Abraam Bishop of Fayoum
Encyclopedia
Saint Abram was a contemporary Coptic Orthodox saint. He was the Bishop
of Faiyum and Giza, and was also known as the Friend of the Poor.
(1829 AD), in the village of Gilda, district of Mallawi
, in the Minya Governorate
.
At the age of eight, Boulos' mother died after a brief illness. At the age of fifteen the village priests recommended him to Bishop Youssab (John), the Bishop of the Diocese, who ordained him as a deacon
. Boulos joined the Monastery of the Most Holy Virgin Mary, known as El-Muharraq Monastery in Assiut, where he was ordained monk
in 1848, at the age of nineteen. His monastic name became Father Paul El-Muharraqi.
Father Paul was distinguished by his patience and self-control, and his interest in almsgiving. Metropolitan Yakoubos (Jakob) heard about him and asked him to come to the Metropolitanate to continue his work with the poor. After four years, he asked to return to the monastery. The Metropolitan ordained him a priest and allowed him to return to the monastery in 1863.
Father Paul then became abbot
of the El-Muharraq Monastery. The number of new monks exceeded forty within a short period of time. Father Paul was deposed by Metropolitan Marcos in 1870 after complaints by the monks under his rule. Shortly after his dismissal, Father Paul left Al Muharraq Monastery and went to the Paromeos Monastery
. Four monks from Al Muharraq Monastery accompanied him. The abbot of the Paromeos Monastery
, at that time, was arch-priest Youhanna (John) the Scribe, who later became Pope Cyril V of Alexandria
.
In 1597 A.M. (1881 A.D.), Pope Cyril V appointed Father Paul Bishop to the parish of Fayoum and Giza, carrying the name of Bishop Abram, and replacing its reposed Bishop Isaak.
Bishop Abram died on 3 Paoni
1630 A.M. (10 June 1914 AD). Some twenty five thousand persons attended his funeral, both Christians and Muslims. He was buried in a grave he had prepared himself. His body is preserved at the Coptic Orthodox Metropolitanate of Fayoum, in Egypt
.
In 1964, the The Holy Synod of the Coptic Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria canonized Bishop Abram as a saint, and decided to add his name to those of the saints mentioned in the Diptych of the Saints during the Divine Liturgy
. Many Coptic Orthodox churches around the world are named after him.
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
of Faiyum and Giza, and was also known as the Friend of the Poor.
Biography
Bishop Abram was born Boulos (Paul) Gabriel in 1545 A.M.Coptic calendar
The Coptic calendar, also called the Alexandrian calendar, is used by the Coptic Orthodox Church and still used in Egypt. This calendar is based on the ancient Egyptian calendar...
(1829 AD), in the village of Gilda, district of Mallawi
Mallawi
Mallawi is a town in Egypt, located in the governorate of Minya.- Overview :Situated in a farm area, the town produces textiles and handicrafts.The total area of the city is about...
, in the Minya Governorate
Minya Governorate
Minya Governorate is one of the governorates of Upper Egypt. The name originates from the chief city of the governorate, originally known in Sahidic Coptic as Tmoone and in Bohairic as Thmonē , meaning “the residence”, in reference to a monastery formerly in the area...
.
At the age of eight, Boulos' mother died after a brief illness. At the age of fifteen the village priests recommended him to Bishop Youssab (John), the Bishop of the Diocese, who ordained him as a deacon
Deacon
Deacon is a ministry in the Christian Church that is generally associated with service of some kind, but which varies among theological and denominational traditions...
. Boulos joined the Monastery of the Most Holy Virgin Mary, known as El-Muharraq Monastery in Assiut, where he was ordained 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...
in 1848, at the age of nineteen. His monastic name became Father Paul El-Muharraqi.
Father Paul was distinguished by his patience and self-control, and his interest in almsgiving. Metropolitan Yakoubos (Jakob) heard about him and asked him to come to the Metropolitanate to continue his work with the poor. After four years, he asked to return to the monastery. The Metropolitan ordained him a priest and allowed him to return to the monastery in 1863.
Father Paul then became abbot
Abbot
The word abbot, meaning father, is a title given to the head of a monastery in various traditions, including Christianity. The office may also be given as an honorary title to a clergyman who is not actually the head of a monastery...
of the El-Muharraq Monastery. The number of new monks exceeded forty within a short period of time. Father Paul was deposed by Metropolitan Marcos in 1870 after complaints by the monks under his rule. Shortly after his dismissal, Father Paul left Al Muharraq Monastery and went to the Paromeos Monastery
Paromeos Monastery
The Paromeos Monastery, also known as Baramos Monastery, is a Coptic Orthodox monastery located in Wadi El Natrun , Beheira Governorate, Egypt. It is the most northern monastery among the four current monasteries of Scetes, about 9 km northeast of the Monastery of Saint Pishoy...
. Four monks from Al Muharraq Monastery accompanied him. The abbot of the Paromeos Monastery
Paromeos Monastery
The Paromeos Monastery, also known as Baramos Monastery, is a Coptic Orthodox monastery located in Wadi El Natrun , Beheira Governorate, Egypt. It is the most northern monastery among the four current monasteries of Scetes, about 9 km northeast of the Monastery of Saint Pishoy...
, at that time, was arch-priest Youhanna (John) the Scribe, who later became Pope Cyril V of Alexandria
Pope Cyril V of Alexandria
Pope Cyril of Alexandria V) was the 112th Coptic Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St...
.
In 1597 A.M. (1881 A.D.), Pope Cyril V appointed Father Paul Bishop to the parish of Fayoum and Giza, carrying the name of Bishop Abram, and replacing its reposed Bishop Isaak.
Bishop Abram died on 3 Paoni
Paoni 3 (Coptic Orthodox liturgics)
2 Paoni - Coptic calendar - 4 Paoni-Fixed commemorations:All fixed commemorations below are observed on 3 Paoni by the Coptic Orthodox Church-Saints:*Saint Martha of Egypt*Saint Hilarion the Bishop*Pope Cosmas I of Alexandria...
1630 A.M. (10 June 1914 AD). Some twenty five thousand persons attended his funeral, both Christians and Muslims. He was buried in a grave he had prepared himself. His body is preserved at the Coptic Orthodox Metropolitanate of Fayoum, in 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...
.
In 1964, the The Holy Synod of the Coptic Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria canonized Bishop Abram as a saint, and decided to add his name to those of the saints mentioned in the Diptych of the Saints during the Divine Liturgy
Divine Liturgy
Divine Liturgy is the common term for the Eucharistic service of the Byzantine tradition of Christian liturgy. As such, it is used in the Eastern Orthodox and Eastern Catholic Churches. Armenian Christians, both of the Armenian Apostolic Church and of the Armenian Catholic Church, use the same term...
. Many Coptic Orthodox churches around the world are named after him.
External links
- Online e-Book: St. Anba Abram the Departed Bishop of Fayoum "Friend of the Poor" (1829-1914 A.D.) - Includes Part I: His Life & Part II: Wonders and Miracles - Written by William A. Hanna, Ph.D. (Format: PDF - 790 KB)
- Another e-Book about Anba Abram, the Friend of the Poor, by Rev. Fr. Tadros Y. Malaty (Format: PDF - 646 KB)
- http://www.copticchurch.org/English_spiritual_articles/AnbaAbraam.htm
- Saint (Anba) Abram Museum: An Album of the Contents of the Museum of The Departed Bishop of Fayoum; The Monastery of St. Mercurius known as 'Deir AL-Azab' Fayoum, Egypt (Format: PDF - 1.17 MB)
- The Coptic Orthodox Diocese of El-Fayoum/Anba Abram Monastery, Egypt (most content in Arabic)