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→Pahor and Pope Shenouda III
==The Copts==
The Copts are the descendents of the ancient Egyptians, and they constitute between 10-15% of the Egyptian population. It is an official policy of the authorities in Egypt not to announce the number and percentage of the Copts after the army officerofficers's coup of 1952.
The vast majority of the Copts belongs to the [[Church of Alexandria (Coptic)|Coptic Orthodox Church]], a member of the Eastern (Oriental) Orthodox Churches that also includes the Syrian, Armenian and the Ethiopian churches. They acknowledge the first three [[ecumenical councils]], namely those of [[First Ecumenical Council|Nicea]] (325 AD), [[Second Ecumenical Council|Constantinople]] (381 AD), and [[Third Ecumenical Council|Ephesus]] (431 AD), but not that of [[Fourth Ecumenical Council|Chalcedon]] (451 AD).
==Pahor, Pope of Rome and Patriarch of Alexandria==
Whilst studying in Germany, Pahor used to travel via Italy to visit his home land Egypt. In one of these visits, he had a personal audience with Pope Pius XII who gave him a massage to the Patriarch of Alexandria, Youanis IXX.
[[Image: PL_w_Pat_Yousab.jpg|thumb|[[Patriarch Yousab II]] at the opening of the New Wing of the Coptic Museum in 1947. Pahor Labib stands to the right of the bust of Morcos SemiakaSemaika]]
==Pahor and Patriarch Yousab II==
Pahor's father, Cladius Labib, was the Coptic language teacher of Patriarch Youab II when the latter was studying in the Theology School. Pahor used to visit the Patriarch and both used to engage in a conversation in Coptic. Cladius Labib was moved from his resting place to a new burial site for the Coptic Orthodox and the Patriarch paid for the construction of the new family tomb.[[Image: Pahor_Labib_0.26-1-.jpg|thumb|[[Pope Cyril IV]] VI speaking to Pahor Labib whist visiting Mari Mina excavations]]
==Pahor and Pope Cyril VI==
==Mari Mina site==
St [[Menas|Mina]] is a Coptic saint that who was martyred in the fourth century. A great Cathedral was erected at his burial site in Maryout at in the western desert of Egypt west to from Alexandria. Many faithful from all round the Mediterranian used to visit the site and a flourishing community was in that area for centuries till the Arab invasion of Egypt when the Arabs destroyed the church. A German archeologist, Kuffman, carried out excavations in at the site at the beginning of the 20th century, starting in 1905. Pahor resumed these excavations in 1951. The site then was i in the middle of the desert and was difficult to reach. Pope Cyril VI founded a monastery near the site and this monastery is now one of the main surviving monasteries in Egypt. There are now roads up to the monastery and the area has many cultivated fields.
==Tel Atrib==
A great Cathedral named after St Mary was constructed in Tel Atrib near the city of Benha in the Delta, Lower Egypt. There are many records of the magnificence of this Cathedral such as that the capitals of the marble pillars were covered with gold. This Cathedral was destroyed by the Arabs at during their invasion of Egypt. Pope Cyril VI and also Pope Shenouda II III were keen for the area to be excavated. Excavations went on for years with the help of a Polish excavation group from the University of Warsaw. Locals encouraged by officials took over the area and covered the site that is used now for agriculture. ==Pahor and Pope Shenouda III==Dr Labib used to teach at the Archeology institute and Pope Shenouda, before being ordained, attended Pahor’s lectures for one year. Pope Shenouda appointed Pahor to the committee that was investigating the relics of St John the Baptist in St Makarious Monastery in Nitria.
==Director of the Coptic Museum==
Dr Labib managed to turn the Coptic Museum into a Mecca for Coptic studies. A great momentum that helped in this direction was the formation of an international committee of the most renowned Coptologists in the world to translate and study the Nag Hammadi Coptic Gnostic Papyri. This library is considered one of the two major discoveries in the 20th century that contributed to Biblical studies, the other being the Dead Sea Scrolls.
==Pahor and Pope Shenouda IIIChristian pilgrimage in Egypt==Dr Labib used to teach at the Archeology institute and Pope Shenouda, before being ordained, attended Pahor’s lecture for one year. Pope Shenouda appointed Pahor on the committee that was investigating the relics of St John the Baptist in St Makarious Monastery in Nytria.
A government committee for promoting Christian pilgrimage was established during Naser’s time. This committee was chaired by Bishop Samuel and Dr Pahor Labib was a member. During this period stamps showing Chrisitan sites such as St Mary’s Tree at Mattaryya where it is reputed that the holy Family rested during their travels in Egypt. Other stamps of Christian sites and Coptic exhibits were issued.
==External link==
