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| Fr. Benyamin the Hermit |
Beginning Of His
Life And Upbringing:
Boules Nagib Youssef (his name before monasticism) was born on April 20th, 1944 in the village of El-Bersha in Mallawi – province of Menya. His mom (Mariam Botros Saleh) passed away on 05/25/1950 when he was still six years old. When his father married a second time, it seemed as if it did not settle with him, or he wasn’t treated well by his grandmother and father. He turned to his grandfather (Botros Saleh) in the village of El-Malakeya, where he made a good living. His grandfather appointed him over his livestock and farm, he embraced him and allowed him to help his Uncle Lamey in the farm.
Boules (known in his hometown and among his family members as Sobhy) had three sisters: Priscilla, Raoufa and Theodora, and he is ranked second after Priscilla (order of birth). Boules entered a Coptic elementary school in his hometown which was affiliated with the church there. There he received his elementary school certificate, but circumstances did not permit him to complete any further studies.
Cantor Abdo (chanter of the Church of St. George in El-Malakeya) said that Fr. Benyamin, in his childhood, was like other children in their energy and hyperactivity. At the time, nothing about his personality distinguished him from other children.
Fr. Benyamin himself described himself saying, “I was arrogant, a lover of revenge.” He added that a lot of times he would cause brawls and fights between families from El-Malakeya to El-Bersha, but he would go back and ask God to save him and to save others, and God would save them.[1]
Among those who influenced him spiritually, in his blessed life, was a monk named Hegumen Ghabrial El-Muharraqy, who was accustomed to staying in the village in some seasons near Botros Saleh, Fr. Benyamin’s grandfather. He loved the child Boules very much; he would humor him and would talk to him a lot, especially about the Holy Bible and the lives of the Fathers. In turn, the child was affected by this Father and grew attached to him. The Father on his part, frequently visited this place for ten years.
Regarding this period, Fr. Benyamin himself said, “My grandfather highly esteemed this monk for ten years, and I began to serve my grandfather’s house, his farm, and livestock for ten years also, this was before my departure to the monastery.”
Boules Nagib Youssef (his name before monasticism) was born on April 20th, 1944 in the village of El-Bersha in Mallawi – province of Menya. His mom (Mariam Botros Saleh) passed away on 05/25/1950 when he was still six years old. When his father married a second time, it seemed as if it did not settle with him, or he wasn’t treated well by his grandmother and father. He turned to his grandfather (Botros Saleh) in the village of El-Malakeya, where he made a good living. His grandfather appointed him over his livestock and farm, he embraced him and allowed him to help his Uncle Lamey in the farm.
Boules (known in his hometown and among his family members as Sobhy) had three sisters: Priscilla, Raoufa and Theodora, and he is ranked second after Priscilla (order of birth). Boules entered a Coptic elementary school in his hometown which was affiliated with the church there. There he received his elementary school certificate, but circumstances did not permit him to complete any further studies.
Cantor Abdo (chanter of the Church of St. George in El-Malakeya) said that Fr. Benyamin, in his childhood, was like other children in their energy and hyperactivity. At the time, nothing about his personality distinguished him from other children.
Fr. Benyamin himself described himself saying, “I was arrogant, a lover of revenge.” He added that a lot of times he would cause brawls and fights between families from El-Malakeya to El-Bersha, but he would go back and ask God to save him and to save others, and God would save them.[1]
Among those who influenced him spiritually, in his blessed life, was a monk named Hegumen Ghabrial El-Muharraqy, who was accustomed to staying in the village in some seasons near Botros Saleh, Fr. Benyamin’s grandfather. He loved the child Boules very much; he would humor him and would talk to him a lot, especially about the Holy Bible and the lives of the Fathers. In turn, the child was affected by this Father and grew attached to him. The Father on his part, frequently visited this place for ten years.
Regarding this period, Fr. Benyamin himself said, “My grandfather highly esteemed this monk for ten years, and I began to serve my grandfather’s house, his farm, and livestock for ten years also, this was before my departure to the monastery.”
Father Hegumen Salama Ayoub (priest of the Church in El-Malakeya) also had an impact on Fr. Benyamin, who stood beside him and helped him a lot. Also, the late Hegumen Armeya Ekladios (shepherd of the Church in El-Bersha and his confessor) who as described by his congregation, has brought an ascetic spirit to his people there and discipled many, a good number of them became monks.
He was also greatly influenced by Mr. Ramsis, the active servant and beloved preacher who became Hegumen Gabrail Anba Bishoy who departed in 1996.
TO BE CONTINUED...
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