On March 9, 2022, in the Cathedral of Notre Dame (Paris), the First Inaugural Session of the Diocesan Process for the Cause of Beatification of our brother martyrs was held  Bishop Jacques-Émile SONTAG , born on June 7, 1869 in Dinsheim, Lower Rhine (France), Archbishop of Ispahan of the Latinos in Persia (Iran) died in odium fidei on July 27, 1918 in Urmia, Àzar bàijàn-e Gharbi (Iran).

The Session was chaired by Bishop Michel Gueguen. Present were the members of the  Tribunal that was established for this Cause: the Delegated Judge, the Promoter of Justice and the Notary. They were sworn in, and later so also were the postulator, Fr. Giuseppe Guerra and the vice-postulator, Fr. François Hiss. Father Lazare, who was a missionary in Iran for many years, and a very knowledgable in the history, culture and historical context of our martyrs, also participated.

In Addition to Bishop Jacques-Émile Sontag, the Cause also includes three other confreres:

François MIRAZIZ , born on August 27, 1878 in Khosrowabad (Iran) and ordained a priest in Paris on July 27, 1902. He was assassinated on the same day (July 27, 1918), in Khosrowabad, Àzarbàijàn-e Gharbi (Iran), martyred at the hands of the Kurds.

Mathurin L’HÒTELLIER  born in 1883 in France, died on July 18, 1918 in Khosrowabad, Àzarbàijàn-e Gharbi (Iran), also a martyr to his faith.

Nathanaèl DINKHA (Étienne)  was born on May 17, 1849 in Khosrowabad. Coming from a Muslim family, he was secretly baptized. Fr. Bettembourg C.M.  states that he was endowed with great energy and that he walked to France before being admitted to the Congregation. He was ordained a priest on October 25 (or December), 1875 in Jerusalem. He died on July 27, 19I8 in Urmia, Àzarbàijàn-e-Gharbi (Iran), also a martyr at the hands of the Kurds.