Beautiful Egypt 209 – Prophecies and Problems –June 4, 2017

   In the previous article, we spoke of Egypt’s proconsuls Malik bin Kaydar and Ali bin Yahya, after which we started tackling the Church’s conditions during al-Mu’tasim’s tenure, indicating that St. Mark’s See remained vacant for two years after the departure of Pope Simon, the fifty-first patriarch. There were debates regarding the choice of the patriarch. Then everybody consented on choosing monk Youssab of St. Maqar’s Monastery, to become the fifty-second patriarch.

Pope Youssab I (831-849 A.D.)

Prophecies

   He was born in Menouf. After his parents’ departure, a sage called Tadros adopted him. Due to his yearning for monasticism, Tadros sent him over with a message to Pope Youssab who welcomed him and made him spend a while with him, after which he distributed his money among the needy and became a monk. Youssab became a disciple of Paul, a pious priest to whom God revealed many mysteries and prophecies.
Paul rejoiced exceedingly to see young Youssab for he found him humble and God-loving. Then, Youssab, the monk, became a priest, having lived humbly and lovingly. After a while, Paul got old and sick. So, Youssab kept serving him, and the elder granted him lots of blessings. When Paul was about to die, he prophesied, saying, “The Lord has granted you graces and a heritage, Youssab.” This prophecy had to do with his ordinance patriarch. Likewise, he prophesied that Youssab would encounter lots of difficulties, and asked him to take care of his fellow monks at the monastery. Youssab remained in the monastery until his ordinance patriarch.

Hardships

   When Pope Youssab was ordained, the Church was destitute. So, the Pope started taking care of her, implanted vineyards, built mills and presses. Yet, wars broke out in Egypt, and murder and robberies increased. These saddened the Pope’s heart. Yet, continued beseeching God to alleviate these tribulations. This occurred at the end of al-Ma’mun’s tenure.

   At that time, a great costliness alighted upon Egypt. Bin al-Muqaffa’ asserts that, “Costliness was so heavy that less than nine kilograms of wheat cost a dinar! Many women, children, youth, elders, and youngsters perished. Indeed numerous people were starved to death!” It was agreed that two tax-collectors, namely, Ahmed bin al-Asbat and Ibrahim bin Tamim used to collect taxes mercilessly. Despite the fact that the people were undergoing great hardships, they claimed a lot of money. Likewise, they used to torture whoever could not pay the required sums of money, especially Peshmurian Christians. Bin al-Muqaffa’ writes about the way Peshmurians were tortured, saying, “They used to tie them to mills instead of cattle and beat them until they grind like cattle. The man who tortured them was called Gheith. They were tortured to death.”

   These two continued to coerce Egyptians until seditions started, and rebellions broke out. The rest of the population joined the Peshmurians due to their great suffering. At that time, Egypt was ruled by Abdaweih bin Jablah. No sooner had al-Ma’mun got to know than he sent troops to Egypt. They were led by the Pisin. Pope Youssab and the Egyptians underwent a great tribulation, for the Pisin fought the rebels and used to kill the innocent and guilty alike. So, wherever he went, he killed numerous Christians. Having reached Alexandria, the Pisin decided to kill its population. Yet, God did not allow it because of the Pope’s prayers and the Egyptians’ supplications. At that time, the Peshmurians collected weapons and started fighting the Pisin, killing whoever came to them and rejecting Pope Youssab’s message to stop fighting. They insisted to continue resistance. Even more, they insulted the bishops who brought them the Pope’s message.

   Seeing that they would not stop, the Pisin sent a message to al-Ma’mun, informing him about the situation. Bin al-Muqaffa’ writes, “The Pisin waited on knowing al-Ma’mun’s reply to his message concerning the Peshmurians. Al-Ma’mun was a wise man who researched our creed and sought sages to explicate our scriptures to him. Hence, he loved Christians.”

   Al-Ma’mun came to Egypt, together with the patriarch of Antioch, Dionysius. When Pope Youssab got to know of their arrival, he received them as befits kings. The patriarch of Antioch rejoiced for seeing the Pope, and al-Ma’mun met the Pope joyfully and respectfully. The Caliph got to know that the Pope had written a message to the Peshmurians to stop fighting. Yet, they refused. So, he asked the two patriarchs to go to the Peshmurians to stop their rebellion. This was fulfilled.

   However, they failed to accomplish their mission, as the Peshmurians would not comply. So, al-Ma’mun ordered that they be fought. The Peshmurians perished, their houses were destroyed, and many were taken captives to Baghdad. It is said that the patriarch of Antioch told al-Ma’mun that the initial cause of this war was the tax-collectors’ injustice toward the people, especially the Peshmurians. But, al-Ma’mun stopped him and ordered him to leave Egypt immediately! In fact, the tax-collectors had been appointed by his brother al-Mu’tasim, and, should the latter get to know, he would kill the patriarch. In fact, when al-Mu’tasim got to know, he chased the patriarch who remained a runaway until al-Mu’tasim pledged him security. At that time, al-Mu’tasim had become caliph.

Problems

   Not only did Pope Youssab face tribulations by the ongoing incidents in Egypt, but also internally. The congregation of Tennis and the capital filed complaints against bishop Isaac and bishop Tadros for their harsh treatment. So, Pope Youssab asked them many times to treat the congregation kindly. Yet, they did not abide by the advice. Conditions worsened until the two congregations wrote the Pope, saying, “If you compel us to succumb to them, we will adopt another creed!”

   The Pope failed to reconcile the bishops with the congregations. In effect, he gathered the bishops of Egypt in a council and told them about these two, rejecting their deeds. The council decreed that they should be dismissed from the dioceses. When they got to know, they conspired against Pope Youssab and reviled him at the proconsul’s, telling the latter that he supported rebellions. Some historians maintain that it was the Pisin, not the proconsul. The ruler believed the bishops and sent his brother to bring the patriarch over to have him put to death! Such stories will never end in Beautiful Egypt.

General Bishop
Head of the Coptic Orthodox Cultural Center