Saint Patrick and the Coptic Church

YOU MAY NOT KNOW it, but there appears to be a historical link between St. Patrick and the Coptic Church.

The website The Ultimate St. Patrick cites some sources which indicate that before St. Patrick went to Ireland, he met a group of Coptic monks on the Island of Lerins in the Mediterranean Sea, near Gaul, where the monks had established a community. The site references a book by David Marshall, Ph.D. of the University of Hull, England, which discusses the strong connection between the St. Patrick and the Coptic monks in Lerins. It also cites Liturgics by Fr. Dmitri Ross in which the author discusses how monastisicism came to the Celtic Church from the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria.

An article entitled On the Trail of the Seven Coptic Monks in Ireland - His Grace Metropolitan Seraphim on the British Orthodox Church's site also weighs evidence for the link between the the Coptic Church and the Celtic Church.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

A Man Who Truly Touched My Life

Today is the feast day of Pope Kyrillos VI. The following is a guest post by Dr. Maged Tawfik.

“Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us…” (Hebrews 12:1)

Abouna Bishoy’s life was marked by a heightened awareness of the cloud of witnesses surrounding the church. He had a deep appreciation for the role the cloud played in cheering us on, and supporting us in our daily struggles in this world of sin. His affinity with many members of that cloud was infectious. This manifested itself in him being the driving force behind the annual issuance of a book about the late Pope Kyrillos VI. Having a heart that felt for every member of his congregation, he insisted that the book be written in both Arabic and English for the benefit of each family member. Having a deep understanding of the message of the Gospel, he favored a book that had an authentic spiritual message rather than a superficial collection of miracles.

It is only perfectly befitting, albeit seemingly premature, that he now joins the very same cloud.

And now, Abouna Bishoy, as you look on us from your heavenly perch, from that cloud, do not cease to cheer us on, as we labor. Pray for us when we falter. We will never forget your voice, your countenance, nor the bit of Christ you bore in our midst.

Till we join you and the rest of the cloud, Godspeed!

Theotokos Fast Begins Today!

Today marks to beginning of the fast of the Theotokos Mary. It is a time for us to reflect on her virtues, especially in the post-modern era, where we are pushed to value everything she is not. St. John of Damascus writes,

O Virgin, full of God's grace, O holy temple of God, which the Solomon who created the world has erected and in which He has dwelt! Not with gold, nor with inanimate stones are you adorned. In stead of gold the Spirit shines in you; in place of precious stones, you have Christ within you, the Pearl of great price.*

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*St. Demetrius, Metropolitan of Rostov, "Homily On The Nativity Of The Most Pure Theotokos"

Feast of Saint Shenouda the Archmandrite

Today is the feast day of one of the great lights in the constellation of Coptic Saints, Saint Shenouda the Archmandrite.

At the time of his departure in 466, he was the father of 2,200 monks and 1,800 nuns. Besides being a man of deep learning and spirituality, he was known to be strict with his disciples. To be sure, this strictness flowed from a loving and concerned heart, as evidenced by his care for the peasants in the area surrounding the monastery.

Hany N. Takla writes,

Any cursory study of the living conditions of the peasants in Upper Egypt at his time, reveals a sub-human living conditions. This was exemplified in their illiteracy and slavery to the Greek landlords and to the land they cultivated. Such slavery was a life sentence, from which only death could free them. Even after Christianity spread among the them, their spirits were always dampened by the pagan landlords, who became more and more ferocious, especially after their slaves rejected their religion and adopted another (i.e. Christianity). The lack of leaders to defend them from such grave injustices, did not help either. This set the stage for the emergence of St. Shenouda as a leader of the oppressed populace.

To be a true leader, one would need to be strong, charismatic, caring, of good morals, and fearless. Such qualities fitted our Saint perfectly. So he took charge of the peasants with the ultimate goal of elevating them from being mere slaves to self-esteemed Christians, or at least to insure that they would get a fair treatment fromtheir landlords. He opened his church to them, preaching them incessantly on religious and moral issues. He also defended and protected them from their oppressors whenever they asked him for such protection. He simply did not spare an effort in coming to their aid. Though his methods might seemed violent by today's standards, they were the only possible and effective means of his time.*

In light of the difficulties presently facing the Christians of Upper Egypt, his life and work are particularly pertinent.

I recommend taking the time to read and absorb the modern translation of his vita, originally penned in Coptic by his disciple Besa.

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*Takla, Hany N., "St. Shenouda the Archmandrite", http://www.stshenouda.com/