Let Us Be Successful and Let’s Make Our Country Better

Let's Make Our Country Better

100

Where was Pope Petrous (Peter) El-Gawly born?

Pope Petrous (Peter) El-Gawly was born in a village by the name (El-Gawly) in the city of Manfalout of the Parish of Assyout.

200

What did Pope Petrous do then?

Pope Petrous spent three days in prayers and fasting trusting in God’s promise to us; “And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.” (Matthew 21:22)

300

By the guidance of the Holy Spirit, what decision after the departure of Pope Mark the 108th?

For his asceticism and holiness and after the departure of Pope Mark, all the bishops and the elders of the church met and by the guidance of the Holy Spirit, unanimously agreed that Bishop Theophilos is the most suitable person to be the next Pope. He was then ordained to become Pope Petrous (Peter) the 7th, the 109th Pope of Alexandria.

400

What did the devil, the enemy of every good thing, make the wicked men who were jealous of Pope Petrous do?

They conspired against him. They reported him to Ibrahim Basha, the governor of El-sham and son of Mohammad Ali the king of Egypt during that time. They told Ibrahim Basha that Christians claim that light appears over the tomb of our Lord Jesus and this cannot be true.

500

What situation shows the patriotism of Pope Petrous ?

When Russia was the greatest Christian Empire, they wanted to interfere with the Egyptian government. They sent a Russian prince to offer Pope Petrous the protection of the Russian Empire to the Christian Coptic minority in Egypt. When the delegated prince arrived at the Patriarchate, He found a very simple man carrying the Holy Bible in his hands and reading it. He then asked him in surprise, “Are you the pope?”. When the pope answered him saying yes he was, he admired him and was totally taken by the pope’s humility and meekness. When the prince handed the pope the Russian emperor’ s letter offering to protect the Coptic people of Egypt and be under the direct control of the Russian government, the patriotic Pope realized that they only wanted to interfere with the affairs of Egyptian government. Pope Petrous then asked the messenger prince,” Does your emperor live forever?” The prince answered saying,” No, He is a human being who will surely die like all the rest of mankind.” The pope replied saying,” you live under the care of a king who dies but we live under the care of a king who never dies and is the almighty God.” The Russian delegate could not stop himself from bowing down under the feet of pope Petrous kissing them. He then left after getting to know the greatness of this simple man. He said,” I was not greatly surprised at the greatness of the Pyramids or the height of the Obelisks. All the wonders of this country didn’t shake me as much as the Coptic pope did. When the news of the outcome of this meeting reached Mohamed Ali, he was greatly pleased and visited the pope and congratulated him on his true patriotic behavior. The pope said to him,” You should not thank a citizen who has fulfilled his duty towards his country.” Mohamed Ali then said to the pope,” Today you have honored your position and the position of your country. You shall have the same honor as Mohamed Ali in Egypt.”

Let's Make Our Country Better

100

When did Pope Petrous Elgawly depart?

Pope Petrous Elgawly departed in peace on the 28th of Baramhat 1568 AM (1852 AD).

200

Who did Russia send?

They sent the Russian prince to offer Pope Petrous the protection of the Russian Empire to the Christian Coptic minority in Egypt.

300

What did Ibrahim Basha do?

Because Ibrahim Basha had huge confidence in Pope Petrous, he summoned him (Pope Petrous was then in Jerusalem) to speak with him. He explained everything to him and asked him to pray so that the light may appear on his hands and promised to be there with him.

400

What situation shows how holy Pope Petrous is?

Marina: That’s right, Mark. Pope Petrous had many good qualities and what I like about him the most is his patriotism. He had many national problems, one of which I know very well. Mark: What is it, Marina? Marina: During his papacy, the level of the Nile River water decreased which of course affected the cultivation and all the national crops. Literally, it was a famine. This made all Egyptians (Jews, Copts and Muslims) pray. It was the king of Egypt, Mohamed Ali at the time, who requested all clergy to pray for the increase of the water of the Nile. Pope Petrous gathered all his bishops and deacons and prayed a liturgy by the Nile River. After Pope Petrous had fi nished praying the mass and washed the alter vessels, he threw the water he washed them with in the Nile River. As soon as he did that, the water level of the river remarkably increased and covered their feet. Pope Petrous thanked the Lord for His work. Consequently, Mohamed Ali rewarded the Copts for what they did. Mark: This incident is proof that Pope Petrous was a holy Pope who, together with his people, had great love of their country. Marina: Pope Petrous is a wonderful character from whom I learned a lot. Mark, how about we try to search for more situations that show Pope Petrous’ love of his country.

500

There was a piece of information that I came across which reveals that his _______________ was not known until recently when _________________ , the bishop of _________________ Cairo and secretary of the ________________was _________________ the great St ________________ Church in ________________, and found four saints’ bodies. Among them was _____________________.

There was a piece of information that I came across which reveals that his tomb was not known until recently when Bishop Rafael, the bishop of central Cairo and secretary of the Holy Synod was renovating the great St Mark Church in Azbakia, and found four saints’ bodies. Among them was Pope Petrous Elgawly.

Let Us Be Successful

100

Where is the story located?

Joshua 1-8, 24

200

What did Moses appoint Joshua to?

The leader of the army of Israel during their first battle against the Amalekites after their exodus from Egypt.

300

What was the result of Joshua’s faith being evident?

Out of all the people who came out of Egypt, he alongside with Caleb the son of Jephunneh from the tribe of Judah, deserved to enter the promised-land.

400

What was God’s promise to Joshua?

That whatever land their feet would walk on would be their own. The Lord had comforted him when He said, “No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life; as I was with Moses, so I will be with you.” (Joshua 1:5)

500

What did God do to encourage Joshua and calm his soul?

So, He appeared to him as the Archangel, the chief of God’s heavenly forces, and assured him that he shall win, telling him what he needed to do: • Ask his people to march around the walls of Jericho once a day for six consecutive days carrying the Ark of Covenant of God (as a symbol of the presence of God among them). • On the seventh day, they shall march around the walls of Jericho seven times and when seven priests blow the trumpets, the congregation shall shout to the Lord in one voice. Then, the walls will be destroyed and collapse without the use of any military equipment.

Let Us Be Successful

100

What was the first among these series of difficulties?

The crossing of the Jordan was the first among them when he actually managed to lead his people and cross the Jordan River.

200

What are the main characteristics of an effective leader?

• To have a clear goal to achieve • To be able to solve problems • To be able to communicate with different classes of his people

300

What happened when God relented from His anger?

“Now the Lord said to Joshua: “Do not be afraid, nor be dismayed; take all the people of war with you, and arise, go up to Ai. See, I have given into your hand the king of Ai, his people, his city, and his land. And you shall do to Ai and its king as you did to Jericho and its king.” (Joshua 8:1-2) God showed him the plan by which they will win.

400

But how did they lose to Ai which is a small city?

He was not satisfied to just feel sad about the loss, but called upon the leaders of his people to come to him. They humbled themselves before the Lord and prayed to know the reasons behind their defeat. The Lord God told Joshua that one of his people had sinned and stole from the accursed things of Jericho after their victory on the contrary to what He had commanded them. God did not tell Joshua the name of the person who did it.

500

What did Joshua do to make his plan work?

Joshua divided his men into three groups. One group was led by him to attack Ai and pretended to flee before them to draw them from the city. Another group of twenty thousand men would go to attack the city of Ai from behind when the army of Ai come out to chase Joshua and his men. The third and last group, which is made up of five thousand men, would be protecting Joshua and his men against any unexpected attack from any other city’s army that would think of supporting the army of Ai. Joshua started to execute his plan, which allowed him to defeat the city of Ai and invade it.

Miscellaneous

100

How was Joshua’s faith evident?

In the report he gave about the land of Canaan

200

What did God command Joshua and all his people not to take?

the accursed things of Jericho for themselves

300

What did Joshua do after the victory?

Joshua built an altar to the Lord and the people of Israel offered thanksgiving sacrifices. Joshua also continued to lead his people and divide the land amongst the tribes. Consequently, he was advancing and came closer to the land of Canaan as he was achieving his goal to enter and possess the land of Canaan.

400

After Pope Petrous had finished ______________ the _____________ and washed the alter __________________, he threw the water he washed them with in the _________________ River. As soon as he did that, the water level of the river remarkably increased and covered their _______________. Pope ____________ thanked the Lord for His work.

What is After Pope Petrous had finished praying the mass and washed the alter vessels, he threw the water he washed them with in the Nile River. As soon as he did that, the water level of the river remarkably increased and covered their feet. Pope Petrous thanked the Lord for His work.

500

The Russian ______________could not stop himself from bowing down under the ________________ of pope Petrous kissing them. He then left after getting to know the greatness of this simple man. He said,” I was not greatly surprised at the _____________ of the Pyramids or the _____________ of the Obelisks. All the wonders of this country didn’t shake me as much as the Coptic pope did. When the news of the ____________ of this meeting reached Mohamed Ali, he was greatly pleased and visited the pope and congratulated him on his true _________________ behavior. The pope said to him,” You should not thank a citizen who has fulfilled his duty towards his country.” Mohamed Ali then said to the pope,” Today you have honored your position and the position of your country. You shall have the same honor as Mohamed _________________ in ____________________.”

The Russian delegate could not stop himself from bowing down under the feet of pope Petrous kissing them. He then left after getting to know the greatness of this simple man. He said,” I was not greatly surprised at the greatness of the Pyramids or the height of the Obelisks. All the wonders of this country didn’t shake me as much as the Coptic pope did. When the news of the outcome of this meeting reached Mohamed Ali, he was greatly pleased and visited the pope and congratulated him on his true patriotic behavior. The pope said to him,” You should not thank a citizen who has fulfi lled his duty towards his country.” Mohamed Ali then said to the pope,” Today you have honored your position and the position of your country. You shall have the same honor as Mohamed Ali in Egypt.”