The Departure of St . Benjamin, 38th Pope of Alexandria

On this day also, of the year 656 A .D ., the blessed and holy father Abba Benjamin, 38th Popeof Alexandria, departed .This father was from the city of Barset (Barshout), the province of El-Behiera . He was the son ofwealthy parents .He became a monk under the guidance of a holy elder by the name of Theonas in the monastery ofSt . Knobus nearby Alexandria . He grew in virtue and memorized the holy books of the churchuntil he reached the level of Christian perfection .One night he heard in a night vision someone saying, "Rejoice Benjamin, for you will shepherd theflock of Christ ." When he told his spiritual father about what he had heard, he said to him, "Thedevil wants to hinder you . Beware of pride ." He increased in virtue . His spiritual father took himto Pope Andronicus and told him about Abba Benjamin's vision . The Pope ordained him priestand put him in charge of the church affairs, and he excelled in his care .When he was chosen to the patriarchate, he faced many tribulations . The angel of the Lord hadrevealed to him the hardships that the church was about to experience . The angel told him to fleewith his bishops . St . Benjamin celebrated the Divine Liturgy and administered the Holy Mysteriesto the people . He also commanded them to be steadfast in the faith of their fathers and informedthem of what was about to happen . He wrote a circular to all the bishops and all the heads of the173monasteries, advising them to hide until the hardships were over . Then he went to the wildernessof St . Macarius, then to Upper Egypt .After the Pope had left Alexandria, the Chalcedonian El-Moquakas arrived, and took charge overthe country and seized the church with authority from Emperor Heraclius . He persecuted thebelievers and arrested "Mina", St . Benjamin's brother, and tortured him severely . Then he burnthis sides, and finally killed him by drowning him .Shortly after, Amr Ebn-Elas invaded the land of Egypt and stayed there for three years . In 360A .M . (Anno Martyri), Amr went to Alexandria and gained control of its fortress . Many evil mentook the chance and burned many churches, among them was St . Mark's Church on the seashore,and many other monasteries that were surrounding Alexandria, and plundered their contents .One of the sailors went to the church of St . Mark during this disturbance and he thrust his handinto the sarcophagus of St . Mark, thinking that he would find money . He did not find anythingexcept a body . He stole the clothing that was on it and took the head with him, and hid it in hisship and did not tell anyone .When Amr Ebn-Elas knew about the disappearance of Pope Benjamin, he sent a circular to all thecities of Egypt, giving orders that the Pope's hiding place be safe and secure . He asked the Popeto come back to his people and to take charge of the church . Pope Benjamin came back after hehad been in hiding for 13 years . Amr Ebn-Elas was courteous toward him and honored him . Hereturned the churches and all their properties back to him .When Amr was about to leave Alexandria, heading to Pentapolis (the five western cities), one ofthe ships could not move and was unable to leave . The captain of the ship was questioned andwhen they searched the ship they found the head of St . Mark . They called upon Pope Benjaminand he carried it and walked with the priests and the people while they were joyfully singinghymns, until they arrived to Alexandria . The captain of the ship paid a great amount of money tothe Pope to build a church after the name of St . Mark .This father was dedicated to converting the unbelievers to the Christian faith . He departed inpeace after he had been on the apostolic throne for 37 years .His prayers be with us and Glory be to our God forever . Amen .