animated retelling. The film’s ability to depict both the horror of the martyrs’ suffering and the transcendent power of their faith moved all who were present.
Sacred Stories Emerge
During the panel discussion that followed, families shared their hopes for the film’s future. Many expressed desire for an extended version, feeling that more of their loved ones’ story could be told. Yet it was in the intimate conversations afterward that the deepest impacts of both the film and the martyrdom itself emerged.
One widow described how the film captured a moment she knew only through sound—the chanting of “Kyrie eleison. Lord, have mercy” in the martyrs’ final moments. Despite the chaos around her when she first heard the ISIS video, all of her attention was on that prayer. The film brought back that same feeling, as if nothing existed except their voices crying out to God.
The gathering also became a space for sharing testimonies of divine comfort received in the wake of loss. A martyr’s wife recounted how her young daughter, before news of her father’s death had reached them, said she had seen him “flying like a dove” in the sky. Months later, when the same child suffered a severe injury to her hand, she said, “There’s no need [for treatment]; my father has already come and placed his hand on me.” The mother then discovered her daughter’s injured finger had been restored.
These stories of loss and healing, human grief and divine comfort, wove together throughout the day. Another widow spoke of the moment she realized her husband would never meet their unborn daughter. Yet even in sharing this heartbreak, she emphasized how her prayers during his kidnapping focused not on his safe return but on his steadfastness in faith—whether he would return alive or receive the crown of martyrdom.
Faith’s Lasting Fragrance
The power of The 21 lies not just in its artistic achievement, but in its ability to transform a story of brutal violence into a testament of faith. As the time together drew to a close, the gathered community embodied the liturgical phrase, “You proclaim my death and confess my resurrection.” The martyrs’ sacrifice, like a broken bottle of perfume, continues to spread its fragrance far beyond their village in Minya, drawing others to witness the enduring power of faith that remains unshaken even in humanity’s darkest moments.
The 21 will be available for public viewing during its online premiere the weekend of February 15, 2025—marking the tenth anniversary of the martyrdom. Those interested in hosting screenings can visit The21Film.com to learn more about the film.
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