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Nekam

Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature

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a Mohammedan martyr to the Christian cause, flourished near the middle of the 11th century. He was of an influential family, but, convinced of the errors of Mohammedanism, he embraced Christianity and became a Jacobite. His parents and friends forsook him, and he consequently retired to the church of St. Michael at Moctara, where, after a short stay, he was urged by the monks to retreat with them to the convent of S. Macarius. He refused to join them, on the ground of his obligation to publicly confessing Christ, especially among his former associates, in order that they too might become Christ's servants on earth. He went to Cairo, and there boldly presenting himself in the public streets, was imprisoned and condemned to death, because of his apostasy. All efforts to reclaim him, or to feign madness in order that his life might be saved, he refused as improper means, and he was consequently beheaded. The corpse was given up to his friends and buried near the church of Moctara, but the patriarch Abd-el- Messiah removed it within the building, and erected an altar in honor of the noble martyr. See Neale's Hist. Holy East. Ch. (Patriarchate of Alexandria, 2:215, 716).