Canonization of 100 + Martyrs of India

The world was stunned by the brutality of the anti-Christian violence that engulfed Kandhamal, Orissa, India. Churches were desecrated and destroyed, Christians hounded out and their houses plundered and torched.

Over 300 churches and over 6,000 Christian houses were reduced to ashes or damaged rendering more than 56,000 people refugees. More than 100 Christians became martyrs for their faith. Those who refused to forsake their faith in Christ were put to sword, chopped into pieces, burnt alive or crushed with boulder.

Asian Indian Cardinal, Oswald Gracias, of Mumbai wants the Church in India to initiate process to declare the 100 + killed during the anti-Christian violence in Kandhamal as martyrs. The prelate who is the Archbishop of Bombay, said he has spoken to the “Prefect of the Vatican’s Congregation for the Causes of Saints” regarding this. “ I am wiling to speak personally about Kandhamal violence and its martyrs to Pope Francis”, Cardinal Gracias told Matters India on December 28. Cardinal Gracias is part of the 8-member Council of Cardinals hand-picked by Pope Francis to advice him on the reform of the Catholic Church’s central administration in Vatican.

During the National Eucharistic Conference of India held in Bombay, November 12 – 15,Cardinal Gracias was profoundly moved hearing the testimony of one of the victims of the violence, Mrs. Kanak Nayak, who witnessed her husband being chopped into pieces by Hindu extremists for not giving up his faith. Cardinal Gracias said that he had met Kanak Nayak and other victims in Orissa’s Capital Bhuvaneshwar, asking how he could help them. The request of Kanak Nayak was, “Can our husbands be declared martyrs by the Church?” Cardinal Gracias was moved by the genuine faith of these simple Christians.

Anto Akkara, a fearless journalist, is responsible for the canonization of the martyrs. He made 23 trips to Kandhamal,, interviewed the victims and their dear ones, and documented their testimonies. Inspired by the heroic witness of thousands of Christians amid severe persecution and suffering, Akkara’s book “Early Christians of the 21^st Century” is a collection of over one hundred testimonies soaked in blood, tested and purified by untold suffering. For his ‘stellar’ advocacy on Kandhamal, Akkara won the prestigious BLESSED TITUS BRANDSMA AWARD for journalism.

Akkarawill be in Houston in September. We are planning to have a Conference with Akkara as the keynote speaker in September, .