In Memoriam: Hegomen Bishoy K. Demetrious (+2009)

From behind a sheet of tears, we commemorate the passing of the devoted man of God, the Very Reverend Hegomen Bishoy K. Demetrious. Abuna Bishoy was the founding pastor of St. Mary's Coptic Orthodox Church in East Brunswick, New Jersey.

He moved to East Brunswick 32 years ago. Having studied at the Coptic Theological Seminary in Cairo, Egypt, he was ordained on May 22, 1977 in Queens, N.Y. and was assigned to establish St. Mary's Coptic Orthodox Church.

Seeing the fruit of his labor, including the thousands who have been touched by his life and work - the present author among them -, it is difficult to believe that the congregation initially met as a small parish in Corpus Christi R.C. Church in South River, New Jersey before building its own church and complex on Riva Avenue in East Brunswick in the late 1970s.

A humble and self-effacing man, he was a priest in the purest and truest sense of the word. He loved his flock as a father and the Church as a son. Those who dealt with him knew him to be a man of genuine faith who always preached and counseled with utter conviction. There is no doubt that he was one who, like Moses, spoke to God “face-to-face” (Ex 33:11). While his passing is poignant, the impact he has made on countless souls is immeasurable in human terms.

Services will be held tonight, starting at 6 p.m. at St. Mary's Coptic Church, continuing through the night and culminating in funeral services officiated by His Holiness, Pope Shenouda III tomorrow at 12:00 p.m.