Back To His Cell - Life of Fr. Mettaos El-Suryani

At the time H.G. Bp. Theophilus heard that Fr. Mettaos was in Qena his hometown for treatment purposes. In his passionate paternal affection that was characteristic of him, and through the late thrice blessed, Bp. Kyrillos former metropolitan of Qena (who had a special love for Heg. Mettaos El-Suryani). Also, through the mediation of the late Heg. Samouil Tawadros El-Suryani, he was able to convince Fr. Mettaos that H.G. Bp. Theophilus abbot of the monastery was ready to accept his return to the monastery (Der El-Suryan) with the promise that he can return to his old cell and work. Everything back to its same conditions before his departure to St. Samuel Monastery.

He was persuaded by them and agreed to this.

Truly he was very joyous to return to his beloved monastery and precious cell, and he began to prepare himself to return to the monastery. In 01/19/1959 the dove returned to its ark, our Father Heg. Mettaos returned to his beloved monastery, Der El-Suryan in the holy wilderness of Scetes. H.G. Bp. Theophilus abbot of the monastery and the monastic community received him with a loving and joyous welcoming. He entered his cell which was closed from the time of his departure until his return now; he found it as he left it.  

Our beloved Father returned to these memories of that day which was filled with passionate feelings and emotions, and he told us in his dialect and interesting accent, “I found my cell in the same condition and everything in it just as I left it! To the point that the white gas in the “waboor” (small cooking stove) was yellow due to all this time!”

Fr. Mettaos returned to his cell and to his work as the church’s sacristan as promised by Bp. Theophilus, abbot of the monastery. He was also assigned to pass on the rite of the divine liturgy to newly ordained priests; the late Heg. Bishoy Kamel was among those priests who had the rite delivered to them by him. Thus, he settled down in his monastery, cell and work.

Fr. Pishoy Kamel