Song of the Nightingale

1. Faith as an early, unwavering commitment.

I knew that I wanted to dedicate my life to doing God’s work.

Early spiritual foundation. Helen Berhane's Christian faith began at a young age in Eritrea, initially within the Orthodox tradition and later the Catholic church. This early exposure to scripture and worship shaped her into a quiet, calm child with a deep sense of purpose. By age 14, she felt a strong calling to dedicate her life to God's work.

Ministry through song. Singing became a central part of her ministry, alongside sharing the gospel with others. She also devoted time to visiting the sick, praying for them, and encouraging them to abandon traditional charms in favor of faith in God. Her baptism solidified her commitment, preparing her for future challenges.

Resilience through faith. Even facing the pain of divorce, which was culturally frowned upon, Helen found strength in her faith. Excluded from her church community, she prayed alone, receiving a song that reminded her of Jesus' constant presence. Reading "Tortured for Christ" further convinced her that suffering was a potential part of serving God, strengthening her resolve.

2. Growing ministry meets rising government oppression.

I truly believe that fear and the gospel do not go together, and I was determined that no matter what happened, I would still continue to do God’s work.

Expanding reach. Helen's ministry grew through her beauty salon, where she shared her faith with customers, and through travel to other towns to sing and speak. She also pursued theological training and participated in an evangelistic film, "The Gospel is the Cure for the Land," which became popular among young Christians.

Post-war tensions. Following the war with Ethiopia, Eritrea's government became increasingly strict, closing private media and arresting critics. In May 2002, a decree recognized only four faiths, requiring others, including Helen's Pentecostal church, to re-register and forbidding them from meeting in their buildings.

Crackdown on Christians. The government began broadcasting anti-church propaganda and arresting Christians for activities as simple as owning a Bible or holding family devotions. This created an oppressive atmosphere where trust was eroded, and people were taken from their homes and workplaces based solely on their beliefs.

3. Public preaching leads to the first serious arrest.

I was convinced in that moment that without intervention from God there would be more bloodshed, and I knew that he wanted me to speak to these people.

Impelled to speak. Walking through Asmara's city center, Helen felt a powerful urge to speak to people gathered on the Cathedral steps, moved by compassion for those potentially facing death in the ongoing conflict with Ethiopia. She spoke about the need for reconciliation and prayer for peace, not against the government.

Arrest and false report. Despite her message of peace and faith, two secret policemen arrested her, dragging her away from the crowd. One officer went ahead to the police station and filed a false report, claiming she had spoken against the government and president, escalating the seriousness of her actions.

Defiance under interrogation. At the police station, the chief questioned her based on the false report. Helen calmly explained she had only preached the gospel and prayed for peace. Despite the chief's warning to stop preaching, she defiantly declared, "I will never stop preaching. The gospel cannot be stopped."

4. The harsh reality of container prisons.

The containers were the cells.

Arrival at Mai Serwa. After being transferred from a military prison, Helen arrived at Mai Serwa, a notorious camp outside the city. The prison lacked fences, relying on the inhospitable terrain to deter escapees. The buildings were primitive mud-brick structures, unlike the stone buildings in the city.

Inhumane conditions. The "cells" were metal shipping containers, packed tightly with prisoners. Helen's container initially held eighteen women. Conditions were appalling:

• Infested with fleas and lice.
• Extreme temperatures (hot during the day, freezing at night).
• Lack of ventilation and fresh air.
• No proper toilets, only a shared bucket.
• Condensation dripping from the roof, creating rusty pools.

Dehumanizing treatment. Prisoners were subjected to humiliating body searches and forced to walk barefoot on sharp gravel. Guards were often cruel, mocking prisoners and using basic needs like toilet access as a means of control and degradation. The sheer number of young people imprisoned was appalling.

5. Worship and community sustain faith in confinement.

We should praise God in spite of the fleas, in spite of the lice, in spite of the heat.

Finding strength together. Despite the horrific conditions, Helen encouraged the women in her container to find strength in their faith. She led them in prayer, singing, and Bible study, reminding them that complaining would not help, but praising God in all circumstances would.

Persecution for worship. The guards noticed the singing and began to punish the women who participated. Punishments included:

• Being pulled out and forced to run barefoot on gravel.
• Being made to perform difficult physical exercises like "frog leaps."
• Being beaten with batons and whips.
• Being tied up outside for extended periods, day and night.

Resilience through unity. Although some women eventually stopped singing due to fear and torture, Helen and a few others refused to give up. They continued to worship, finding comfort and drawing strength from their shared faith and mutual support, demonstrating that their spirit could not be contained.

6. Solitary confinement becomes a time of unexpected fruitfulness.

Although I was lonely at first, I actually came to enjoy my time in solitary confinement.

Harsher punishment. After refusing to stop singing and writing, Helen was moved to solitary confinement in a container, initially alone, then with a mentally ill woman, and later alone again. The guards intended this to break her spirit, as solitary confinement often led to mental breakdowns in other prisoners.

Finding purpose in isolation. Contrary to the guards' intentions, Helen found her time alone fruitful. She established a routine of prayer, Bible study, writing songs, and writing letters of encouragement and Bible teaching to other prisoners. She managed to hide a Bible and a small radio, connecting her to the outside world and spiritual programs.

Unexpected connections. Even in solitary, Helen was not entirely alone. Three cats became her companions, and she used them to smuggle letters to other prisoners. She also found unexpected connections with some guards, one of whom was punished for being late by being put in a container and expressed amazement at her resilience.

7. Brutal torture tests the limits of physical endurance.

Just before the first blow from his baton landed, a word from Isaiah 53:7 came to me: ‘When he was beaten he was silent.’

Punishment for teaching. Helen's continued teaching and writing to other prisoners led to severe torture. After being caught passing a letter, she was handcuffed, beaten with a stick until it broke, and left outside in the rain. Later, a prison chief, Suleiman, systematically beat her with a baton for writing and teaching staff members.

Silent suffering. During Suleiman's brutal beating, Helen focused on the scripture "When he was beaten he was silent," refusing to cry out or beg him to stop. Her silence astonished him, as most victims were incapacitated. Despite the excruciating pain, she maintained her defiance, stating she would continue to believe even if he killed her.

Severe physical consequences. The beating left Helen severely injured, with widespread bruising, swelling, and bleeding. Her hands were particularly damaged from being handcuffed tightly after the beating. The injuries were so severe that she struggled to walk, breathe, and eventually lost the ability to urinate, requiring constant care from fellow prisoners.

8. Refusal to recant faith despite severe pressure.

I will not sign.

Constant pressure to deny faith. Throughout her imprisonment, Helen was repeatedly pressured to sign documents renouncing her Christian faith and promising to stop preaching, singing, and spreading the gospel. This was presented as the condition for her release.

Unwavering conviction. Despite facing escalating torture and worsening conditions, Helen consistently refused to sign. She saw it as impossible to stop believing and speaking about her faith, comparing herself to a sack of grain that can only pour out what is inside. Her refusal often led to harsher punishments.

Defiance as a witness. Helen's steadfast refusal to recant, even when near death, became a powerful witness to both prisoners and guards. Her suffering and resilience led others to question what was so special about her faith, contributing to the growth of Christianity in prison, ironically counteracting the government's intentions.

9. The profound impact of suffering on body and mind.

Prison is a living death, and more than that, it is a death of dignity, hopes and dreams.

Physical deterioration. The combination of poor nutrition, lack of sleep, harsh conditions, and brutal torture took a severe toll on Helen's physical health. She became extremely thin, suffered from constant pain, swelling, and bleeding, and lost basic bodily functions. Medics acknowledged her critical state but were often overruled by prison chiefs.

Psychological toll. Imprisonment also had a significant psychological impact. The constant fear, humiliation, and witnessing the suffering of others led to paranoia and dark thoughts, even affecting her faith temporarily in the hospital. Many other prisoners suffered nervous breakdowns due to the stress and isolation.

Dehumanization. The prison system actively sought to strip prisoners of their dignity, treating them "less than human." This included:

• Over-salting food to make it inedible.
• Denying basic needs like toilet access or clean water.
• Using degrading punishments like carrying rocks.
• Mocking and humiliating prisoners, especially Christians.

10. Finding grace and connection amidst dehumanization.

It was my experience that no matter what hardship I was in, God always sent someone to help me.

Fellow prisoners' support. Despite the harsh environment, Helen found moments of grace and support from fellow prisoners. Women in her container shared blankets, massaged her injuries, and carried her to the toilet when she couldn't walk. Their care was vital to her survival and well-being.

Unexpected kindness from guards. While many guards were cruel, some showed unexpected kindness. One older guard gently asked how he could help when Helen was near death. Others would talk to prisoners or try to comfort the sick, demonstrating that not all were indifferent to their suffering.

Divine provision. Helen saw these acts of kindness and support as God's provision, ensuring she was never truly alone. Even when girls were sent to spy on her, they became friends and shared their belongings, turning an intended act of surveillance into a source of blessing.

11. The enduring power of faith and forgiveness.

‘Is your faith worth this, Helen?’ And as I take a deep breath of the sour air, as my scalp stings, the mad woman rants outside, and the guards continue on their rounds, I whisper the answer: ‘Yes.’

Faith as ultimate value. Despite the immense suffering, pain, and loss, Helen consistently affirmed that her faith was worth it. This conviction fueled her resilience and refusal to compromise, even when faced with death.

Forgiveness for persecutors. Even after enduring brutal torture, Helen did not harbor hatred for her tormentors, specifically Suleiman. She prayed that he would find faith and repent, demonstrating the power of Christian forgiveness even in the most destructive environments.

Suffering for God's glory. Helen came to believe that God was using the terrible situation in Eritrea, including the persecution and imprisonment of Christians, for His glory. The steadfastness of believers under duress led others to question and ultimately embrace the faith, causing the church to grow despite the government's efforts to suppress it.

Last updated: June 9, 2025