Synaxarium
Daily Stories of the Saints
for the Blessed Month of Baramhat
The Twentieth Day of the Blessed Month of Baramhat
Baramhat 20
Departure of the Saint Anba Khail (Mikhail)
the Fifty Sixth Pope of the See of St.Mark
On this day of the year 623 A.M. (March 16th.,
907 A.D.) the holy father Anba Khail (Mikhail), the fifty six Pope of Alexandria,
departed. He was enthroned Patriarch on the 30th. of Baramouda 5296 A.M.
(April 25th., year 880 A.D.). This father had nobel qualities, nevertheless
a great sorrow came upon him. Pope Cosma the Second, built a church on
the name of St. Ebtelmaos in the city of Danousher which was under the
jurisdiction of the bishop of Sakha. The people of Danousher desired to
invite the father the Patriarch Anba Mikhail and some of the neighboring
bishops to consecrate this church but the Bishop of Sakha was not pleased
with this idea. When they did against his wish and the father the Patriarch
along with the bishops came, this bishop refused to stay and he left the
church pretending that he was going to check on their meal. When the Bishop
did not come back, and the time to start the service had passed, the bishops
and the elders asked the father the Patriarch to begin the service. Having
urged the Patriarch and pointed out that he was the father of them all
and having authority over them, with difficulty he rose up and prayed the
prayer of thanks giving and the offering of the Lamb. When the Bishop heard
of this, and for his wickedness and his love for the glory of the world,
he became enraged with the excuse that the Patriarch had violated the cannons
of the church and celebrated the divine Liturgy in a parish without the
permission of its bishop. He returned to the church in hast and Satan entered
his heart, he transgressed against the holy and pure altar and the offering
that was on it, then left the church full of wrath. The father the Patriarch
completed the Divine Liturgy with calmness and maturity. On the following
day the Patriarch held a council from the bishops who were with him, the
priests, and the scholars and they excommunicated this bishop and appointed
another in his stead. That Bishop became furious, Satan entered his heart
and he went to the Governor of Egypt Ahmad Ebn-Tolon and told him: "The
Patriarch is very wealthy, and his churches are filled with vessels, in
gold and silver."
This Governor was preparing to go to war and needed
funds to finance these preparations. He called the Patriarch and demanded
the church funds and its vessels, but the Patriarch refused. He shut him
up in prison with a deacon whose name was Ebn El-Monzer for a year during
which the Pope ate only bread, salt, and boiled beans. John and Moses,
two scribes of the Governor, agreed with the scribes of the Governor's
minister John and his son Macarius to free the father the Patriarch and
they asked for the minister's help who agreed to their request. He interceded
on their behalf before the Governor Ebn-Tolon who agreed on a condition
that the Patriarch pay him 20 thousand Dinar. The Patriarch wrote a promissory
note to pay the amount on two installments: the first after one month and
the second after four month and this way he was able to leave the prison.
When the time came to pay the first instalment those scribes paid two thousand
dinar, the minister contributed one thousand and Anba Michail paid seven
thousands, he collected from the bishops and the believers. The pope was
compelled to travel to collect the sum required for the second instalment.
When he was at the city of Belbays, a monk with ragged cloth passed by
the Pope's disciples and told them: "Go and tell your teacher that the
lord will relieve him from his fine after forty days." When the father
heard that he sent for that monk but they could not find him. Before that
period had passed Ebn-Tolon died and his son Khamarawaih, who forgave the
Patriarch of his debt, took his place year 875 A.M. He called the Patriarch,
comforted him and then tore up the promissory note as the monk had prophesied.
The wicked Bishop that caused all these troubles for the holy father Anba
Mikhail, the wrath of God came upon him in his life and his death to be
an example for others. This father spent twenty seven years on the chair
of St. Mark, then departed in peace.
May His prayers be with us. Amen.
Raising of Lazarus from the dead
On this day also the Lord
raised the righteous lazarus from the dead and many people believed because
of this great miracle.
Glory be to God forever. Amen.