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The Departure of St . Macarius Sceond "69" Pope of Alexandria

The Departure of St . Macarius Sceond "69" Pope of Alexandria

The Departure of St . Macarius, 69th Pope of AlexandriaOn this day, Abba Macarius II, the sixty-ninth Pope of the great city of Alexandria, departed inthe year 1122 A .D . This father was pious and ascetic since his young age, and longed for themonastic life . He went to the desert of Scete and became a monk in the monastery of St .Macarius . He devoted himself to worship and spiritual struggle . He instructed himself by readingthe Holy Scriptures, their interpretation and by contemplating on its meaning . He grew in virtuesand was ordained a priest .9When Abba Mikhail, the sixty-eighth, Pope departed and the papal throne became vacant, a groupof bishops and priests went to the wilderness of Scete . They assembled in the church with theelders of Scete . They remained there for many days, searching and scouting for who would bebest for this position . Finally they unanimously agreed to choose this father for what was knownof his good character and excellent attributes . They took him and bound him against his will, andhe cried out and begged them with excuses to release him saying, "I am not fit to be raised to thedignity of the Papacy ."They brought him bound to the city of Alexandria and ordained him Patriarch . The deed of hisappointment was read in the Church of Mu'allakah (The Church of the Holy Virgin) in the Greek,Coptic, and Arabic languages .During his papacy, he added to his worship and piety . He taught and preached the people daily .He gave alms and did works of mercy to the poor and needy . During his papacy he never askedfor any of the Church's money, but rather, he used to give a large portion of the contributionswhich he received to be spent on different righteous deeds . He completed 27 years in the papacyand departed in peace .His prayers be with us all and Glory be to our God forever . Amen .