💙 The Masoudians ❤️ Weather Scholars 💚

[Mary Naeem]

💙 The Masoudians ❤️ Weather Scholars 💚
❤️ Father Abdel Messih El-Masoudi the Elder was one of three distinguished monks with similar names: Father Abdel Messih Girgis El-Masoudi El-Muharraqi, who lived as a monk for twenty-two years at the Monastery of El-Muharraq, then went to the Monastery of El-Baramous where he spent the rest of his life; Father Abdel Messih El-Masoudi Ibn Abdel Malak El-Muharraqi the Middle, who became a monk and passed away at the Monastery of El-Muharraq; and Father Abdel Messih El-Masoudi the Younger El-Baramous, who became a monk and passed away at the Monastery of El-Baramous.
❤️‍🩹Father Abdel Messih El-Masoudi the Great
🦜 Birth
In 1818, Father Abdel Messih El-Masoudi the Great was born in the town of Sheikh Masoud in Tahta, hence his name El-Masoudi. His parents, Girgis and Sayyida, were renowned for their piety. He was the second of four siblings: Afrosina, Abdel Messih, Aziza, and Salib.
Abdel Messih did not remain long in this world. In 1835, at the age of seventeen, he went to the Monastery of Al-Muharraq, where he became a monk that same year. He earned the love and respect of the monks for his many spiritual and intellectual gifts. He was a spiritual man, a scholar, an ascetic, a chaste man, a warrior, a sincere man, a courageous man, a humble man, and a loving man.
His sister Aziza became a nun at the Monastery of St. George in the Zuwayla district. When his brother Salib's heart burned with longing for the monastic life, he left home and went to the Monastery of Al-Muharraq to attain the crown of virginity. However, his father and sister, Euphrosyna, went to him and asked him to return home with them. Father Abdel-Messih, who was present, was saddened and told them, "He who seeks his own salvation is the victor, even if it means leaving family and home." So Salib returned home and married his cousin Maryam. They had four children: Ibrahim, Abdel-Messih, George, Simeon, Bishara, Safina, and Justina.
Within two years, the monk Abdel-Messih received the grace of priesthood and the rank of archpriest.
🦜 Going to the Monastery of Paromeos
In 1857, Father Abdel Messih El-Masoudi, along with a group of monks, rebelled against the abbot, Father Abdel Malak El-Houri, claiming that he was distributing the monastery's funds to his family. They went to Pope Cyril IV (1854-1861), who found their complaint trivial and not worthy of such a fuss. This was true because Father Abdel Malak El-Houri was known for reclaiming some of the monastery's lands from usurpers. Therefore, the Pope did not allow them to return to the Monastery of El-Muharraq and ordered them to go to the Monastery of Paromeos. They obeyed and went there, accompanied by the priests: Hans, Misak, Mikhail El-Ashqawi, and others. After he left the monastery, one of the monks said of him: "He is a jewel that has left the monastery!" One of the remarkable stories is that when Father Abdel Messih visited the Monastery of Paromeos while he was at the Monastery of Al-Muharraq, he was greatly impressed and loved it. He said, "If I hadn't become a monk at the Monastery of Al-Muharraq, I would have preferred to become a monk at the Monastery of Paromeos." Therefore, he lived happily at the monastery, and he considered the difficulties he faced as a sign that he should spend the rest of his life at the flourishing Monastery of Paromeos.
His disciple, Father Markos al-Balouti, testified to his character, saying: "He would spend the night in prayer and praise with copious tears, and he would spend the day studying the Holy Scriptures and the writings of the monastic fathers until nine o'clock. Then he would rise to pray until sunset, after which he would sleep for two or three hours, then wake up to spend the entire night awake in prayer. He was an ascetic, possessing neither money nor clothes other than what covered his body. He was merciful, loving towards the monks, cheerful, smiling, wise, and his face shone like an angel's."
🦜 Mother Safina's Testimony
The nun Safina, who was well-versed in the Holy Scriptures and a master of the Coptic language, and who became a nun at the Monastery of Abu Seifein and lived between 1909 and 1928, narrated from her uncle, Father Abdel Messih El-Masoudi, in a manuscript she wrote herself:
Three lights, stars, or great pillars gathered at the Monastery of El-Baramous, contributing greatly to the monastery's affairs and its monastic and spiritual growth. These were the three spiritual leaders, workers, and teachers of virtue to their spiritual children: the blessed Father Sheikh Awad El-Barhami, considered the oldest of those present at the monastery at that time, who was blind but possessed enlightened spiritual insight. Remarkably, he served as the monastery's secretary with exceptional efficiency for many years. The gentle and merciful Father, like a loving and caring nanny, was Father Youhanna the Scribe, who later became Pope Cyril V. And the great Father Abdel Messih El-Masoudi, who, to increase His knowledge, work, and piety made him a confessor to all the fathers.
🦜 Father Abdel Messih, Secretary of the Monastery of Paromeos
In 1875, Father Youhanna the Scribe became Patriarch, taking the name Pope Cyril V. Father Abdel Messih was chosen to succeed him as assistant to Father Awad al-Barhami in managing the affairs of the monastery. In 1878, Father Awad passed away, and Father Abdel Messih assumed the custodianship of the monastery. He bore the responsibility with complete integrity, undertaking restoration work on the ancient monastery wall and facilities. He renovated the Church of St. John in 1884. He then began to withdraw from some of the responsibilities of managing the monastery, desiring a life of tranquility and solitude. In 1897, he completely relinquished his administrative duties.
🦜 His Rejection of the Bishopric
Father Abdel Messih El-Masoudi loved monasticism in its essence, as a life of prayer, contemplation, reading, and asceticism. This, coupled with his deep love of solitude and his inclination towards seclusion, meant he had no desire to leave monastic life and descend into the world to serve, despite his vast knowledge and profound spiritual experience. Therefore, when he was nominated to be Bishop of the See of Assiut, he declined. Pope Demetrius II (1862-1870) did not compel him. He declined a second time when he was nominated to be Metropolitan of the See of Ethiopia, and Pope Cyril V (1874-1927) accepted his refusal.
🦜 His Letter to Pope Cyril V
Father Abdel Messih El-Masoudi lived during the time of Pope Cyril V, when the latter was a monk at the Monastery of Paromeos under the name Father Youhanna the Scribe. Their relationship was close, characterized by overflowing love, mutual respect, and profound trust. Therefore, after his ordination as Patriarch, he sent Father Abdel Messih a letter asking him about the asceticism a monk should practice. Father Abdel Messih responded with a profoundly spiritual and eloquent article entitled: "To Every Monk Who Desires to Live a Sound Ascetic Life," which was published by Professor Farid Kamel