Saint Maurice Coptic Orthodox Church

Saint maurice was brought up in the region of Thebes (Luxor -- Egypt) and became a soldier in the Roman army. He was gradually promoted until he became the leader of the Theban legion, formed of 6600 soldiers.

This legion was sent, upon the order of the Emperoe Maximianos (286-305), to resist the tribes' attacks at the western borders of the Roman Empire. The Theban legion settled down all along the western borders from Germany to Italy, near Lausanne in Switzerland.

The Roman Emperor and his soldiers worshipped and offered to their idols before they engaged in battles. Saint Maurice and his soldiers were asked to share in this action, but they refused and declared their faith in Jesus Christ. The leader Maurice also sent a letter to the Emperor in the name of all members of the legion declairing their faith in Christ.

The Emperor was disappointed and gave orders to torture one tenth of the members of the legion, in order to terrify the rest. However, the soldiers accepted torture declaring in public their faith in Christ. The Emperor then ordered the killing of all of them. All members of the legion, headed by Saint Maurice, were martyred. The date of his martyrdom is 25th of the Coptic month Toot.

May his prayers be with us. Amen