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→John's martyrdom: - King El-Kamel (1218-1238 AD) + wikipedia link
John stayed in Pepleu for a number of years until he felt within himself that it was time to confess his faith in our Lord Jesus Christ publicly by petitioning the Ayyubite king to grant him a pardon to officially return to his Christian faith. So he sold what he had and gave it to his children, whom he entrusted to the care of people from his village before leaving to Cairo.
On his way to Cairo, he visited a [[priest]] who advised him to first confer with the Coptic [[Pope]]. But John instead went to Abu-Shaker, the Coptic physician of the King, El-Kamel(1218-1238 AD) [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al-Kamil], son of King El-Adel. Abu-Shaker, tried to persuade him not to go to the king, but rather flee to another country where he can practise his faith freely. He told the saint, "these people are very evil and if you reveal a word in this manner before them and perhaps you did not endure in some trials, then we shall be in shames."
But our saint quietly continued on his way with the same determination. He stayed in Cairo, writing letters to the king, asking for his pardon or the sword's blade if he would not grant such pardon. Of course, no one answered his letters. He later attended a festival for St. George outside of Cairo in a village called Ponmonros. Upon meeting the priest of the [[church]], he received the first encouragement for what he was about to do.
