Andrew
posted on Nov 11, 2003 - 04:39 PM
It is with sad news that we announce the departure from this world of H.G Abba Mina, Metropolitan of Girga. This man was truly blessed and a true friend of two well known contemporary saints, H.H Pope Kyrollos VI and Fr Abdel Messiah el Manakary.
"Remember, O Lord, all those who have fallen asleep and reposed in the priesthood and with them H.G Metropolitan Abba Mina. Graciously, O Lord, repose his soul in the bosom of our holy fathers Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, sustain him in a green pasture, by the water of rest in the paradise of joy, the place out of which grief, sorrow and groaning have fled away in the light of your saints."
Story on how he was ordained Bishop
When Abba Mina was still a monk (I forget his name) he was very friendly with Fr Abdel Messiah El Manakary and Fr Mina El Baramous (H.H Pope Kyrillos VI). On one of his meetings with Fr Abdel Messiah he happened to mention that he was going to Cairo to visit Pope Kyrillos. Fr Abdel Messiah said to him that’s good and while your there tell him to ordain you a Bishop. Metropolitan Mina was very troubled and on his whole journey to Cairo he kept on contemplating on how he should pass this message on to the Pope or if he should at all.
When he arrived to Cairo he met with Pope Kyrillos and they sat talking for a while. Then Pope Kyrillos asked him how was Fr Abdel Messiah, to which Metropolitan Mina replied fine and he sends his regards. Pope Kyrillos asked him did he send me any messages to which Abba Mina replied no, in fear of how he dare tell the Pope to ordain him a bishop. Pope Kyrillos said are you sure? next time you should give me the message in full, and prepare yourself to be ordained Bishop of Girga. This story really shows how saints are in contact with each other as there was no way Pope Kyrillos could have known that Fr Abdel Messiah had sent the message to ordain Abba Mina.
Metropolitan Mina was consecrated to the episcopate in August 1960 by the late Pope Kyrillos VI, having served as a monk of Saint Makarios monastery since 1939. He departed to the Lord on November 7th 2003.
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