“This man is not of this world”… These were the words spoken regarding Saint Pope Kyrillos VI, the 116th Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of Saint Mark, whose departure the Coptic people commemorated this past Monday, March 9th. Pope Kyrillos VI desired to live as a solitary monk, a stranger to the world, yet God willed for him to become a Patriarch beloved by all, whose fragrant legacy resonates throughout the ends of the earth.
Born “Azar” on August 8, 1902, he lived in Damanhour and later Alexandria, where he completed his secondary education. Azar initially worked for a shipping company but eventually resigned, desiring to consecrate his entire life to God. He joined the Paromeos Monastery in 1927, was ordained a monk under the name “Monk Mina” in 1928, and was later ordained a priest in 1931.
Father Mina al-Baramousi chose the life of solitude. Five years into his monastic life, he left the monastery for a hermitage cave, which he would leave on Saturday evenings to head to his monastery, returning to his cave on Sunday evenings. This life of solitude was by no means easy; he faced numerous hardships. Reflecting on his first experience in the hermitage and the cave, Pope Kyrillos remarked:
“God knows that my pursuit was not out of expertise in this path, for I did not know it. Indeed, the Holy Fathers left us signs, and he who desires solitude must ask God fervently to prepare the way and guide him… For three years, I asked Him to guide me on this path. However, due to lack of knowledge, we wandered and received many blows from the Enemy [referring to spiritual warfare], in distress and gloom. Despair took hold of us, and hope was entirely cut off. Our bodies grew frail and perished from the abundance of fearful thoughts that besieged us throughout that long duration. But the Merciful God, who does not wish for man to fall into such states, aided me with His strong hand, guided me to the path, and opened the door for me… There, I breathed a sigh of relief from what had afflicted me at the hands of the enemies. He enlightened my eyes, and I beheld the light; I felt how much I had been in darkness and gloom. My heart rejoiced, my soul exulted, and I began to chant with David the Prophet: ‘If I say, “My foot slips,” Your mercy, O LORD, will hold me up. In the multitude of my anxieties within me, Your comforts delight my soul.'”
It was a difficult spiritual journey, yet God’s providence never abandoned him. Rather, it led him through a spiritual odyssey witnessed by everyone who encountered him. He expressed this in his own words: “Trust that He who chose the beginning of the path for you will not leave you in the middle of it.” Father Mina moved to a windmill in Old Cairo, which at the time had neither a door nor a roof. He eventually built a roof and a second floor for the windmill and began holding daily prayers. Later, he became the head of the Monastery of Saint Samuel the Confessor, where he oversaw the monastery’s restoration and the revival of monastic life. He was subsequently elevated to the rank of Hegumen.
Hegumen Mina the Hermit returned to Old Cairo, where he established a church in the name of his patron saint, Saint Mina. He resided atop the church, serving as a shepherd for the youth and caring for expatriates. It was said of him: “No person could say they sought Father Mina and left without their needs being met.” Despite his vast responsibilities, he never turned away a petitioner. He was truly a father. One of his sons among the bishops remarked:
“He had no leisure time, yet he possessed a vastness of heart and an openness to everyone without distinction: dignitaries, students seeking a place to stay, or a priest in need of a retreat… I used to marvel at the diverse crowds flocking to Father Mina, and how they all found rest and solutions to their problems. How was this possible?!”
He was a father to all, bearing their burdens and guiding them with an inexhaustible love rooted in God.In 1959, God willed to appoint a faithful shepherd, and Hegumen Mina the Hermit was enthroned as Patriarch under the name “Pope Kyrillos VI.” He occupied himself with every soul and its salvation, encouraging everyone and granting them hope in God, in whose hands all matters rest. Among his most profound words: ‘Rest assured and do not think too much about any matter. Leave it to God who is in control.'” Thus, God was the fountain of consolation and the fortress of security for Pope Kyrillos VI, and thus he taught his children.
And…the conversation about “Beautiful Egypt” never ends!
General Bishop
President of the Coptic Orthodox Cultural Center
