Abdel Messih El-Makari
Encyclopedia
Father Abdel Messih El-Makari (or El-Manahri) was a Coptic Orthodox monk
and priest
, and a 20th century Coptic saint
. Pope Cyril VI of Alexandria
testified as to the holiness and asceticism
of this contemporary saint.
district, El-Menya governorate, Egypt
. His parents were both Christians; his father's name is Henein and His mother's name is Esther.
. He did so several times, and each time his father would come to the monastery and bring him back home, and this was associated with the death of a large number of his father's cattles
. At last, his father allowed him to do what he wanted, so he joined the Monastery of St. Abba Makar (Macarius) the Great
in the desert of Scetes (Wadi El-Natrun) and became a monk
. He led an extremely ascetic life and offered a superior example of true monastic life. Finally, he moved to El-Manahra village, Matai
, and God
honored him with the gifts of prescience and discerning of spirits.
, but all people of Matai
and Samalout region testify to his holiness. Of those virtues we may mention:
At the end, he was crowned with the crown of righteousness and good fighting.
Monk
A monk is a person who practices religious asceticism, living either alone or with any number of monks, while always maintaining some degree of physical separation from those not sharing the same purpose...
and priest
Priest
A priest is a person authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities...
, and a 20th century Coptic saint
Saint
A saint is a holy person. In various religions, saints are people who are believed to have exceptional holiness.In Christian usage, "saint" refers to any believer who is "in Christ", and in whom Christ dwells, whether in heaven or in earth...
. Pope Cyril VI of Alexandria
Pope Cyril VI of Alexandria
Father Mina became Pope of Alexandria on 10 May 1959 . In accordance with the old Coptic church tradition, Pope Cyril VI was the only monk in the 20th century to be chosen for papacy without having being a bishop /Metropolitan first...
testified as to the holiness and asceticism
Asceticism
Asceticism describes a lifestyle characterized by abstinence from various sorts of worldly pleasures often with the aim of pursuing religious and spiritual goals...
of this contemporary saint.
Life
Father Abdel Messih El-Makari was born in 1892 in the village of Abou Shehata, MataiMatai, Egypt
Matai is a city in the Minya Governorate in Upper Egypt. It lies between Samalout and Beni Mazar.-Towns:The city of Matai comprises the following villages:* Abu Aziz* Abu Haseba* Abu Shehata* Abwan* Bany Hassan* Bardnouha* El-Farokeya* El-Kawady...
district, El-Menya governorate, Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
. His parents were both Christians; his father's name is Henein and His mother's name is Esther.
Monk
When he grew up, he wanted to be a spiritual warrior in the army of celibates, so he left the world and headed to the Monastery of St. Abba Samuel the Confessor in El-Kalamoun mountainMountain
Image:Himalaya_annotated.jpg|thumb|right|The Himalayan mountain range with Mount Everestrect 58 14 160 49 Chomo Lonzorect 200 28 335 52 Makalurect 378 24 566 45 Mount Everestrect 188 581 920 656 Tibetan Plateaurect 250 406 340 427 Rong River...
. He did so several times, and each time his father would come to the monastery and bring him back home, and this was associated with the death of a large number of his father's cattles
Cattles
Cattles plc is a British consumer finance company based in Batley, West Yorkshire. It is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is a former constituent of the FTSE 250 Index.-History:...
. At last, his father allowed him to do what he wanted, so he joined the Monastery of St. Abba Makar (Macarius) the Great
Monastery of Saint Macarius the Great
The Monastery of Saint Macarius is a Coptic Orthodox monastery located in Wadi El Natrun, Beheira Governorate, about 92 km north west of Cairo, and off the highway between Cairo and Alexandria.-Ancient History:...
in the desert of Scetes (Wadi El-Natrun) and became a monk
Monk
A monk is a person who practices religious asceticism, living either alone or with any number of monks, while always maintaining some degree of physical separation from those not sharing the same purpose...
. He led an extremely ascetic life and offered a superior example of true monastic life. Finally, he moved to El-Manahra village, Matai
Matai, Egypt
Matai is a city in the Minya Governorate in Upper Egypt. It lies between Samalout and Beni Mazar.-Towns:The city of Matai comprises the following villages:* Abu Aziz* Abu Haseba* Abu Shehata* Abwan* Bany Hassan* Bardnouha* El-Farokeya* El-Kawady...
, and God
God
God is the English name given to a singular being in theistic and deistic religions who is either the sole deity in monotheism, or a single deity in polytheism....
honored him with the gifts of prescience and discerning of spirits.
Character
He did wonders and miracles similar to those done at the hands of the apostles. He used to cover up his spiritual gifts and virtues with some "odd" behaviorBehavior
Behavior or behaviour refers to the actions and mannerisms made by organisms, systems, or artificial entities in conjunction with its environment, which includes the other systems or organisms around as well as the physical environment...
, but all people of Matai
Matai, Egypt
Matai is a city in the Minya Governorate in Upper Egypt. It lies between Samalout and Beni Mazar.-Towns:The city of Matai comprises the following villages:* Abu Aziz* Abu Haseba* Abu Shehata* Abwan* Bany Hassan* Bardnouha* El-Farokeya* El-Kawady...
and Samalout region testify to his holiness. Of those virtues we may mention:
- His marvelous purityVirtueVirtue is moral excellence. A virtue is a positive trait or quality subjectively deemed to be morally excellent and thus is valued as a foundation of principle and good moral being....
for which he was put to the test and came out victorious. - He was distinguished for his strict asceticism and continuous vigilance. Whether he was at the monastery or out in the world, he spent his nights repeating one complete doxology after another and with tears asking for God's forgiveness for sinning or causing others to sin.
- He was known for his wonderful humility. He fled from praise in spite of the fact that he had the gift of healing the sick.
- He was very compassionate and gave everything he was given to the needy.
- Our Good God gave him the gift of prescience for he knew who was coming to see him and also knew the exact day he will die. He was one of the anchorties.
At the end, he was crowned with the crown of righteousness and good fighting.
Miracles
St. Abouna Abdel Messih El-Makari performed countless miracles throughout his lifetime. Just a fraction of them are listed below:- A young girl asked Abouna Abdel Messih El-Makari to heal her of her paralysis. He then prayed and through of the power of the cross she was able to walk
- A poor family's goose died, which they were going to feast on, on Easter. Abouna Abdel Messih El-Makari asked the family to get the goose and dip it in the lake three times and then bring it back to him. The goose then came back to life and the family was able to feast on Easter
- There was a sick girl who wasn't expected to live much longer in the town of Manahra. Her mother then went to Abouna Abdel Messih El-Makari, and when he arrived he prayed to God and the girl was immediately healed
- An old woman died in the town of Manahra and their family was grieving around her. Abouna Abdel Messih El-Makari arrived and prayed to God. Life then reentered the woman and she immediately got up.
- A couple who had had ten children up to that point with each one dying in infancy went to get Abouna Abdel Messih El-Makari's blessings. He then told them they'd have a son and he'd live very long.
- While he was praying a liturgy the blessed St. Mary appeared and all that saw it were amazed.
- A man sent a car to get Abouna Abdel Messih El-Makari. When the driver asked him to come, Abouna Abdel Messih El-Makari refused. The driver than drove the car back to tell his master that Abouna Abdel Messih El-Makari refused to come, but found that Abouna Abdel Messih El-Makari was already there and was talking with his master