SSCN Voumes 1-10, 1994-2004

St. Shenouda Coptic Newsletter

His Service in St. Antony Monastery: In 1973, the saintly Bishop Maximous, during his visit to Los Angeles, recognized the need for the establishment of a monastery. The presence of Br. Atef at the time, was in part the reason for the bishop to adamantly propose such an idea. Within a short period of time, a 40-acre parcel in the Southern California High Desert, near Barstow, was acquired for such purpose. The Archdeacon's family in Upper Egypt was always associated with service to the monasteries in the Sohag District, where the famed monastery of St. Shenouda (the White Monastery) is located. With that background, he literally jumped on the opportunity of establishing the monastery. He worked with Br. Atef and others on promoting the project. During the period of November 1973 to May 1977, the support for the project slowed down to a trickle. However the visual presence of Br. Atef, inspired enough people to keep it from going into total oblivion. The Archdeacon was one of those people. In May 1977, there was a dramatic turn of events. H. H. Pope Shenouda III, came for the first time to Los Angeles. Upon visiting the monastery, the eyes of the Copts of Los Angeles turned again to the project. He also ordained Br. Atef as a Monk- priest, under the name of Fr. Bishoy al-Antuni, to take care of the monastery. Within the year, the first building was in place, with the Archdeacon contributing his engineering knowledge and all other resources he had. A couple of years elapsed and Fr. Bishoy was called to Egypt to be ordained a Country Bishop (Choriepiscopos) in 1980, then a general Bishop in Cairo under the name of Dioscorus. He helped in persuading the Pope to send another monk, who was originally from Los Angeles, to take care of the monastery in late 1980. Unfortunately, by 1982, the new steward of the monastery turned against those that had helped in building it. By first rejecting their advice and later rejecting their person. Eventually this monk left on his own, leaving the monastery in a lamentable shape in 1984. Bishop Agathon of Ismalia, on his visit in June 1984, took possession of the

that included taking care of his younger sister, step mother, young step-brother, and a new wife, prevented him from continuing in performing such visible form of service. He was not to resume his service till the early 1970's, after he emigrated this country. He displayed an exemplary Christian character, commanding respect of all that came in contact with him. His conduct and dedication in taking care of his extended family set high standards that close and distant relatives remembered for decades. This character is what was later seen in his work in the building of St. Antony monastery in the California Desert. His Life in the United States: His venture to immigrate to the US was in line with his character, which was to secure a brighter future for his son and daughter who were within a few years of entering college. Little did he knew that such sacrifice was to put him eventually in a position to shape the history of Copts in America for decades to come. His first three years in Los Angeles, starting March 1, 1970, were spent in establishing a modest professional career in the Engineering field, now as an electrical engineer. He was vigilant in regularly attending the church services which were started by Fr. Bishoy Kamel just a few months earlier. When the church building of St. Mark in Los Angeles was purchased, the first one in the US, his gift to the new church was a set of two candlesticks. His latter service to the church was to resemble such a gift, in keeping vigil on what belongs to God. In June 1973, he moved next door to St. Mark Church, with the aid of Br. Atef Guirguis (now Bishop Dioscorus). The move facilitated the expansion of his service in the church. He started teaching Sunday School again after 20 years. He was ordained a reader in the Church by Bishop Maximous of Al-Qalyubia, and administered the program for coordinating the transport of the children for the Saturday-Morning Sunday School session that was held in the church at the time. In all his new activities he displayed the same dedication and sacrifice that he was always known for.

St. Shenouda Coptic Newsletter

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