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[[Image:416px-Abouna_Matta_El_Meskeen.jpg|thumb|Father Matta El Meskeen: Spiritual Father of the Monks in St. Macarius' Monastery in Scetis (Egypt) - Other photos: [http://www.wataninet.com/images/articles/7913.jpg], [http://www.fathermatta.com/arabic/pics.php?pic=/gallery/f_m007.jpg], [http://www.stmacariusmonastery.org/graphics/090.jpg],[http://www.stmacariusmonastery.org/graphics/087.jpg] ]]
Father '''Matta El Meskeen''' (Maskeen or Meskine; translated as Matthew the Poor), born Youssef Eskander ([[November 1September 20]], 1919 - [[June 8]], 2006), was a [[Coptic|Coptic Orthodox]] [[monk]] and spiritual father of 130 monks in the [[Monastery]] of St. [[Macarius the Great]] at Scetis in Wadi Natrun, Egypt. He is considered by many to be a renowned Orthodox theologian, and was an author of voluminous texts on numerous topics, including biblical exegesis, ecclesiastical rites, and other spiritual and theological matters (181 books, besides hundreds of journal articles).
Father Matta is celebrated by many Copts as a reformer and a prominent figure in recent Coptic history. Following the repose of [[Pope]] [[Cyril VI (Atta) of Alexandria|Kyrillos VI]] in 1971, Father Matta and two others ([[Bishops]] Samuel<sup>[http://web.archive.org/web/20040626202449/http://www.st-peter-st-paul-coptic-orthodox-church.org/bpsamuel.htm]</sup> and [[Shenouda III (Gayyid) of Alexandria|Shenouda]]) were considered as candidates for the [[Patriarch]]al throne. Bishop Shenouda was chosen to be the [[Church of Alexandria (Coptic)|Coptic Pope of Alexandria]].
* [http://www.holyfamilyegypt.com/map/upperegypt/wadialrayan.htm Photos of Wadi Al-Rayan, where Fr Matta al-Meskeen, the father of modern Coptic monasticism, lived in the 1950 and 1960s]
* [http://www.coptichistory.org/new_page_1494.htm Fr. Matta El-Meskeen entry at CopticHistory.org (Arabic)]
* [http://www.stmina-monastery.org/FrMatta/FrMattaMemoirsAlAhram20060819.pdf Memoirs of Fr. Matta El-Meskeen - Al-Ahram newspaper 19 August 2006] [http://fathermatta.com/arabic/mzkrat.php Permanent mirror with extra photos]
* [http://time-proxy.yaga.com/time/archive/printout/0,23657,945463,00.html TIME Magazine Archive Article -- SAINTS AMONG US -- Dec. 29, 1975 (F Matta El Meskin is listed as one of six 'living saints')]
* [http://time-proxy.yaga.com/time/archive/printout/0,23657,914100,00.html TIME Magazine Archive Article -- The Desert Revival -- Apr. 19, 1976]