Pope Kyrillos VI
What was Pope Kyrillos VI’s birth name?
Azer Youssef Atta
What name did Azer take after becoming a monk?
He was given the monastic name "Mina."
What is the age difference between St. John the Baptist and Jesus?
St. John’s birth was six months before the birth of Christ (Luke 1:26)
What was St. John's mission?
He was a significant Biblical character who prepared the way for the coming Messiah
Who was the Egyptian president that had problems with Pope Kyrillos?
Gamal Abd el Nasser
How did young Azer show his love for monasticism?
He enjoyed being around priests and monks, often sleeping beside them and learning church rituals
Which monastery did Azer join after leaving his job?
He joined the Paramous Monastery in Wadi El-Natroun
What did St. John wear?
He wore a cloak of camel's hair with a leather belt tied around his waist
What did St.John eat?
He ate locust and wild honey.
What did St. John the Baptist baptize with?
He baptized them with water
Why did Abouna Mina move to a windmill in Mokattam in 1936?
To live in solitude after being denied permission to restore the old St. Mena's Monastery
What daily task did Abouna Mina personally undertake for his community?
He baked the Holy Bread (Qurban) for the Eucharist himself
What is the meaning of the name John?
It means "Yohannan" in Hebrew which means "God is gracious"
What is St. John known for/what was he called?
He was called "elsabek" or "Among those born of women there has not risen a greater than John the Baptist" (Matthew 11:11 & Luke 7:28)
Why was St. John the Baptist arrested?
Because he chastised King Herod Antipas for marrying his brother’s ex-wife Herodias
Who were Abouna Mina's spiritual mentors at the monastery?
Abouna Abdel-Messih Salib & Abouna Ya'qub El-Samit
When was Azer ordained a monk?
He was ordained a monk on February 25, 1928.
Where was St. John born?
He was born in the village of Ein Karem, which is adjacent to Jerusalem from the south (Luke 1:39)
Where is the death of St. John mentioned in the Bible - in which gospels?
In all 4 gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John)
How did Pope Kyrillos expand his monastic mission in 1949?
He built a small church for St. Mina in Old Cairo
What personal motto did Pope Kyrillos adopt from St. Isaac’s teachings?
"Despise the world, and God will love you."
Where did Abouna Mina serve his first liturgy as a priest?
In the Church of Saints Maximus and Domatius in the monastery
Where is St. John buried?
St. Jerome says that they carried him to Sebastia, the capital of Samaria
Where is the head of St. John currently located?
In the Monastery of Abo Makar in Egypt
What miracle happened when Abouna Mina was attacked by thieves?
After being badly beaten, he prayed before an icon of St. Mina and his bleeding stopped instantly