August 2018

Michael (archangel)

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Michael (Hebrew pronunciation: [mixaˈʔel]; Hebrew: מִיכָאֵל‎, translit. Mîkhā’ēl, lit. ‘Who is like God?’; Greek: Μιχαήλ, translit. Mikhaḗl; Latin: Michahel;Coptic: ⲙⲓⲭⲁⲏⲗ, Arabic: ميخائيل‎, translit. Mīkhā’īl) is an archangel in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. In Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Anglican, and Lutheran traditions, he is called “Saint Michael the Archangel” and “Saint Michael”. In the Oriental Orthodox and Eastern Orthodox traditions, he is called “Taxiarch Archangel Michael” or simply “Archangel Michael”.

Michael is mentioned three times in the Book of Daniel. The idea that Michael was the advocate of the Jews became so prevalent that, in spite of the rabbinical prohibition against appealing to angels as intermediaries between God and his people, Michael came to occupy a certain place in the Jewish liturgy.

In the New Testament Michael leads God’s armies against Satan’s forces in the Book of Revelation, where during the war in heaven he defeats Satan. In the Epistle of Jude Michael is specifically referred to as “the archangel Michael”. Christian sanctuaries to Michael appeared in the 4th century, when he was first seen as a healing angel, and then over time as a protector and the leader of the army of God against the forces of evil.

Saint Raphael

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Raphael (/ˈræfiəl/; Hebrew: רָפָאֵל, translit. Rāfāʾēl, lit. ‘It is God who heals’, ‘God Heals’, ‘God, Please Heal’; Ancient Greek: Ραφαήλ, Coptic: ⲣⲁⲫⲁⲏⲗ, Arabic: رفائيل‎) is an archangel in Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Raphael performs all manners of healing according to all Abrahamic religions.

Medieval French rabbi, author and Tanakh (Hebrew Bible) commentator Rashi views Raphael as being one of the three angels that appeared to Abraham in the oak grove of Mamre in the Book of Genesis. Raphael is also mentioned in the Book of Enoch alongside archangels Michael, Gabriel and Uriel.

Raphael is generally associated with the angel mentioned in the Gospel of John as stirring the water at the healing pool of Bethesda. Raphael is also an angel in Mormonism, as he is briefly mentioned in the Doctrine and Covenants.[2] Raphael is also mentioned in the Book of Tobit, which is accepted as canonical by some Catholics, Orthodox, and some Anglo-Catholics. Raphael is a venerated angel within the Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Anglican, and Lutheran traditions, and he is often given the title “Saint Raphael”.

Philopateer Mercurios

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Mercurius (Coptic: Ⲫⲓⲗⲟⲡⲁ ⲧⲏⲣ Ⲙⲁⲣⲕⲟⲩⲣⲓⲟⲥ; d. AD 250) was a Christian saint and a martyr. He was born in the city of Eskentos in Cappadocia, in Eastern Asia Minor (modern day Turkey). His original name, Philopater (variant spellings include Philopateer and Philopatyr), means “lover of the Father”. Saint Mercurius is also known by the name Abu-Seifein (أبو سيفين), which in Arabic means “the holder [literally, owns/possess] of two swords,” referring to a second sword given to him, by the Archangel Michael.

Bishop Karas

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His Grace Bishop Karas, was born on November 18, 1965. He joined the Coptic Orthodox Seminary School in 1983 and graduated in 1987 with a Bachelor’s degree in Theological Sciences. He then spent a year in the Egyptian military between 1988-1989. Following this, he served as a consecrated deacon for the Diocese of Tahta and Johaina from 1989 until 1992. Later that year, he joined the Monastery of Anba Bishoy in Wady El Natroun, Egypt.

He was ordained a monk on June 8, 1993 and was given the name of Father Karas of Jerusalem. He then served in Jerusalem from June 1993 until 1995 and later returned to the Monastery of Anba Bishoy. He was ordained a priest on June 7, 1999 and served the Diocese of Ireland, Scotland, and North East England with HG Bishop Anthony until 2014. During this time, he also served as the secretary of the dioceses. He received the rank of Hegomen on September 10, 2011. He was later ordained a Bishop on June 1, 2014, then appointed as the Exarch of His Holiness Pope Tawadros II to North America on August 2, 2014. He was enthroned as the Bishop of the Diocese of Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland and West Virginia on November 11, 2017.

Pope Tawadros II of Alexandria

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Pope Tawadros was born on Thursday 4 November 1952 (this was the same day of Anba Tawadros’ selection for the patriarchy in 2012). His father was an engineer. He was the oldest brother. His mother(1) was taught in Saint Demiana monastery and she was the youngest sister. The father liked order very much and he liked languages (English and French) because he used to deal with foreigner engineers. The mother took good care of her children and their connection to the church as well as the family ties. It was an ordinary family whose world was the church, service, love of God and the Bible. The two families were close and visited their relatives and participated in special occasions. They loved reading very much.

The family lived in Mansoura (till the age of five) then moved to Sohag (till the age of eight and nine) then to Damanhour (1961) then to Alexandria. The Pope had 3 sisters; the eldest died young, another one three years younger called “Hoda” and another one eleven or twelve years called “Dina” who was born in Damanhour and passed away in 2009. His father died on 3rd June 1967 the day of his 3rd Preparatory exam and two days before the war.

There was a story told about a visit of the family while the children were young to Pope Cyril VI and he told Wagih “You will be great”. Nevertheless this story was untrue. His Holiness said that when he was in 3rd or 4th grade when they were still new in Damanhour, the mother took her child to Pope Cyril VI when he was ordaining deacons because she wanted her son to become one. The archdeacon got Wagih out of the row roughly because he was a stranger. The mother went home in tears while the boy was not concerned about that. When the father came back from work and found her in such a state, he told her “He will be a bishop”.

He began service while he was in Secondary school in 1968 in the ancient church of the Archangel in Damanhour with Father Mikhael Guirges who was ordained in 1963 and was Wagih’s father in confession till he entered the monastery. At that time Pope Shenouda III used to go there to spend a week as the Bishop of Education. He graduated from school in 1970.

He received his BSc. in pharmacy in 1975 with grade “Very Good” with honours. He used to dream of becoming a pharmacist as His Holiness said, “The pharmacist is the person who comforts people.” This was because his father had a peptic ulcer and the doctor used to give Wagih the prescription when he was in the primary stage and he would go to the pharmacist to buy the medicine then his father would take the medicine that relieves him of pain. Thus this scene was always in His Holiness’ mind that a pharmacist relieves people of pain.

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