Monday 25 February 2013

The Path of Monasticism - Life of Fr. Benyamin the Hermit

Coptic monks baking Orban


This incident had a great impact on Fr. Benyamin as he stated, and has filled his heart with the love of holiness. During the period of his recruitment, he gained the love and respect of his fellow officers and soldiers who were moved by his love and gentleness.

At the end of the period of the recruitment, when his grandfather felt that he began thinking of monasticism, he consulted Fr. Salama pastor of the church and the church’s committee. They agreed with him to give him [Fr. Benyamin] a piece of the land and to get him married so that he stays with him. So he began with the six (carats? –قراريط) of land to give to Boules.

When he [Fr. Benyamin] consulted his spiritual father, Fr. Salama about this, he advised him to be patient and obedient and to wait to see God’s work in him. The gloomy days went by and he found his grandfather withdrawing from his offer (the inheritance and the marriage). He went to Heg. Salama joyously, announcing to him this good news and what took place…a major obstacle has been removed from his path.

From here, Boules began preparing for the monastic life…

At first he received a letter of recommendation from Fr. Armeya Ekladios which he took with him to the monastery of the Virgin Mary in Biad on Tuesday 08/09/1970 (third of Mesra). There he received the rest of the rite of the Midnight Psalmody and other church matters like the baking of the sacramental bread (Qurban/Orban). He stayed there for forty days, and it was the beginning of his path towards the monastic life.

He returned once again to his hometown for two weeks before getting a recommendation letter for H.G. Bp. Athanasius Metropolitan of Beni Suef who was at the headquarters of St. Samuel Monastery in El-Zora, Maghagha of the province of Menya. On Tuesday 02/11/1970, there he met with the late Bp. Mina El-Samoueli abbot of the monastery who at the time was Heg. Mina El-Samoueli. He stayed with him for forty days as well.

No comments:

Post a Comment