Abba Ho PaterSources
Fr Matthew the Poor
Hegumen of the Monastery of St Macarius
متى المسكين (Matta El Meskeen)
Matthew the Poor, a Coptic monk and spiritual father, revived the Monastery of St Macarius from 1969 and wrote many books on Scripture, the Fathers and the liturgy.
- Born
- 1919, Banha (Egypt)
- Died
- 8 June 2006, Cairo
- Era
- 20th century
- See
- Monastery of St Macarius, Wadi El Natrun
Life
Youssef Iskandar was born in 1919 in Banha [1][2]. He graduated in pharmacy from Cairo University in 1944 and owned two pharmacies before becoming a monk [1]. He took the habit at the Monastery of St Samuel the Confessor in Qalamoun on 10 August 1948 [2], was ordained priest in 1951, and lived as a recluse in Wadi El Rayan for about twelve years [1].
In 1969 Pope Kyrillos VI sent him with twelve monks to revive the Monastery of St Macarius, which grew from six elderly monks to 130 by his death [1]. Wikipedia credits him with 181 books and notes long-running disagreements with Pope Shenouda III, including over theosis [1].
He reposed on 8 June 2006 [1][2]. Among his books is The Eucharist: The Lord's Supper, which the site quotes [3].
Where the sources disagree
Birth: 20 September 1919 (Wikipedia EN), 1 November 1919 (AR). Birthplace: Banha (Wikipedia); the St Macarius Monastery website gives Damanhur, as Wikipedia EN notes.
Timeline
- 1919Born Youssef Iskandar in Banha.[1]
- 1944Graduates in pharmacy from Cairo University.[1]
- 10 Aug 1948Becomes a monk at the Monastery of St Samuel the Confessor (Qalamoun).[2]
- 1951Ordained priest.[1]
- late 1950sAbout twelve years as a recluse in Wadi El Rayan.[1]
- 1969Sent by Pope Kyrillos VI with twelve monks to revive the Monastery of St Macarius.[1]
- 8 Jun 2006Reposes.[1]
Works
Words by topic
Do We Receive His Humanity Alone?
Contemporary Writers1
Church History1
Topics cited in
Notes
Bibliography
- Wikipedia (EN), Matta El Meskeen — Cross-check.
- Wikipedia (AR), متى المسكين — Cross-check.
- St Macarius Monastery, «عشاء الرب: الإفخارستيا» (PDF) — The monastery's own PDF of the book quoted on the site; its scan was too large to read in full.