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Abouna Matta El Meskeen

Abouna Matta El Meskeen: Spiritual Father of the Monks in St. Macarius' Monastery

Abouna Matta El Meskeen (1919 – June 8, 2006) was a Coptic Orthodox monk and also the Spiritual Father of 120 monks in the Monastery of St. Macarius the Great in the Wilderness of Scetis, 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.

Abouna Matta is celebrated by many Copts as a reformer and a prominent figure in recent Coptic history. Alongside two others (Bishop Samuel and Bishop [Now Pope] Shenouda), Abouna Matta was a candidate for the Patriarchal throne in 1971, following the repose of Pope Kyrillos VI.[/SIZE][/LEFT]

Early life

Abouna Matta El Meskeen was born in Benha, elKaliobia, Egypt, in 1919. 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 St. Samuel the Confessor in Qualmun (roughly near Maghagha, Upper Egypt).

Monastic life

After living for a few years in the Monastery of St. Samuel the Confessor in Qualmun, Abouna 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 joined him. The community expanded to twelve by 1964. These twelve monks were sent to Wadi El Natroun in 1969.(This article is far from complete. Thank you for your patience.)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abouna_Matta_El_Meskeen