Saints Massabki Brothers and the Martyrs of Damascus
Three Maronite lay brothers and eight Franciscans killed in Damascus in 1860
- Rank
- Saint
- Kind
- Martyr, Layperson
- Life
- d. 1860
- Era
- 19th century
- Feast
- 10 July
- Countries
- Syria
Life story
In 1860 the conflict between Druze and Maronites in Mount Lebanon spread to Damascus. From 9 July a mob attacked the Christian quarter of the city and many people were killed. One of the places hit was the Franciscan church and convent, home to a community of friars.
The three Massabki brothers, Francis, Abdel Mooti and Raphael, were Maronites who had settled in Damascus. On the night of 9–10 July 1860 they were praying in the Franciscan church. According to Church accounts they were threatened and told to renounce their faith, refused, and were killed there.
Eight Franciscans died the same night. The group includes Fr Emmanuel Ruiz, the superior, and Frs Carmelo Bolta, Nicanor Ascanio, Nicolas Alberca and Pedro Soler, with brothers Juan Jacob Fernández and Francisco Pinazo, all Spaniards, and the Austrian Fr Engelbert Kolland. Pope Pius XI beatified the whole group in October 1926, and Pope Francis canonised them on 20 October 2024 in Rome, the first canonisation of Maronite lay people. Their shared memorial is 10 July. Estimates of the number of Christians killed in Damascus in 1860 vary between sources.
Works and witness
- Three Maronite lay brothers living in Damascus
- Killed in the Franciscan church on the night of 9–10 July 1860
- According to Church accounts, refused to renounce their faith
- Died alongside eight Franciscan friars
- Beatified in 1926 and canonised in 2024
Saints from the same country
References
- Pope Pius XI, beatification of October 1926 (Acta Apostolicae Sedis)
- Pope Francis, canonisation of 20 October 2024 (Vatican News)
- Martyrologium Romanum
Written by Anawim from documented history. Some details about ancient saints rest on tradition and are marked as such.