His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, at the beginning of his sermon at today’s weekly Wednesday meeting, mentioned the life and service of H.G. the late Bishop Mishael, the bishop and abbot of Saint Anthony’s Monastery in Krefelbach, southern Germany, who rested in the Lord last Saturday.
His Holiness said that H.G. Bishop Mishael is one of the blessed bishops who spent half his life as a monk and a servant, and that he is considered one of the first servants and priests to serve in Germany.
His Holiness continued his speech by saying that H.H. the late Pope Shenouda III sent him to Germany 45 years ago and began his service there and continued with patience, prayer, work, effort, and love. He was able to establish the first Coptic monastery in Europe, and the church of the monastery was the first Coptic church to be built on this continent. It was built in the Egyptian Coptic style and became a witness to Christ. It was consecrated by H.H. the late Pope Shenouda, and a seminary college was opened in the monastery, making it a beacon for education.
His Holiness added that H.G. Bishop Mishael continued to serve in the name of the Monk, Fr Michael Al-Baramousi, for 35 years, until he was ordained as a bishop and head of the monastery and for southern Germany 10 years ago.
His Holiness affirmed that not a day passed without His Grace Bishop Mishael serving, and that he was a hermit, loving and dependent on God in everything, so he succeeded in his service, and there was congregation of monks for the monastery and priests for the diocese, and great care and service, and the construction of many churches to serve the small Coptic congregations scattered in southern Germany, and the monastery in Krefelbach became a great centre for service to all the fathers present there.
H.H. resumed his speech that His Holiness and all the fathers of the Holy Synod of the Church bid farewell to H.G. Bishop Mishael for the hope of resurrection, and that His Holiness assigned a number of priests in Europe to the funeral prayer that was held for H.G. today in Krefelbach, which was attended by a large number of fathers and loved ones of H.G. late Bishop Mishael.

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