Difference between revisions of "Matta El-Meskeen"

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==Sources==
 
==Sources==
  
* [http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Abouna_Matta_El_Meskeen Wikipedia:Fr Matta El-Meskeen]
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* "Abouna Matta El Meskeen." Wikipedia. 19 Jun. 2006. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abouna_Matta_El_Meskeen>
* [http://groups.yahoo.com/group/arbible/message/30051 Fr Matta El-Meskeen and Pope Shenouda III: Two strong-willed reformers bring Coptic Orthodoxy back to life] from Christianity Today, December 3, 2001
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* Hanna, William A. "Between Pope (87) Matthew the Poor, Anba Abraam, and the departed Fr Matta El-Meskeen." Online posting. 11 Jun. 2006. Zeitun-eg.org electronic mailing list. 19 Jun. 2006. <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/arbible/message/30997>
* [http://groups.yahoo.com/group/arbible/message/30997 Between Pope (87) Matthew the Poor, Anba Abraam, and the departed Fr Matta El-Meskeen (with a comprehensive biography of the latter)]
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* Hulsman, Cornelis. "Reviving an Ancient Faith: Two strong-willed reformers bring Coptic Orthodoxy back to life." ''Christianity Today'' 3 Dec. 2001: 38. 19 Jun. 2006. <http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2001/015/2.38.html>
* [http://www.wataninet.com/article_en.asp?ArticleID=7884 Father Matta al-Miskeen (1919-2006): A life well-lived] from the Watani newspaper, 11 June 2006
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* Salama, Victor. "Father Matta al-Miskeen (1919-2006): A life well-lived." ''Watani'' 11 Jun. 2006: 13. 19 Jun. 2006. <http://www.wataninet.com/article_en.asp?ArticleID=7884>
* [http://www.zeitun-eg.net/frmatta_el-meskeen.wmv Video: Spiritual Quotes by Fr. Matta El-Meskeen (1919-2006)]
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* "Spiritual Quotes by Fr. Matta El-Meskeen (1919-2006)." Zeitun-eg.net. Online video clip. 19 Jun. 2006. <http://www.zeitun-eg.net/frmatta_el-meskeen.wmv>
  
 
==Further reading==
 
==Further reading==

Revision as of 04:26, June 20, 2006


Coptic Orthodox Cross
Note: This article or section represents an Oriental Orthodox (Non-Chalcedonian) perspective, which may differ from an Eastern Orthodox (Chalcedonian) understanding.


Father Matta El Meskeen: Spiritual Father of the Monks in St. Macarius' Monastery in Scetis (Egypt) - Other photos: [1], [2]

Father Matta El Meskeen (Maskeen or Meskine; translated as Matthew the Poor), born Youssef Eskander (1919 - June 8, 2006), was a 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.

Father Matta is celebrated by many Copts as a reformer and a prominent figure in recent Coptic history. Following the repose of Pope Kyrillos VI in 1971, Father Matta and two others (Bishops Samuel and Shenouda) were considered as candidates for the Patriarchal throne. Bishop Shenouda was chosen to be the Coptic Pope of Alexandria.

Father Matta and Pope Shenouda share some common history. Both participated in the Sunday school movement and Matta was Shenouda's confessor in the 1950s. More recently, some misunderstandings between both leaders and their followers[3] have surfaced, e.g., recent discussions on the concept of theosis[4],[5],[6] and also the position Abouna Matta held on the sixteenth chapter of St. Mark's gospel.

Early life

Father Matta El Meskeen was born in Benha, elKaliobia, Egypt, in 1919. In 1944, he graduated in Pharmacy from the University of Cairo. In 1948, after leading a successful life and establishing a wealthy lifestyle for himself--Eskander at the time was the owner of two pharmacies, two villas, and two cars--he renounced his material possessions, and entered the Monastery of St. Samuel the Confessor in Qualmun (roughly near Maghagha, Upper Egypt).

Monastic life

After living for a few years in the Monastery of St. Samuel the Confessor, Matta decided to move out into Wadi El Rayan in the late 1950s. There, he lived as a recluse in the spirit of the ancient Desert Fathers for twelve years. By 1960, seven other monks joined him. The community expanded to twelve by 1964. These twelve monks were sent to Wadi El Natroun in 1969.

Quotes

  • Whenever physical hunger turned cruel against me, I found my gratification in prayer. Whenever the biting cold of winter was unkind to me, I found my warmth in prayer. Whenever people were harsh to me (and their harshness was severe indeed) I found my comfort in prayer. In short, prayer became my food and my drink, my outfit and my armor, whether by night or by day.
  • It is no joy for the church to have many active members of varied services who lack the spiritual proficiency for renewing souls and regenerating them in a genuine spiritual rebirth to win them for the Kingdom of Heaven. The true joy of the Church lies in leaders who possess spiritual insight, who walk ahead of their flocks so that the flocks can follow a sure path. It is not possible to obtain spiritual insight by action or study, spiritual insight is attained by silence, retreat and long prayers in their various stages.
  • I felt I was late to come to the knowledge of Christ; studying the Bible appeared such a daunting task. In desperation, I asked the Lord to give me either a long life to have enough time to study the Bible well, or enough wisdom to grasp its hidden meanings. In His everlasting generosity, God gave me both.

Sources

Further reading

External links

Articles by Fr. Matta El-Maskeen

Books

  • Father Matta El-Maskeen. Orthodox Prayer Life: The Interior Way (ISBN 0881412503) (Excerpt)
  • Father Matta El-Maskeen. The Communion of Love (ISBN 0881410365)