Bishoy El Komos Daniel Martyr of Tanta

(9th April) we commemorate the martyrdom of  the 45 parishioners of the Palm Sunday bombings in both St George’s  church in Tanta and St Mark’s Coptic Orthodox Cathedral in Alexandria in  2017. The one martyr who stands out very much by far is the 22 yr old  Bishoy al-Qommos – the son of Fr Daniel Maher. A video interview by the  ME Sat channel reveals more information. His brother was also injured in  the blast, but did not pass away.

Upon  birth, Bishoy was weak, used to vomit and lose weight. However  Archangel Michael worked a miracle with him and he recovered. He was a  quiet child, committed to his studies, often coming first in his class.  He loved the church, was devoted to service, loved Sunday School and  memorized hymns. Before going to college, he used to wake up early to  pray and to read the bible. During the Great Lent he used to do  metanias.

On  Thursdays, instead of going out with his friends, he preferred to visit  his Sunday School children. He regularly communicated with the mothers  of his children via what’s app in order to serve the children. Often  he’s be heard telling his mum ‘Mum I am so upset that so and so of his  Coptic college friends didn’t come to mass and have Communion”. Hence he  would pray for them.

His  father the priest reports, “He loved saints, heaven and contemporary  saints” particularly Fr Samaan Anba Paul and enjoyed retreats at the  monastery. Some time before his martydom, Bishoy told Fr Paula of St  Mary’s church Ibiara (many say this priest is a saint), he wanted to be a  monk. He loved his mother, helping in the housework, cleaning the  dishes and the bathroom when he was home, which his mum would often find  finished upon returning from work.

Whilst  studying or doing anything at home, he’d always be seen holding a small  cross. His desk was very organized and housed more than 10 small  different icons. The wall his desk was in front of held a single poster  of many saints combined, which he himself elaborately designed. Each  day, he was fond of being aware of the saint that was commemorated.

Throughout  the entire interview, his father and mother speak proudly, joyfully and  gratefully about their son and his martyrdom and not one tear is shed.  Thus they have great faith, humility and submission to the will of God.  Many report miracles occurring with them through the intercession of  Bishoy.

The vision Fr Paula had during the Palm Sunday bombings

On  the 9th April 2017 (Palm Sunday) in Egypt, two Islamic suicide bombers  blew themselves up in St George’s Church Tanta and St Mark’s Coptic  Orthodox church Alexandria killing 45 people, including the famed martyr  Bishoy Al-Qommos, and injuring 126 people. At the precise moment of the  bombings in Tanta, the priest Fr Paula who is well reputed to be a  saintly holy priest, saw a vision whilst he was praying the mass in  Ibyar – a village 18 km away from Tanta. [This priest is a real, kind  and caring father, I’ve experienced it in a small way].

During  the confession part of the mass as Fr Paula was lifting up the holy  body, staring behind the altar, he suddenly stayed silent for 10 mins,  even to the extent, the deacon took photos of him. Word quickly spread  about the bombings and as Fr Paula continued the mass, he asked some  people what was wrong and they told him about the bombings.

Fr  Paula told them I saw them all in a vision where he saw the picture of  Jesus Christ sitting on the throne (the big painted in one right behind  the altar as is present in all churches) light up and separate into  different parts and deacons in two lines, one line coming from the left  hand side of the altar, the other from the right hand side. As the  deacons reached the icon, he saw the Lord Jesus place a crown on the  deacons heads and then they would disappear into the picture of the Lord  Jesus Christ sitting on the throne. Thus did the holy priest confirm  the crowns of the martyrs.