2-Tao Jesosy Hay malalany, no henony There she heard Jesus her beloved miteny,
Ka ny feony dia malefaka fa feo Whispering sweet words in her ears mamelovelo
'Mionona Rasalama, izaho no solo-dray sy 'Courage Rasalama, I am here near you reny
hay tsy mahafoy anao ka aza manana Like father and mother, do not be sad or alahelo' afraid'
the depth of his heart were the Words of Jesus himself, already repeated by Stephen 'Father, receive my spirit' (Luke 23:46; Acts 7:59). After that he died a peaceful death.
His prayer was granted; for when he had witnessed the martyrdom of Rasalama, he had wished 'If I can die such a peaceful death. I wish too to die for the Lord'. He was the second Malagasy Christian crowned with a martyr's death.
Rabary reported that Rafaralahy did not suffer alone, his entire household suffered with him. His old mother suffered terribly from the loss of a beloved son; and died in grief within a few days. His pregnant wife was caught and put in jail. She was cruelly tortured. If she was not pregnant she would have been executed too. And the three lepers under his care also suffered a lot, because no one took care of them and Rafaralahy's death quickened their death. Though they were not martyred, they carried with him the cross of martyrdom (Rabary 1925: 92093).
7.4- Ramanisa killed by tangena ordeal
The hunting of Christians continued to ravage increasingly. The Christians lived in constant fear of being caught or being denounced. But with the company of the Bible they obtained strength; they read encouraging passages such as Proverbs 3: 25-26: 'Be not afraid of sudden terror, of the ruin of the wicked when it comes; for the lord will be your confidence, and will keep your foot from the snare'. This exercises calmed their fear.
The following year, Ramanisa had to undergo the tangena ordeal. She was the cousin of Rafaralahy, denounced with him by Rafiakarana. When Rafaralahy died, she was repudiated by her husband. Her father hated her because she refused to renounce Jesus Christ; and all her kin had run away from her. What consoled her was the Words of Jesus that she knew by heart: 'If the world hates you, realise that it hated me first. If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you' (John 15:18, 20); 'But do not be afraid, I am always with you' (Mt 28:20). She drank the tangena and died. She was a beautiful young woman in her early thirties; at her death the people present exclaimed that her face was 'like the face of an angel' (Acts6:15).
7.5- The decapitation at Ambohipotsy
On the 23 rd May 1840, sixteen Christians were caught at Andranomafana. They were on their way to escape to Mauritius via Toamasina, but the person who was entrusted to lead them up to the coast betrayed them. Then they were brought to Antananarivo for their trial the following morning, but one managed to escape during the night.
When they arrived at the capital, the queen pronounced the sentence against them. Five were sentenced to perpetual slavery. 'They were still young and they did not know what they were doing' she said. They were:
1- Andriamanantena 2- Rafaralahikely 3- Rafaravavikely 4- Razafitsaroana 5- Rasoamisa
The remaining ten were condemned to death:
1 - Ramanisa Josoa 6- Razafmierana 2- Rainitsiheva Paoly 7- Ramanampy 3- Razafy the wife of Raintsiheva 8- Ramanga 4- Ratsiroriray 9- Raminahy
5- Ratsaramiarana 10- Andrianimanana
They were put in jail, under the watchful eyes of four layers of guards, awaiting their fate the following morning. But that night, Andrianimanana was delivered miraculously. Rabary says that the door of the prison was opened and his chains loosened. He woke up and alerted his friends about what happened to him. He did not want to escape but his friends forced him saying 'God still has a mission for you to accomplish, go'. After saying good-bye to them, he left the prison. During that time, the guards were in deep sleep (Rabary 1925:106). It reminded them of the miraculous delivery of Simon Peter in Acts 12:6-19.
The nine of them were brought to Ambohipotsy on the 9th July 1840. Along their way, they still had the courage to preach the Good News to the soldiers and the people who accompanied them. Arriving at Ambohipotsy, they knelt together and prayed and sang the hymn:
Hody Zahay Zanahary We are going home Zanahary Fa tahio tsar a zahay Help us
Ampifalio ny kibonay Make us happy
Amin 'ny fitsaranao During your judgment Raha hofaty izahay When we die
Ka handao ity tany ity And leave this earth Dia ampifalio izahay Make us happy
Ento andanitra diafaly mandrakizay Bring us to heaven for eternal joy
Then the executioners decapitated them one by one. They were the fourth set of martyrs. They died calmly and peacefully said those who witnessed their execution.
7.6- The martyrdom of Ratsitapahina and Rabearahaba
Two years later, two Christians from Vonizongo were martyred: Ratsitapahina and Rabearahaba. They were denounced by Rasoanjanahary, the wife of Ratsitapahina, of plotting a rebellion against the queen and of being Christians and having the Bible36. When they acknowledged that they were Christians and caught with their Bible they were sentenced to death. On the 19th June 1842, Ratsitapahina was decapitated at the market of Antotohazo on a market day. His executioner suspended his head on a mat and exposed it in the middle of the market so that every one could see.
Rabearahaba was decapitated the following morning 20th June. It was at the market and on the market day of Ankazobe, and his head was also displayed on a mat. These executions in the district of Vonizongo were purposely done in presence of many people in order to terrorise the population, and especially to discourage the Christians from continuing to follow their religious practices. Christianity was blooming in that district because it was far from the watchful eye of the queen; and the Christians enjoyed relative freedom.
See details of their capture and arrest above under the subtitle The Christians hide their Bible.