Happy many returns to all of you; few days set us apart from celebrating the Sinai Liberation day, we plead with God to bless Egypt with good and peace, keep it from every evil.
Before being chosen a patriarch, Pope Kyrillos VI desired to live in a room beneath Saint Mina Monumental Church in Mariot, so he asked the Ministry of Antiquities to grant him permission to reside there. Yet he did not receive such permission except after becoming a patriarch. He began constructing the entire area: he bought a hundred acres on two installments from the Desert Reclamation Authority, laid the foundation stone for the monastery on the first feast of Saint Mina the Wonderworker after being consecrated a patriarch, restoring life to this area.
Moreover, Pope Kyrillos VI renewed the Great Cathedral of Saint Mark in Azbakeya and rebuilt the small church attached to it (Martyr Stephen’s Church) which had new foundations, was built with reinforced concrete, and had its area increased. His Holiness also built the Great Cathedral of Saint Mark in Abbasia and laid its foundation stone on 24/6/1965, then inaugurated it on 25/6/1968 in the presence of the late President Gamal Abdel Nasser and Emperor Haile Selassie I of Ethiopia. His Holiness also built the Seminar College, the students’ house attached to it, and the printing press building.
His Holiness was also a preaching pope; he preached outside Egypt, had the early churches built in Australia, Canada, the USA, Europe and a number of Arabic countries; moreover, His Holiness delegated father priests to European countries to hold prayers and ritual services in various cities. His Holiness was the first pope to ordain general bishops.
As for the patriotism kept by Saint Pope Kyrillos VI, His Holiness issued, with the participation of His Eminence the Grand Imam then, Sheikh Hassan Mamoun, Sheikh of Al-Azhar, a joint historical statement, affirming the solidarity of all Egyptians in the issues for which the nation is fighting, affirming the unity of purpose and stance towards all issues related to Egypt and the Middle East, most significantly, the Egyptians’ stance towards Al Quds; they led together a popular demonstration, expressing their rejection of the attacks instigated by Israel against Palestine and Jerusalem which contains both Islamic and Christian sanctities. In addition, His Holiness released a number of press statements, conducted some interviews for the French television for the sake of Jerusalem and the implementation of Security Council resolutions, he then issued a decision preventing the Copts from visiting Jerusalem in protest against the aggression taking place. In 1967, Pope Kyrillos VI participated in seminars and popular conferences that were held in order to bring Egyptians together, to support President Gamal Abdel Nasser – and we all know the stance His Holiness took when President Gamal Abdel Nasser announced he would step down from the presidency in 1967. At that critical stage, His Holiness ordered that Masses shall be held in all Coptic Orthodox churches pleading for Egypt that the Lord may endow it with protection and steadfastness. Israel Radio, broadcasted in Arabic, mocked that stance, saying: “Rejoice, Abdel Nasser, for you have Kyrillos the Sixth, but we have the Sixth Fleet.” However, this patriotic spirit prevailed in all Egyptians, the armed forces was reorganized to launch the War of Attrition which exhausted the enemy and incurred it heavy successive losses.
Saint Pope Kyrillos VI had lived a life of ascetic monasticism during tending His people: He remained ascetic in his food and clothing, offering the presents offered to him to his children and congregation; this was his life until his departure on March 9, 1971 at his patriarchal cell in Azbakeya, he bid farewell to his people saying: “God be with you. God manage your affairs”, after a period of 11 years, 9 months and 29 days spent on the See of Saint Mark. Saint Pope Kyrillos VI was buried in the Monastery of Saint Mina in Mariot desert, as per his will. And … stories never end in beautiful Egypt!
The General Bishop
Head of the Coptic Orthodox Cultural Center
