Abouna Abdel Masih the Ethiopian
The Great Man of the Cave
He departed to “Jerusalem”..
(Abouna Abdel Masih the Ethiopian)
Coptic monasticism throughout our present era has not known a monk who lived a life of solitude and remained steadfast in it, with all that it requires of asceticism, poverty, patience, and distance from ranks and titles, as it knew the monk Abdel Masih the Ethiopian, known by his common name (Abouna Abdel Masih the Ethiopian).
He was raised in a very wealthy family in Ethiopia and received his education in its schools, and he was the object of admiration of his teachers. When he saw that they were about to appoint him to a prestigious position, he left the world and went to the monastery. When his ideals were not satisfied with the situation in the monastery, he moved to a cave.
Then he desired to live in the holy Scetis Desert, so he came to it from Ethiopia walking on his feet.
He joined the flourishing Monastery of El-Baramous, and among his fellow monks there were: Abouna Boctor and Abouna Bishara (who are the companions of His Grace Anba Sawirus and Anba Markos, the senior metropolitans of the Apostolic See of Saint Mark). Then he left the monastery to live in the cave. He encountered many difficulties at the beginning of his ascetic life, but he remained steadfast until his situation became settled.
He spent more than 45 years in solitude, fasting, never eating meat, fish, cheese, or milk throughout that time. There were periods when he lived on (bran). He lived firmly in his solitude and did not leave his cave for many decades.
Among those who were discipled by him and lived with him for some time was His Holiness Pope Shenouda III.
All who went to him in the cave, he would seat them on the ground and speak to them with the word of God. He was very strict in the truth and in carrying out the commandments of God and the rules of monasticism.
Foremost among those who showed him compassion and took care of providing his food, drink, and all his needs was His Grace Anba Thawfilus, the head of the Monastery of the Syrians.
His ascetic life is rich with stories and teachings which we hope to publish soon in this magazine.
Finally, Abouna Abdel Masih longed to spend the remainder of his life in Jerusalem. So he came to Cairo and met His Holiness the Pope, and he tried with great insistence to go there walking on his feet..!! After long attempts, he agreed to board the ship to Syria, and from there to Jerusalem.
An article by His Holiness Pope Shenouda III – Al-Keraza Magazine – Fifth Year – First Issue – 5 October 1974.
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