Today (Sunday), H.H. Pope Tawadros II began a pastoral visit to the Diocese of Fayoum and its monasteries, on the occasion of the commemoration of the departure of the intercessor of Fayoum; Saint Abraam, Bishop of Fayoum and Giza (1881 – 1914), which the Coptic Church will celebrate tomorrow (Monday).

His Holiness is scheduled to pray on the eve of the feast this evening at the Monastery of the Virgin Mary, the martyr Abu Sefein, and Saint Anba Abraam in Al-Azab, and deliver a sermon. He will consecrate a new church in the same monastery tomorrow morning.

Pope Tawadros arrived this morning at the Monastery of Archangel Gabriel in Mount Naqloun, at the beginning of his pastoral visit to Fayoum. He was received by His Eminence Anba Abraam (Metropolitan and Abbot of the Monasteries of Fayoum), His Grace Anba Salib (Bishop of Mit Ghamr), and the monks of the monastery, who received their father with overwhelming joy, as this is His Holiness’s first visit to the monastery.

Pope Tawadros entered the ancient church in the monastery, where he prayed the Prayer of Thanksgiving and listened to an explanation from His Eminence Metropolitan Abraam about the history of the monastery. His Eminence pointed out that the great Saint Anthony visited the Naqloun area twice, and his disciple Saint Babnouda was the father of the monks of the Naqloun area. The monastery was founded by the Saint Anba Oor; Bishop of Fayoum, in the fifth century. Since then, monasticism in the monastery has not ceased, although it has weakened in some periods.
His Holiness visited the rest of the churches; the Church of Saints Abba Anthony and Abba Paula and the Church of the Fayoum Martyrs.

His Holiness then headed into the meeting hall of the monastery. He met with a group of monks, and delivered a speech to them, at the beginning of which he expressed his happiness at visiting the monastery, noting that it is the only Coptic monastery that bears the name of Archangel Gabriel.

Pope Tawadros addressed three important principles of monastic life, which are:
1- If the beginning was good, the end should be better.

2- Work is important, but love is even more important.

3- Praise is important, but reading the Holy Bible is even more important.

His Holiness contemplated the prayer that we recite at the beginning of each Hoos in the Midnight Praises: “Amen, Alleluia Kyrie Eleison,” in which we repeat “Kyrie Eleison” three times. Every time we pray “Kyrie Eleison” we ask for Christ’s mercy, as follows:

1) I ask for God’s mercy for myself.

2) I ask that my heart be filled with mercy.

3) I ask to do works of mercy.

The word “Alleluia” carries the meaning of spiritual joy, and the word “Amen” calls us to a life of honesty and uprightness.

Pope Tawadros distributed some souvenirs to the monastery’s fathers and workers. He ate with them in the monastery complex, whilst spiritual readings were read in the background, as per the custom of the monastic fathers in Coptic monasteries.

During the visit, His Holiness the Pope is accompanied by His Eminence Metropolitan Daniel, (Metropolitan of Maadi and Secretary of the Holy Synod), Monk Fr. Kyrillos St. Bishoy, (Director of His Holiness’ Papal Office), Father Mousa Ibrahim (Spokesman for the Coptic Orthodox Church), and Deacon Joseph Reda, (Deacon of His Holiness).

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