Remember me, O Lord, when you come into your Kingdom!
There are many today who feel justified in claiming the sacred act of martyrdom. People with diverse political, philosophical, religious or ethnic grievances strap themselves to high explosives, or drive bomb-loaded cars and head in to crowded places where their indiscriminate suicide maims or extinguishes innocent lives.
There are many today who feel justified in claiming the sacred act of martyrdom. People with diverse political, philosophical, religious or ethnic grievances strap themselves to high explosives, or drive bomb-loaded cars and head in to crowded places where their indiscriminate suicide maims or extinguishes innocent lives.
For us Christians, martyrdom is a well-known term. In different ages, up to the present, our two thousand year-long history has been filed with moving examples of those who, compelled by faith, laid themselves down in the path of death. Their brave acts, however, separate them from those who demand similar standing today.
Let us note a few but unique characteristics of Christian martyrdom.
1. Rather than political, philosophical, economic or ethnic injustice, the violation of their deepest religious conviction forced them into martyrdom. Theologians call this situation status confessions.
2. Death always came to them through the violent deeds of others, rather than by their own suicide.
3. A Christian martyr never endangered the life of others.
4. They departed in peace, praying for and forgiving their persecutors.
To illustrate these points and to better understand a situation that may have led to martyrdom let us recall an event that took place in the 1950s, the nadir years in the history of the Soviet Empire.
In order to force its citizens into a unified, socialist mold, the ruling Communist Party applied all the available ways and means of their centralized Soviet State. Militant atheism was used to extinguish a major obstacle- their faith in God. Accordingly, churches were closed and converted into atheist libraries and museums, Atheism, as a main subject, became part of every educational institution from kindergarten to university. Even long distance courses were offered with such enticing titles as: “Convert Yourself to be Godless.” Theaters were required to perform atheistic plays when free tickets, distributed to deserving workers, created full houses.
In one of the major theaters in Moscow during such a play an unexpected event occurred. On the stage a large group of actors, dressed as Orthodox monks and nuns enjoyed a raucous merriment, singing and gesturing obscenities, inviting the audience to do the same. Presently, the head of the monastery was to arrive with a Bible in his hand and in an outrage read from the scripture with his voice soon being suppressed by the laughter of the drunks so he throws the Book away saying, “Nobody listens to this anymore” and joins the party.
The show went on as scheduled. The leader of the monastery with great dignity started reading the sixth chapter of Matthew. But as the laughing grew so did the voice of the actor. Soon his deep, booming tone not only surpassed those on the stage, but also filled the entire theater. Moreover, he did not stop at the practiced place but kept on reading.
First his colleagues realized that something extraordinary was happening. They stopped laughing and gesturing and in silence listened to the Scripture. The audience with no exception followed the example.
And the reading went on – the Lord’s Prayer was followed by Christ’s teachings on forgiveness, fasting, possessions, anxiety about the future and God’ certain care.
After finishing all 34 verses the actor closed the Bible, kissed it, crossed himself said; “REMEMBER ME, O LORD, WHEN YOU COME INTO YOUR KINGDOM” Luke 23:42
He left the stage followed by the others. The curtain was lowered and the audience quietly went home. After this performance the brave actor was not seen again.
We don’t even know his name but we can be certain that his is registered in the Book of Life.
Story credited to Indiana University’s Russian and East European Institute, Bloomington, 1975
Laslo Medyesy
Budapest
Laslo Medyesy is a missionary with the Reformed Church in Hungary, based in Budapest, Hungary. He serves as professor of theology in the Department of Theology of the Gaspar Karoli Reformed University in Budapest.