Saint Shenute the New Martyr
Saint Shenute, also called Anba Shinudah, is listed as a seventh-century “new martyr,” with a feast day on 13 Abib.[^1]
Also known as: Shenute the New Martyr · Anba Shinudah · Shenute the Seventh-Century Martyr
In brief
Saint Shenute the New Martyr, also called Anba Shinudah, is a seventh-century martyr listed in The Coptic Encyclopedia, with a feast day on 13 Abib. His brief notice identifies his name, period, and commemoration, distinguishing him from the earlier abbot Shenute of the White Monastery.
Overview
Saint Shenute the New Martyr, also named Anba Shinudah, is identified in The Coptic Encyclopedia as a seventh-century “new martyr,” whose feast day is 13 Abib. The notice is concise, recording his name, alternative designation, century, and commemoration rather than a narrative of his martyrdom.1
His identity must be distinguished from that of Saint Shenute, the fourth- and fifth-century reforming abbot of the White Monastery near Suhaj. The encyclopedia assigns the abbot a different feast day, 7 Abib.3
History and origins
The direct evidence supplied for the new martyr consists of a single entry: “Shenute, or Anba Shinudah (feast day: 13 Abib), a ‘new martyr’ of the seventh century.” This establishes the period to which the encyclopedia assigns him, but does not furnish an exact year or a sequence of events in his life.1
The entry immediately preceding his concerns another martyr named Shenute, also called Sinuti, described as a native of Bahnasa who was slain under Emperor Maximian and commemorated on 14 Baramhat. These are separate entries with different historical descriptions and feast days; the birthplace and circumstances supplied for Sinuti should therefore not be transferred to Shenute the New Martyr.1
Meaning of the designation “new martyr”
In an article about Saint George the Egyptian, Coptic Church Review explains that “a new martyr is the special term used to denote one who died under Islamic persecution.” This provides a contextual explanation of the designation applied to Shenute in the encyclopedia.2
The terminology supplies a broad category of martyrdom, not a detailed account of Shenute’s individual experience. His own notice does not name a ruler, accuser, place of trial, or method of execution.1
Liturgical commemoration
The documented feast is 13 Abib, expressed in the terminology of the Coptic Calendar. This is the only liturgical detail given in the supplied notice: it does not include a hymn, prayer, reading, or rubric for his commemoration.1
The date is also important for identifying the saint correctly. Shenute the New Martyr is commemorated on 13 Abib, Shenute or Sinuti of Bahnasa on 14 Baramhat, and Shenute the abbot of the White Monastery on 7 Abib.13
Names and identification
The direct notice gives two forms, Shenute and Anba Shinudah, for the seventh-century martyr. It does not provide the name in Coptic or Arabic script.1
The shared name makes the epithet “the New Martyr” useful for distinguishing this entry from the much fuller biography of Shenute the abbot. That biography concerns the White Monastery, Shenute’s writings, and the Life composed by his disciple Besa; these details belong to the abbot’s record, not to the short notice of the seventh-century martyr.13
Questions
Frequently asked questions
- Who was Saint Shenute the New Martyr?
- The Coptic Encyclopedia lists Shenute, also called Anba Shinudah, as a seventh-century “new martyr.” The supplied notice gives no detailed account of his life or death.
- When is Saint Shenute the New Martyr’s feast day?
- His feast day is 13 Abib. This differs from the 7 Abib feast of Saint Shenute, the reforming abbot of the White Monastery.
- Is Shenute the New Martyr the same as Shenute of the White Monastery?
- The encyclopedia presents them separately: the new martyr belongs to the seventh century, whereas the abbot belongs to the fourth and fifth centuries. Their feast days also differ.
- What does “new martyr” mean?
- Coptic Church Review defines “new martyr” as a special term for someone who died under Islamic persecution. The brief notice about Shenute applies this designation without describing the circumstances of his death.
References
Sources
- 1.The Coptic Encyclopedia, Volume 5 — Aziz S. Atiya (Editor in Chief) (p. 517)
Shenute, or Sinuti (feast day: 14 Baramhat), a native of Bahnasa who was slain under Emperor Maximian. Shenute, or Anba Shinudah (feast day: 13 Abib), a "new martyr" of the seventh century.
- 2.Coptic Church Review, Volume 3, Number 2 — Rodolph Yanney, M.D. (p. 28)
A new martyr is the special term used to denote one who died under Islamic persecution.
- 3.The Coptic Encyclopedia, Volume 7 — Aziz S. Atiya (Editor in Chief) (p. 253)
SHENUTE, SAINT, fourth-fifth-century reforming abbot of DAYR ANBA SHINUDAH (the White Monastery), situated near the ancient village of Atrib, near Suhaj, in the region of Akhmim (feast day: 7 Abib). The source material that makes it possible to reconstruct his life and work consists mainly of the literary remains of his own writings and of the Life composed by his disciple BESA, who succeeded him as abbot of the White Monastery.
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This article was drafted from the sources listed above with AI assistance and reviewed by an editor before publication.