MATTA EL MESKEEN

'Father Matta El Meskeen' or Matthew the Poor (20 September 1919 – 8 June 2006) was an Egyptian Coptic Orthodox monk and also the spiritual father of 130 monks in the Monastery of Saint Macarius the Great in the Wilderness of Wadi El Natrun, Egypt. He is also a renowned Orthodox theologian, and author of voluminous texts on Biblical exegesis, Ecclesiastical rites, spiritual and theological matters, and much more (181 books, besides hundreds of journal articles).
Father Matta was once the Father in Confession and spiritual guide of Pope Shenouda III (during the 1950s).^[1] Father Matta was also the spiritual guide of the late Alexandrian priest Father Bishoy Kamel, a contemporary Coptic Orthodox saint, and the Coptic historian Iris Habib Elmasry.
Father Matta is celebrated by many Copts as a reformer and a prominent figure in recent Coptic history. Alongside two others (Bishop Samuel[2] and Bishop (now Pope} Shenouda), Father Matta was a candidate for the Patriarchal throne in 1971, following the repose of Pope Cyril VI of Alexandria (Kyrillos VI) but he did not reach the final stage of three candidates.

Contents

Relationship with Pope Shenouda III

Allegation of suspension

Early life

Monastic life

Quotes

Further reading

See also

External links

Photos

Relationship with Pope Shenouda III

Father Matta was once Pope Shenouda's spiritual father and confessor during the 1950s. Pope Shenouda acknowledges his debt to his teacher, Father Matta El-Meskeen, whom he calls "my father monk" in the introduction to his book ''Intelaq Al-Rouh'' (''The Release of the Spirit'') [3],[4].
But today, there seem to be some misunderstandings between both leaders and their followers [5],[6],[7],[8], e.g., recently in relation to the concept of theosis (see discussions at [9],[10],[11]), and also regarding Father Matta's position on Mark 16. See: Web site by some of Fr. Matta's proponents, a detailed study about the Mark 16 controversy (Arabic), Pope Shenouda's reply concerning the theological and dogmatic opinions of Fr. Matta: Part 1,Part 2 (Arabic RealAudio; recorded in 1991/2003 - zipped mirror), and HE Metropolitan Bishoy's lecture about Fr Matta: 4 parts zipped together (Arabic Audio; recorded on 18 September 2006).

Allegation of suspension

It has been incorrectly alleged that Father Matta was suspended twice,^[12] first by Pope Yusab II in 1955, and then again by Pope Kyrillos VI for nine years from 1960 to 1969 [13] for administrative/"political" (e.g., his book about the 'Church and the State', in which he called for total separation of the two [14],[15]) rather than for any truly theological or core dogmatic issues. [16].

Early life

Father Matta El Meskeen was born Youssef Eskander in Banha, Qalyubia Governorate, Egypt, in 1919. (One source says he was born in Damanhour, Egypt [17].) In 1944, he graduated in Pharmacy from the University of Cairo. After leading a successful life and establishing a wealthy lifestyle for himself--Eskander at the time was the owner of two pharmacies, two villas, and two cars--he renounced his material possessions in 1948, and entered the monastery of Saint Samuel the Confessor in Mount Qalamoun (roughly near Maghagha, Upper Egypt). In 1951, he was ordained a priest against his will.

Monastic life

After living for a few years in the monastery of St. Samuel the Confessor in Mount Qalamoun, Father Matta decided to move out into Wadi El Rayan in the late 1950s. There, he lived as a recluse in the spirit of the ancient Desert Fathers for twelve years. By 1960, seven other monks had joined him. The community expanded to twelve by 1964. These twelve monks were sent by Pope Kyrillos VI to Wadi El Natrun in 1969 to develop the monastery of St. Macarius the Great. At that time only six elderly, frail fathers lived near the road between Cairo and Alexandria. Matta and his twelve companions cared for them while reconstructing the monastery. The administrative, agricultural, institutional, and printing/publishing developments at the renewed Monastery of St. Macarius the Great were staggering. But the spiritual revolution was much greater. By 1981 Matta had over eighty monks in the monastery [18],[19]. The monastery also finances services and projects for the poor, Muslims and Christians alike [20].

Quotes

:"''Whenever physical hunger turned cruel against me, I found my gratification in prayer. Whenever the biting cold of winter was unkind to me, I found my warmth in prayer. Whenever people were harsh to me (and their harshness was severe indeed) I found my comfort in prayer. In short, prayer became my food and my drink, my outfit and my armor, whether by night or by day.''"
:"''It is no joy for the church to have many active members of varied services who lack the spiritual proficiency for renewing souls and regenerating them in a genuine spiritual rebirth to win them for the Kingdom of Heaven. The true joy of the Church lies in leaders who possess spiritual insight, who walk ahead of their flocks so that the flocks can follow a sure path. It is not possible to obtain spiritual insight by action or study, spiritual insight is attained by silence, retreat and long prayers in their various stages.''"
:"''I felt I was late to come to the knowledge of Christ; studying the Bible appeared such a daunting task. In desperation, I asked the Lord to give me either a long life to have enough time to study the Bible well, or enough wisdom to grasp its hidden meanings. In His everlasting generosity, God gave me both.''"
:When asked why he never defended himself against the many accusations regarding some of his writings, Father Matta El-Meskeen replied, "''Did you read the Exposition of the Gospel of John and benefit from it? ... My son I won't spend my time replying to anyone, but, my son, I will die and they will die and the Church will remain, as well as what we offered to her, and the next generations will judge us''."^[21] (The Gospel of the day of his departure (June 8, 2006) according to the Coptic Lectionary was John 15:17-25.)

Further reading

In Vol.27, No. 3 & 4, Fall & Winter 2006 of ''Coptic Church Review'', there is an important article by Rev. Dr. John Watson, who lives in Highclisse, Dorset, England. It is in 27 pages in length and is entitled "Abouna Matta El Meskeen Contemporary Desert Mystic". Coptic Church Review is published by Society of Coptic Church Studies, P.O. Box 714, E. Brunswick, NJ 08816, USA. The article is also available in microfilm format from University Microfilms International, 300 North Zeeb Rd., Ann Arbor, MI 48106, USA.

See also

★ List of prominent Copts

★ Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria

External links

★ "Abouna Matta Al-Meskeen (1919-2006)." The Monastery of St. Macarius the Great at Scetis (Wadi Natrun - Egypt). 29 Jun. 2006.

★ Fr Matta El-Meskeen and Pope Shenouda III: Two strong-willed reformers bring Coptic Orthodoxy back to life (Christianity Today, December 3, 2001)

★ Medina, Sara. "Egypt's Copts in Crisis." TIME Magazine Archive Article 28 Sep. 1981. 27 Jun. 2006. (comment on article)

★ The Monastery of St. Macarius

★ Video interview of Fr Matta El-Meskeen

★ Book: "''Orthodox Prayer Life: The Interior Way''," by Father Matta El-Maskeen (Excerpt 1,Excerpt 2)

★ Book: "''The Communion of Love''," by Father Matta El-Maskeen (Excerpt)

★ More English titles by Fr. Matthew The Poor

★ English Articles by Fr Matta El Maskeen from coptichymns.net

★ Articles by Fr Matta El-Meskine Translated into English (More: [22], [23], [24], [25],[26])

★ http://www.fathermatta.com/ (English section)

★ Father Matta al-Miskeen (1919-2006): A life well-lived (article in English - Watani newspaper 11JUN06)

★ Between Pope (87) Matthew the Poor, Anba Abraam, and the departed Fr Matta El-Meskeen (with a comprehensive biography of the latter)

★ Photo of Fr Matta's tomb in the mountain near his monastery Video (See also [27] (Arabic).)

★ Video: Spiritual Quotes by Fr. Matta El-Meskeen (1919-2006) (Arabic video - 2 hours and half)

★ Photos of Wadi Al-Rayan, where Fr Matta al-Meskeen, the father of modern Coptic monasticism, lived in the 1950 and 1960s

★ Fr. Matta El-Meskeen entry at CopticHistory.org (Arabic)

★ Memoirs of Fr. Matta El-Meskeen - Al-Ahram newspaper 19 August 2006 Permanent mirror with extra photos

★ TIME Magazine Archive Article -- SAINTS AMONG US -- Dec. 29, 1975 (F Matta El Meskin is listed as one of six 'living saints')

★ TIME Magazine Archive Article -- The Desert Revival -- Apr. 19, 1976

★ Arabic article about Fr. Matta Al-Meskeen

★ Important history and opinion article in Arabic about the real origins of the problems that faced Fr. Matta El-Meskeen Part 2 (Arabic)

★ Another Arabic article about Fr. Matta Al-Meskeen

★ Hegumen Matta El-Meskeen "Confrontation" with the Church (Arabic)

★ H.E. Metropolitan Bishoy answer to questions about Fr. Matta El-Meskeen

★ Hanna, William A. "For Christ Sake; The hate campaigns should stop." Online posting. 21 Jun. 2006. Zeitun-eg.org electronic mailing list. 21 Jun. 2006.

★ Eulogy in Memory of Fr. Hegumenos Matta El-Meskeen By His Beatitude Metropolitan Mikhail, Metropolitan of Assiut and Head of the Monastery of St. Macarius

★ Father Matta el Meskin--The Coptophile Column By Revd. Dr. John H. Watson (''Watani'')

★ Nader Habib. Obituary: Life of the spirit - Father Matta El-Miskeen (1919-2006). ''Al-Ahram Weekly'' 15 - 21 June 2006, Issue No. 799

★ Fr Matta El Meskeen. ''The Independent'' newspaper, UK - 27 June 2006

★ Amid the discipline and spirituality of the desert a saint was discovered. ''The Times'' newspaper, UK - 14 October 2006

★ An interview with the renowned theologian Prof. Samuel Rubenson of Lund University, Sweden, about Fr Matta El-Meskeen (interview in Arabic)

★ A Muslim lady, speaking at a public seminar organized by the Egyptian State's Higher Council for Culture, relates about a miracle of physical cure from a dislocated vertebral disc that God did to her after the departure of Fr Matta El-Meskeen and through his prayers (article in Arabic)

★ http://www.orthodoxwiki.org/Matta_El-Meskeen

★ Fr Matta El-Meskeen Arabic Sermons (RealAudio) - More (MP3)

Photos

★ [28],[29],[30],[31]