Synaxarium

On this day, the saints Abakir, John, Abtolmaus, and Philip were martyred. Saint Abakir was born in Damanhur from the see of Abu Sir west of the Nile. He had a rich brother named Philip. This brother agreed with two priests, one named John and the other Abtolmaus. They gathered and agreed to obtain the crown of martyrdom. They went to Qartasa and confessed the Lord Jesus before the governor. The governor ordered them to be shot with arrows, but none of the arrows harmed them. Then he threw them into a burning fire, but the angel of the Lord saved them from it. The governor then ordered them to be tied to the tails of horses from Qartasa to Damanhur, but the Lord preserved them unharmed. Then the governor ordered their heads to be cut off outside the city of Damanhur, and they received the crown of martyrdom. People from Sa came and took the body of Saint Abakir and built a church over it. The other three were taken by the people of Damanhur, wrapped in precious shrouds, and buried there.

May their prayers be with us. And glory be to our Lord always. Amen

On this day in the year 1658 A.M. (1942 A.D.), Pope John XIX departed. He was the one hundred and thirteenth pope of Alexandria. He was born in the monastery of Tasa, affiliated with the center of El Badari in the Asyut governorate, in the year 1571 A.M. (1855 A.D.) to pious parents. He grew up in righteousness and piety, imbibed love of virtue, and was passionate from childhood about reading the lives of the saints. Then his soul longed to emulate them, so he went to the Monastery of the Virgin Mary at Baramous in Wadi El Natrun in the month of Barmouda in the year 1591 A.M. There he spent the period of testing, which is usually spent by a monastic aspirant, in the best manner. Then he joined the monastic order on the 3rd of Kiahk in the year 1592 A.M. (1876 A.D.). Due to his sharp mind, keen intelligence, and fervent worship, the fathers decided to ordain him a priest. He was ordained by the blessed memory Pope Cyril V (112) in the year 1593 A.M., then became a priest in Baramhat in 1594 A.M. On the same day, he was assigned the leadership of the monastery, where he remained for ten years, being an example of zeal, determination, honesty, purity of conduct, piety, and good management.

When the see of the Diocese of Beheira became vacant, the people chose him as metropolitan of this see. He was ordained on the 12th of Baramhat in the year 1603 A.M. (1887 A.D.) and was also appointed deputy of the Markarian preaching. After the departure of Anba John, Metropolitan of Menoufia, at that time, the people of the diocese entrusted him with its care, so in the year 1610 A.M. (1894 A.D.) he became metropolitan of Beheira and Menoufia and deputy of the Markarian preaching.

Since Alexandria was the seat of his diocese, he established there a theological school to teach monks and sent some of its students on a mission to Athens to further study theological sciences.

The revenues of the endowments of Alexandria were small, but by his good management and zeal, the income increased year after year thanks to the tall buildings he constructed and the renovation of old buildings. He is also credited with the greatest merit in advancing the Markarian schools, as he paid great attention to them until they reached the highest levels in both primary and secondary sections. Due to his foresight and sound judgment, the government chose him as a representative of the Copts in several parliamentary councils such as the Legislative Council, the General Assembly, the Constitution Committee, and others.

He spent forty-two years in the metropolitanate, filled with great deeds. He contributed to establishing many schools and building and renovating most of the churches in his diocese. He had the largest share in supporting beneficial projects. He also paid special attention to the maritime monasteries, whose affairs improved under his good supervision and care.

When the blessed and kind Pope Cyril V departed on the first of Mesra in the year 1643 A.M. (August 7, 1927 A.D.), the Holy Synod gathered on the 4th of Mesra, 1643 A.M. (August 10, 1927 A.D.) at the patriarchal residence, composed of fathers, metropolitans, and bishops, and agreed to choose him as the acting patriarch to manage the affairs of the nation and the church until the ordination of a patriarch. Following this, the synod received endorsements from all dioceses and national councils approving this choice.

He remained acting patriarch for one year, four months, and ten days, during which he managed the affairs of the Markarian preaching excellently. During this time, the Holy Synod, under his presidency, issued a law to organize the affairs of monasteries and monks.

Regarding the Coptic endowments, he wisely decided to form a committee headed by him and including two metropolitans and four members of the General National Council to review the accounts of the monasteries' endowments. A decision to this effect was issued by the Minister of Interior.

Due to his well-known pure conduct, good qualities, asceticism, renunciation, and perfect morals, consensus was reached to elect him patriarch with endorsements from the fathers, metropolitans, priests, notable people, and national councils. He was ordained patriarch on Sunday morning, the 7th of Kiahk in the year 1645 A.M. (December 16, 1928 A.D.) at the Great Markarian Cathedral in Egypt with a grand celebration attended by the Viceroy, princes, ministers, senior state officials, prominent Egyptians of various sects, metropolitans of Eastern and Western churches, and foreign ministers.

After his ordination, he focused on caring for the affairs of the nation and church. The first sign of this care was the establishment of a higher theological school for monks in the city of Helwan. He also ordained a Coptic metropolitan for the Ethiopian kingdom and four bishops from Ethiopian scholars. To strengthen the union between the Coptic and Ethiopian churches, he traveled to Ethiopia and stayed there for thirteen days, where he was greatly honored. He ordained in Addis Ababa the head of the Ethiopian monks (the successor of Saint Tekle Haymanot) as a bishop. Divine providence willed that he undertake the consecration of the holy chrism, which he did in the year 1648 A.M. (1930 A.D.), one hundred and ten years after the consecration of the chrism in the time of the blessed Pope Peter the 109th of Alexandria. He also consecrated it a second time specifically for the Ethiopian queen in the presence of Anba Cyril, Metropolitan of Ethiopia, and Anba Peter, one of the Ethiopian bishops.

Space is limited to enumerate his virtues, which appeared from time to time in his vigilance over the church's interests, compassion for the needy, support and assistance to charitable societies and educational institutes materially and morally, and backing beneficial projects that brought blessings to the Copts.

During his patriarchate, war broke out between the Ethiopian kingdom and the Egyptian lands because he did not agree with Italy on the separation of the Ethiopian church from the Coptic Orthodox Church.

On November 27, 1937, the Viceroy of Italy decided the independence of the Ethiopian church and its separation from the Alexandrian see. He appointed Anba Abram, the Ethiopian bishop, as patriarch of Ethiopia. But God punished him for this betrayal; he became blind and died. Then the Alexandrian Holy Synod excommunicated the mentioned Abram and did not recognize him nor the bishops he consecrated.

However, this situation did not last long, as the great war broke out in 1939, and Italy entered the war against England and France. In 1941, the Emperor of Ethiopia regained his kingdom from Italy, and Anba Cyril, Metropolitan of the Ethiopian Empire, returned to his see honored on May 30, 1942, accompanied by a patriarchal delegation consisting of His Excellency Sadiq Wahba Pasha, Merit Bey Ghali, and Farag Bey Moussa, former Egyptian consul in Ethiopia.

After Pope John was assured of Ethiopia's return to the fold of its mother church, he was afflicted by old age and surrendered his spirit at 2 a.m. on Sunday, the 14th of Buona, 1665 A.M. (June 21, 1942 A.D.).

May his blessing and prayers be with us. Amen

The longest day is 14 hours and 5 minutes.