We concluded the previous article with Muhammad ibn Tughj al-Ikhsid’s takeover of Egypt for a second term, until he got sick and died in 334 AH (946 AD). Then, we began to talk about the 59th Patriarch of Alexandria, Pope Maqar I, who was ordained as a monk in St. Macarius Monastery till he was chosen Patriarch of St. Mark’s Evangelism in 933 AD.
One day, Pope Maqar decided to go to the village where he was born and raised to visit his mother and to tell her the good news about his ordination as a Patriarch of the church. Upon entering his town with his entourage, a villager hastened to his mother’s house, informing her about the arrival of her son in his convoy. Yet, his mother did not care about it and continued to do her work, with flowing tears!! The man was surprised and left her house. In the meantime, celebrations were held in the village on the occasion of the Pope’s arrival and he attended until they were over then headed to his mother’s house afterwards. Father Manassa Youhanna describes their meeting as follows, “When he reached her, he saw her as she spun. She did not move from her place, she only raised her eyes to him once and went back to her work, and two warm tears were shed of her eyes without uttering a word. He greeted her, she replied to him while still focusing on her work! He thought she did recognize him or that she ignores the high rank he had obtained. He said to her, ‘You know, mother, I am Maqar your son who was promoted to the highest rank in the church and has become a patriarch. Rejoice with the high rank that your son obtained.’ ‘I would rather see your coffin carried on people’s necks and women weeping behind you sadly than to see you in this dangerous job, surrounded by the bishops and the priests! Because when you were secular, you were only responsible for your own sins, but when you became a patriarch, you will be asked about the sins and transgressions of all the people. Make sure you are in great danger from which you cannot escape easily! For it is known that the glory of the world obscures the light of truth from man. My son, how can you be perceptive while having the glory of the patriarchate been placed as a veil on your eyes? I have warned you that you are in danger, so be cautious, and remember your mother, who is tired in your upbringing’, she said to him, weeping with uncontrollable tears.”
The Pope was deeply influenced by his mother’s words that remained engraved before his eyes throughout his patriarchal time, and that were the main cause behind his strict keenness to act with scrutiny and honesty in all that he did as a preacher and teacher to the people. He was well known by not ordaining any person except by acclamation. He prayed and fasted, asking God to guide him in choosing who is fit to shepherd the people. He was also keen on advising the bishops to pay attention to the people and to keep the orthodox faith by preaching and teaching. He then built a church named after “The Virgin Mary” in the Monastery of Anba Yehnis Kami, whose monks had to go out to the Monastery of St. John the Short for praying.
The patriarchate of Pope Maqar I lasted nineteen years, eleven months and twenty-three days. He departed in 953 and was succeeded by Pope Theophanius, the 60th Patriarch of Alexandria. The era of Pope Maqar I coincided with that of the Ikhshidid rule of Egypt, which is considered one of the most difficult times of the country. It was an era full of chaos and turmoil because of the princes’ preoccupation with competing with one another, and the soldiers’ robbery, looting and killing, which caused panic among the people. It is said that some meteors fell at the time, which increased the horror of the Egyptians who rushed to the churches and mosques in pursuit of the mercy of God. During his rule, al-Ikhshid restored tranquility and stability to the country and he died in 334 AH (946 AD). Pope Maqar I also lived in the time of Unujur ibn al-Ikhshid, who ruled Egypt as a successor to his father. And … Indeed, talking about “Beautiful Egypt” has no end!
General Bishop Head of the Coptic Orthodox Cultural Center
