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His Eminence Anba Bishoy entered eternal rest

With submission to the will of God, with great sorrow, we received passing of Metropolitan Anba Bishoy of Damiette, Kafr El-Sheikh, Barary, and the Monastery of Saint Demiana of the Coptic Orthodox Church, on Tuesday, October 2018 in Egypt. One of the senior and most influential Coptic Orthodox Prelates of the modern era, he has made extensive contributions in the areas of Pan-Orthodox unity, dialogue and ecumenism.

Born in 1942 as Makram Eskander Nicola, he completed his senior school in 1958 and entered the Faculty of Engineering (Mechanics) 1959 in Alexandria. In 1963 he graduated with a bachelor’s degree, and took honors in becoming an assistant professor in the Faculty of Engineering. Before leaving to become a monk, he decided to complete his master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering which he received in 1968. Two days later, he became a monk in the Deir Al-Sourian.

In February 1969, he became Monk Thoma El-Souriani in the Monastery of the Virgin or Deir El-Sourian. He was ordained a priest on Palm Sunday 1970, and later ordained a hegoman priest in August 1972. On 24 September 1972, he was enthroned as the Bishop of Damiette, Kafr El-Shiek and the Monastery of Saint Demiana, Barrari, Belkas. On 2 September 1990 he was ordained Metropolitan in the Cathedral of Saint Athanasius the Apostle at Damanhur and was also secretary of the Holy Synod from 1985 until today.

with great sadness we received the news of His Eminence Bishoy’s death. His Eminence Metropolitan Bishoy contributed to the work of the World Council of Churches in many committees and positions. He offered leadership from his church and his church family, with a strong passion and heart for the ecumenical work for unity and common witness. His friendship and his presence I will remember and miss. He always reminded us that we should carry the cross of Christ together.

We express our sincere condolences to his holiness Pope Tawadros II, to the members of the holy synod of the Orthodox Coptic Church, to the faithful of his archdiocese and to the members of the holy Coptic Church.

His Eminence Clemis Eugene Kaplan of the Archdioceses of the Western USA, extend his sincere and heartfelt condolences to his holiness Pope Tawadros II, to the members of the holy synod of the Orthodox Coptic Church, to the faithful of his archdiocese and to the members of the holy Coptic Church.