Martyrs of Damascus
Martyrs of Damascus The Massabki Brothers, Manuel Ruiz, and 7 Companions | |
|---|---|
Official Portrait of the Eleven Martyrs of Damascus, including eight Franciscans and the Massabki brothers. | |
| Priests, Religious (Francisco and Juan), Laymen (Massabki Brothers); Martyrs | |
| Born | Manuel Ruiz López Carmelo Bolta Bañuls Nicanor Ascanio Soria Nicolás María Alberca Torres Pedro Nolasco Soler Méndez Engelbert Kolland Francisco Pinazo Peñalver Juan Jacob Fernández Fransīs Masābkī 'Abd-al-Mu'tī Masābkī Rūfayīl Masābkī 1802-1830 Spain; Salzburg, Austria (Engelbert); and Damascus, Syria (Massabki Brothers) |
| Died | 10 July 1860 Damascus, Syria |
| Cause of death | Beheading, clubbing, stabbing by Druze |
| Venerated in | Catholic Church |
| Beatified | 10 October 1926, Saint Peter's Basilica, Rome, Kingdom of Italy by Pope Pius XI |
| Canonized | 20 October 2024, Saint Peter's Square, Vatican City by Pope Francis |
| Major shrine | Syriac Catholic Cathedral of Saint Paul, Damascus |
| Feast | 10 July |
| Attributes | Martyr's palm Eucharist Rosary |
The Martyrs of Damascus were eleven Catholic saints martyred while praying inside a Franciscan-run parish in Damascus by Druze during the 1860 civil conflict in Mount Lebanon and Damascus. They consist of The Massabki Brothers (Arabic: الأخوة المسابكيين) (Abdel Moati Massabki, Francis Massabki, and Raphael Massabki) and Manuel Ruiz Lopez and Companions (Manuel Ruiz López, Carmelo Bolta Bañuls, Nicanor Ascanio Soria, Nicolás María Alberca Torres, Pedro Nolasco Soler Méndez, Engelbert Kolland, Francisco Pinazo Peñalver, and Juan Jacob Fernández). The Massabki Brothers were three Maronite Catholics from Damascus, in present-day Syria and sons of Nehme Massabki. Emmanuel Ruiz and the seven other martyrs were Franciscans, seven from Spain and one from Austria.
Their martyrdom took place in the night between 9-10 July 1860 and they were beatified in 1926. All eleven were canonized on 20 October 2024.