Beautiful Egypt 165 – «The Painting of Ships» July 24, 2016

   We finished recounting the biography of caliph Abu Ja’far al-Mansur, the second Abbasid caliph and his building of Baghdad to be the State’s capital. He appointed Mussa bin Ka’b, then Mohammed bin al-Asha’th, then Hamid bin Qahtaba, followed by Yazid bin Hatem, to be succeeded by Abdullah bin Abdel Rahman proconsuls of Egypt.

Abdullah bin Abdel Rahman (152-155 Hijri) (769-772 A.D.)

   Abdullah bin Abdel Rahman bin Mu’awiya bin Hudaij of Tujayb was appointed proconsul of Egypt by the caliph after he had deposed Yazid bin Hatem. Bin Abdel Rahman did not assign the police authority to anybody. He handled it by himself. After spending two years in Egypt, he went to Abu Ja’far al-Mansur, asking him to hand Egypt over to Mohammed, his brother. The caliph approved. Mohammed remained proconsul until his death in 155 Hijri (772 A.D.)

Mohammed bin Abdel Rahman (155 Hijri) (772 A.D.)

   Mohammed bin Abdel Rahman bin Mu’awiya bin Hudaij of Tujayb was handed over the affairs of Egypt by Abdullah, his brother. Caliph Abu Ja’far had approved of this. It is said that he was a good proconsul. Yet, he died due to a severe illness that made him bedridden for eight and a half months. During his tenure, he sent Egyptian troops to Morocco, and the battle ended in the troops’ victory. After his death, Abu Ja’far appointed Mussa bin Ali proconsul of Egypt.

Mussa bin Ali (155-161 Hjri) (772-778 A.D.)

   Mussa bin Ali bin Rabbah of Lakham became proconsul of Egypt after Mohammed bin Abdel Rahman’s death. Taghribirdi maintains that some Copts rebelled against him. So, he sent some of his sentries to fight them. He had some of them killed, and pardoned some.

   He remained in his post until Abu Ja’far al-Mansur’s death in 158 Hijri (775 A.D.) Mohammed al-Mahdi succeeded his father, re-assigning Mussa the affairs of Egypt. Yet, he deposed him in 161 Hijri (778 A.D.) Thus, he ruled Egypt for six years and two months, to be succeeded by Eissa bin Luqman.

   At that time Pope Khail I departed. Pope Mina I was chosen forty-seventh patriarch of Alexandria.

Pope Mina I (767-776 A.D.)

   Before becoming patriarch, Pope Mina I was a monk at St. Makarius the Great Monastery. After the departure of Pope Khail I, the bishops and congregation assembled, beseeching God to choose for them an honest shepherd like Pope Khail I to take care of them. When the name of monk Mina was mentioned, it was gladly received, as he was known for his loving-kindness. Moreover, he was one of Pope Khail’s disciples. That is why he was elected, with consensus, patriarch of St. Mark’s See. However, he clung to his name, Mina. Thus, he became Pope Mina I, the forty-seventh patriarch of St. Mark’s See.

   The country was calm at that time. So, Pope Mina concentrated on educating the congregation, explaining the Faith and how to cling to it steadfastly. Likewise, he gave attention to restoring ruined churches. However, trouble started to be made by the Copts themselves! A monk called Peter became so vainglorious that he asked to meet the Pope to be ordained metropolitan. Pope Mina understood that the man was a victim of pride. So, he refused his request. But, the monk wrote a letter to the patriarch of Antioch, feigning the signature of Pope Mina I, and asking for money. Then, he traveled to Antioch. The patriarch thought it was true, and gave him money promptly. He wrote a message to Pope Mina, expressing his respect to See of Alexandria.

   Peter, then, hurried to the Abbasid caliph, Abu Ja’far al-Mansur, who loved Christians. He received him courteously, especially that he resembled a son of his who had passed away. Peter stayed for three months at the caliph’s palace, after which the caliph sent a message to the proconsul of Egypt, asking him to make Peter Pope of Alexandria, for he had declared this very wish to the caliph! The man had his tailors prepare him a luxurious papal attire on which the phrase “Peter, the Pope of Egypt and the King’s Servant” was embroidered!

   Peter took the caliph’s letter to Egypt’s proconsul who was on quite good terms with Pope Mina I. So, the proconsul summoned Pope Mina. Upon his arrival, he discovered what happened. So, he tried to make Peter think rationally, reminding him that the Bible said that nobody takes this post on his own. He should be called upon by God. He told him, “If you usurp the dignity of priesthood, it will be taken off from you, and you shall die destitute.” Peter did not obey the Pope. He threatened him to complain to the caliph. The Pope, feeling that the proconsul was embarrassed, as the latter loved him yet had to obey the caliph, said he would abide by the proconsul’s will. Peter requested that the Pope be kept in custody and that the bishops be summoned to be told of the caliph’s orders. After getting to know, the bishops assembled to pray. But Peter, being impatient, hurried to the church where the bishops assembled, escorted by some sentries. The moment he entered the church, he was about to start praying as if he were the legitimate Pope. He was stopped by Abba Moses, bishop of Usim (who was still alive) and Abba Mina, bishop of Tanaboh. This made him furious. So, he ordered the sentries to arrest the bishops and put them in jail where they spent a few days.

   Peter continued to defame the Pope and the bishops, claiming that they were able to convert metals to gold, as well as other things which would make the proconsul furious at them.

   Finally, Peter ordered the proconsul to make them paint the ships, threatening him to tell the caliph! The proconsul could do nothing, but agree. Thus, Pope Mina and the bishops continued to paint ships for a year, until the proconsul arrested Peter and put him in jail for his vanity. He restored the Pope to the See, and bishops to their dioceses. Peter spent three years in jail, after which he headed to the caliph. Yet, he got to know the man died, which made him understand that whoever depends on men is accursed. So, he returned to his village, but was rejected by its inhabitants. Hence, he died lonely and destitute.

   Pope Mina spent the rest of his life in peace. He departed after eight years and ten months of papacy. So was the story… Stories never end in Beautiful Egypt.

General Bishop

Head of the Coptic Orthodox Cultural Center