08/28/2010, 00.00
INDIA
Send to a friend

Indian Christian Martyrs’ Day on 29 August

by Nirmala Carvalho
The day is an ecumenical initiative to remember those who died for their faith. Many Christians have been killed in recent years: Sister Rani, Fathers Thomas and Aruldass, Graham Staines. Their legacy should be preserved for future generations.

New Delhi (AsiaNews) – “We request all Christians [. . .] to remember all those died for the sake of Christ so that the memory of the martyrs may help the growth of the Indian Church,” said Mgr Anil Cuto, bishop of Jalandhar and chairman of the Ecumenical Commission. For this purpose, 29 August has been set aside as ‘Indian Christian Martyrs’ Day’ in association with all other Indian denominations. “It is not about declaring saint anyone, but of preserving the memory of those who suffered, bore witness and died for their faith, leaving a legacy for all Christians. This can be a source of inspiration for many generations to come,” the prelate added.

Fr Anbu SVD, national secretary of the Ecumenical Commission, spoke to AsiaNews about the initiative’s genesis.

“The idea came up for discussion during a meeting of regional secretaries in Jhansi, in November 2009. Ecumenical secretaries felt the need to remember all the Christians who died for Christ in India over the years. In order to remember them, they saw that it was fitting that we celebrate an ‘Indian Christian Martyrs’ Day’ with all other denominations,” he said.

“As Pope John Paul II wrote in his encyclical Ut Unum Sint, all Christians share a common martyrology. Our goal is not to canonise anyone, but only to remember those who sacrificed themselves for Christ. The life of courage of these people is a legacy for the Church and we want to preserve it for future generations,” he added.

The hope is that ‘Martyrs’ Day’ will “spur the faithful to follow Christ in a more personal way,” that it will “encourage them to stand firm on their faith and never lose hope in life, whatever difficulty they might encounter.”

“In the last few years, we have had a few martyrs: Sister Rani Maria FCC, Father Thomas, Father Aruldass, the missionary Graham Staines and his children. Many others have lost their life in our country, and many pastors have been unjustly killed,” Fr Anbu said.

“In a country where Christians are a minority and continue to suffer because of their faith, we must support them through prayers,” he added. “Those who died for Christ are true heroes of Christianity. If we do not acknowledge them, who will?”

 

TAGs
Send to a friend
Printable version
CLOSE X
See also
National Commission for Women asks for 'immediate action' in the nun rape case in Kerala
07/02/2019 17:28
Church leads the way in helping Vietnam cope with its educational emergency
11/03/2016 17:00
Christian Churches in Hong Kong want to live the unity of faith
12/01/2007
Beatification of 188 martyrs embodies the faith in Japan and Asia
26/11/2008
To remember the past is to commit oneself to peace, say Archbishops of Hiroshima and Nagasaki
05/08/2005


Newsletter

Subscribe to Asia News updates or change your preferences

Subscribe now
“L’Asia: ecco il nostro comune compito per il terzo millennio!” - Giovanni Paolo II, da “Alzatevi, andiamo”