History of the Setting of May 16 as the Feast of the Martyrs of Sudan

by Jerry Drino

In 2004 the Diocese of El Camino Real began observing a local feast day for the Martyrs of Sudan.  Through the Office of InterCultural Ministry Development of Province VIII, Jerry Drino, Executive Director commended the other nine dioceses of the Province where Sudanese ministries were located to promote the feast day.  He created a set of Propers (prayers and readings) which were sent to the Standing Commission of Liturgy and Music to be considered for inclusion in the Calendar of the Episcopal Church.   Subsequently, seven other dioceses out in our Provinces authorize the use of this Feast Day and joined the petition which went forward to the 2006 General Convention .   The resolution passed both the House of Bishops and the House of Deputies.  However, a second “reading” had to take place at the next General Convention.   This feast day was included in the revised supplementary text called “Holy Women and Holy Men,” which replaced “Lesser Feasts and Fasts.”  Therefore, the May 16, the traditional date for the refusal by the Christians of southern Sudan to convert to Islam, is set aside for the Martyrs of the Sudan.

Icon on the Martyrs of Sudan

Early in 2009 Awer Bul was approached to paint an icon of the Martyrs.   Among the former Lost Boys, Awer felt deeply honored to be commissioned for this work.  Unlike other paintings he said he never tired on working on this piece until it was done in time for General Convention.   The icon represents a priest, a mother and child facing once more an attack on their village.   The priest holds fast the symbol of his faith, the Cross and Bible in his hand which has lead the people through all the turmoil of over fifty years, which sadly continues today.  Consequently, new martyrs are being added to this commemorations.  Copies of this icon can be obtained from the office of Hope With Sudan www.hopewithsudan.org or contacting the Executive Director, Jerry Drino, jdrino@hopewithsudan.org

Reflections by Awer Bul, Artist

Throughout the struggles in Sudan mothers, fathers and children never lost hope in the Cross.  The words of Bible in their hands led them on their way to find doors that were opened in the face of horrendous attacks.  They found places of hope and God’s will.  God never forgotten them although the struggles in the war caused many to die and still others to lose family members through attacks, hunger, and diseases and even in the face of losing their homeland.

Nevertheless, the suffering that Sudanese endured is similar to Noah’s Ark and the Exodus in the Bible.  It was and is a journey of struggles but also a journey of hope for  a better tomorrow for the survivors, lifting the spirits of the lost ones. In the flooded land, in the desert and thorny bush the people never stopped walking until they reached the house of God. God has never forgotten his people and today, Sudanese survivors are left as a seed for a better tomorrow.  We have come to know that whether we live or die we are the Lord’s possession.  The Martyrs who we remember are the Lord’s possession with us.  www.awerbul.com

Awer is an artist living in Richmond, VA working on a degree in fine arts.