This man does not belong to this world. Indeed, he does not. He said, “I wish I could live and die a stranger.” Yet, it was God’s will that hegumen Mina, the hermit, of Paramus Monastery be Pope Cyril VI, the 116th Pope of St. Mark’s See. We commemorated his departure few days ago.
Biography
Azer Yusuf Ata was born at Tukh al-Nassara on August 18, 1902. His parents were good Orthodox Christians. He was their second sibling. His family lived in Damanhur, then in Alexandria where he took the Baccalaureate. In 1921, he got a job at “Cook Shipping” in Alexandria. He was famous for honesty and diligence. He was trusted and respected by his superiors. So much so that the strict Australian general manager said about him, “This young man made me respect him. He is self-contained and intelligent. Unlike his colleagues, he never avoided my audience.”
At that time, he trained himself on asceticism in order to become a monk. He sympathized a lot with the needy. It came to pass that on a pre lent Sunday, he found a lot of delicious food on the table. So, he asked his mother to give it to a poor family living in the same neighborhood. She complied.
Azer resigned, which surprised everybody, including his boss who tried to make him retract, but failed. Pope You’anness, the 113th Pope recommended that he become a monk at Paramus Monastery. So, he was ordained monk on February 25, 1928 under the name of Mina of Paramus. Then, he enrolled in the Clerical Seminary of Helwan, after which he became priest in July, 1931. In 1934, Pope You’anness wanted to ordain him metropolitan of Gharbia and Beheira, but he fled to St. Shenouda’s Monastery in Suhag as soon as he heard of this. After returning to his monastery, he secluded himself in a cave one hour far from thence. When seven monks were kicked out of the Monastery, he went to serve them. He met the patriarch and explained the matter to him. So, the monks returned to the monastery. Then, he moved to a windmill at Old Cairo. Many people sought his blessing then. Afterwards, he became abbot of St. Samuel, the Confessor’s Monastery at Mount Qalamoun, and was promoted hegumen. He took care of the monastery, restored its fences, and refurbished its church at al-Zoura. He used to move between the mill and the monastery.
When World War II broke out, he left the mill, and wandered between the Archangel Southern Monastery and St. Mary’s Church, Babylon. Then he founded a church, gave it the name of St. Mina who he loved, built a student hostel, and re-published the “Salvation Harbor” (Mina’ al-khalas) magazine. At that time, he mentored youth and servants.
After Pope Youssab II, the 115th Pope, had departed, he was recommended by Abba Athanasius, the acting patriarch, unbeknownst to him. He was the fifth in order. On April 17, 1959, after the election, he became third. The secret ballot declared him patriarch of St. Mark’s See on April 19, 1959. He became Pope Cyril VI, the 116th Pope. Here, it is interesting to recount the following story:
He had a vision in which he saw Pope Cyril V who addressed him, saying, “Listen, father Mina, as I was ascending a mountain, I broke my pastoral staff. I am very sad for this.” Father Mina replied, “Your Holiness, would you mind giving it to me for a while?” So, he gave it to him. He fixed it, then, returned to him. So, Pope Cyril V rejoiced and said, “Take it, father Mina, I bestow it unto you.” Father Mina took it. His papacy endured for 11 years, 9 months, and 29 days. He departed on March 9, 1971.
His last visit to St. Mina’s Monastery took place on May, 1970. His disciple, father Raphael Ava Mina, speaks of His Holiness’ farewell as follows, “He bade the Monastery and the monks farewell in a different way. He summoned all the monks. He was looking at the floor, trying to restrain his tears. He gave each monk a hood, after which he held a doxology for Sts. Mark and Mina and left the monastery.
The Pope departed in his cell at the patriarchate headquarters in al-Azbaqiya. His last words were, “May God be with you. May God intervene in your affairs.” The congregation took his blessing. He was buried under the altar of the Cathedral beside St. Mark. Then, his body was moved to St. Mina’s Monastery, Mariott, as per his will. In June, 2013, the Church acknowledged his sainthood.
Virtues
Pope Cyril VI had lots of virtues:
He abided by the Bible’s words, “Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will stand before kings; He will not stand before obscure men.” He was serious and committed.
He was honest in his life with God, so God made him steward on His people. Thus, he won everybody’s confidence, just as the Bible said, “‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things.”
He was modest, and served everybody. So, God granted him lots of blessings, just as the Bible said, “God opposes the proud, but shows favor to the humble.” When he was nominated to be patriarch, he said, “I am but a worthless insect. I cannot undertake this great mission that is given to whoever is chosen by God, not to whoever aspires it.”
He was a researcher who delved deep into the sayings of the Church’s fathers. He memorized most of them, thus, implementing the Bible’s words, “You study the Scriptures diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life.” This gave him a lot of knowledge.
He ate little and dressed quite humbly, even when he became patriarch.
He was meek and forgiving, responding to evil with good. Thus, he abided by the Bible’s words, “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other.”
He would always vouch for truth. He said, “God taught us to struggle for truth, even if our blood is shed for that. Those who do not defend the truth are like devils.”
He was a patriot. Dr. Hassan Fouad, Director the Arab Antiquities, said about him, “Father, you made monks proud, and honored Egyptian men. I do salute you. I wish I could prove my respect for you one day.”
When he met him, escorted by the Theology School Manager in New York, the former said, “The information I collected in two months is too little in comparison to what I got to know today.”
A father and a shepherd: for he sought whoever strayed, looked for the outcast, healed the broken, banded the hurt, and took care of his children fairly.
He deserved the title “the man of prayer”. His life was not comfortable. Rather, he faced many tribulations. Yet, he used to face them with great faith and prayer. He used to say, “Nothing can ever disturb me in this world, for I am well protected by Christ. I reside in His bosom. I am consoled by Him.”
This is Pope Cyril’s story, but… Stories never end in Beautiful Egypt.
