Pope Shenouda III
Fasting and Martyrdom
It is natural that he, who cannot abstain from food, would find it difficult to offer his life.
Through continuous training and negligence for the bodily needs, a courageous soul is trained to endure hunger and thirst, bring the body into subjection to conquer the desires and lusts of the body. It is able to endure the hardships of imprisonment and the pain of torture. These people were able through God's grace, to offer their bodies up to death at the time of martyrdom.