The Most Famous Preachers
So that history and the names it recorded may not be forgotten, I wish to publish what history has recorded about:
The Most Famous Preachers
In the First Half of the Twentieth Century
The pillars of preaching and teaching at the beginning of this century were undoubtedly: Fr. Philotheos Ibrahim, Archdeacon Habib Girgis, Fr. Mansi Yuhanna, Mr. Samaan Seledis, and Archdeacon Iskandar Hanna.
In this article, I would like to present three of them, beginning naturally with the foremost among them, namely:
- Fr. Philotheos Ibrahim He was born in 1837 and departed in 1904 at the age of 67, forty of which he spent as a preacher and teacher — indeed, the greatest religious teacher and most famous preacher of his generation. He was loved and respected by all, both in Egypt and abroad.
He lived in a time when there was no preaching, except for written homilies read to people on occasions. When he first stood on the church pulpit to preach, his opponents rose against him as if he were an innovator and even complained about him to his bishop!
At the same time, foreign missions were expanding and spreading throughout Egypt. Thus, the burden of defending the Orthodox faith fell upon this remarkable man, both spiritually and doctrinally.
He was born in Tanta and raised under a kuttab teacher, learning the basics of reading and writing, as well as the Coptic language and hymns. He trained in deacon service and continued his education at Pope Cyril IV’s school, where he studied Coptic under the great teacher Arian Moftah. He excelled in it to the point of later teaching it in the Coptic School of Haret El-Saqayeen and in the Great Coptic School, even authoring textbooks for it. He also learned Italian and mastered Arabic eloquence and literature. He devoted himself to studying the Patriarchate Library’s books and manuscripts on theology, doctrine, and interpretation.
When his brilliance appeared, His Grace Bishop Yoannis of Menoufia and Tanta summoned him under the pretext of needing help correcting a book. While he was occupied with it, the bishop laid hands on him and ordained him a priest in June 1862, at the age of twenty-five. He was elevated to the rank of hegumen in 1865.
The hegumen Philotheos’ fame spread beyond Tanta, as many dioceses invited him to preach — reaching as far as Jerusalem, Sudan, the lands of the Syrians, and even Ethiopia.
In 1866, he went to Jerusalem, where Bishop Basilios received him with exceptional honor. He delivered a series of sermons defending the faith of the Coptic Orthodox Church, which were met with great success. He was also honored by the Patriarch of Antioch and celebrated the Divine Liturgy according to the Coptic rite in the Syriac Orthodox Church in Damascus.
In 1867, he accompanied Pope Demetrius II to Upper Egypt, where he preached in large gatherings. On one occasion, he spoke for three consecutive hours, proving the truth of the Orthodox faith, and crowds thronged to hear the Word of God from his mouth. In 1883, he was invited to Assiut, where he preached for forty-five days continuously in day and night gatherings so crowded that people sat even on the windowsills. None grew tired of listening to him, no matter how long he spoke. The same happened when he traveled to Aswan.
In 1870, he became superintendent of the Coptic schools, traveling from Tanta to oversee them and promote Christian education. He authored “Light for Beginners in Religious Instruction.” After two years, he resigned.
After Pope Cyril V’s ordination, it was decided to move him to Cairo for the benefit of the Church and to develop religious education. Thus, in 1875, a papal decree appointed him head of the Great St. Mark Cathedral and director of a new clerical school at the Patriarchate. However, that seminary did not last long, as most students were monks who soon returned to their monasteries.
When the seminary was reopened in 1893, no one could replace him as a theology instructor. He resumed teaching but soon fell ill while giving a lecture and was carried home unconscious, remaining bedridden thereafter. Students such as Deacon Habib Girgis visited him for theological guidance.
Fr. Philotheos was not only a preacher but also a theologian. Many of his sermons were doctrinal and theological, yet were very successful because the people were thirsty for spiritual teaching.
Among his major theological works:
“The Breath of Servants in Refutation of the Evangelist” — a defense of the Orthodox belief in the Nature of Christ.
“Orthodoxy Against the Roman Dialect” — addressing the issue of papal supremacy.
“The Legal Summary in Personal Status.”
Works on the Nativity, Resurrection, Christology, and the Unity of God, as well as commentaries on prophecies and the wisdom of the Church’s prayers.
He was highly respected for his vast theological knowledge by both Christians and non-Christians alike.
He was described as “a hero of knowledge,” “the leader of preachers and theologians of the Church,” “the nightingale of the Coptic Church,” and “the shining pillar of Orthodox clergy.”
He often represented the Patriarch before civil rulers and received decorations from Khedive Tewfik and Khedive Abbas Hilmi II. His influence extended socially, solving many disputes through his understanding of Church canons and civil law.
The Emperors of Ethiopia held him in great esteem. Emperor Yohannes wrote him a letter in 1882, addressing him as “the great father, upright in mind and conscience, treasure of wisdom, broad-minded and long-suffering, shepherd and guardian of the Alexandrian faith.” Emperor Menelik later requested his books for translation into Ethiopian and sent him the Order of the Star.
Saint Anba Abram, Bishop of Fayoum, also wrote him a beautiful letter, addressing him as “beloved and reverend brother, servant of God in piety,” and congratulated him on his recovery, saying:
“All of us lift up our hands in supplication for your long life, that you may remain a shining lamp in the Church of God, which He purchased with His own blood.”
He concluded:
“Know, beloved father, that you are always before our eyes, a bright image we remember with joy.”
He departed in 1904, leaving behind a great library that later passed to his son-in-law, the writer Girgis Philotheos Awad.
- Fr. Mansi Yuhanna Born in 1899, departed May 16, 1930. He was not only the most famous preacher in Upper Egypt of his time but also blessed the whole ministry through his writings, which are still in print today.
He was a young orphan from Hor, Mallawi. At sixteen, he joined the Clerical College, where he soon showed brilliance through his avid reading and deep understanding of hundreds of books. He earned his diploma in 1920, lived only ten more years — half of them as a priest — and departed at thirty-one.
He was appointed preacher in Mallawi, where he served faithfully for life, declining all other offers. In January 1925, he was ordained priest of Mallawi — a day of joy for all the city’s people, Christians and Muslims alike.
He participated in the national movement and was regarded as the eloquent orator of Mallawi. Beyond preaching, he was a writer and publisher, founding and editing the magazine “Al-Firdous” (“Paradise”).
Among his main books: “The Way to Heaven,” “Jesus the Crucified,” “The Precious Alabaster Jar,” and theological works such as “The Perfection of Proof for Athanasius,” “The Sun of Righteousness,” and “The True Evidence of the Influence of Christ’s Religion.” On the Bible, he wrote “The Life of Adam,” “Solving the Problems of Scripture,” and “The Radiant Light: A Guide to the Holy Book.” His historical works include “History of the Coptic Church” (written as a deacon), “The Triumph of Christianity,” and “The Life of St. John Chrysostom.”
Before his death, he wrote a letter to his friend Fr. Ibrahim Luka, asking him to publish his remaining manuscripts and donate their profits to charity — a request later fulfilled by the El-Mahabba Library.
On the day of his departure, May 16, 1930, he said:
“I will die tonight. Please pray for me in Mallawi and bury me in Hor.” And that night, he peacefully rested in the Lord. May his prayers be with us all.
- Archdeacon Iskandar Hanna He departed on December 30, 1944. We lived with him and heard him — he was the most famous preacher of his time, with a powerful impact on his listeners. His sermons lasted about two hours, yet neither he nor his audience tired. His preaching was spiritual, leading people to repentance. He spoke in colloquial Egyptian, using many stories and parables.
He worked in the Lighthouse Authority, preaching in Alexandria, Suez, Port Said, and throughout Lower and Upper Egypt. He settled for a time in Assiut, where we heard him in 1934.
Bishop Makarios of Assiut ordained him Archdeacon on June 26, 1932. His fame as a preacher spread widely. In Cairo, he often preached in Geziret Badran, helping establish its church in 1936 through his preaching. Crowds filled the courtyard and even the street to hear him.
I myself stood in that street to listen to him. His sermons were transcribed and printed the very next day. Would that the elders of Geziret Badran gather his sermons and republish them! Only one of his books survives today: “Clarifications of Sincerity on the Path of Salvation,” which deals with theological topics such as the Incarnation and Redemption, written in a simple, clear style.
Let our next article, God willing, be about Archdeacon Habib Girgis.
(1) Article by His Holiness Pope Shenouda III, published in Watani newspaper on August 11, 1991.
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