St. Mina and St. Abanoub Coptic Orthodox Church

The Thirtieth Day of the Blessed Month of Bashans
Bashans 30

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Departure of Pope Mikhail the First, the 68th Patriarch of Alexandria

      On this day of the year 818 A.M. (May 25th., 1102 A.D.), the holy father Pope Mikhail, the sixty eighth Pope of Alexandria, departed. He was knowledgeable in the church books from his youth, and recited them from memory. He desired to worship God, and went to the wilderness and became a monk in St. Macarius monastery. He was ordained a priest, then he went to a place near Singar, and lived there in a cave for more than 20 years, fighting the good spiritual war. His virtues were known to everyone. He was chosen to the Throne of St Mark and was enthroned on the 12th of Babah, 809 A.M. (October 9th., 1092 A.D.), after he had proclaimed the Orthodox faith. He took care of the priests of the churches of Alexandria. He did not allow "Simony", and returned all the properties of the church that the Pope before him took to himself. He never too to himself even one Dinar. He lived on very little money, and spent most of it to feed the poor and the needy. He paid the taxes for those who could not pay, and spent money to buy new vessels and books for the churches. He taught his people through preaching and sermons. When he completed his course, he gave his soul by the hand of the Lord Whom he loved. He was Pope for 9 years, 7 months,and 17 days.

May his prayers be with us. Amen.

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Departure of St. Fournous, one of the Seventy Disciples

    

On this day also, the disciple Phorus (Fournous), one of the seventy disciples, departed. He served Christ for 3 years. After the ascension of the Lord, he served the apostles, and was filled with the Holy Spirit, the comforter on the day of PentecoSt. Then he served St. Paul, and carried his epistles to many countries, and taught the Jews and pagans and baptized them. He suffered many afflictions, and departed in peace.

May his prayers be with us, and glory be to God forever. Amen.