SSCN Voumes 1-10, 1994-2004

St. Shenouda Coptic Newsletter

bid you farewell in God from now until I meet you in the assembly of the saints(lit. first-born). And he came out from him and returned to his dwelling, Then my father continued the strictness in his worship. And after three month, my father (465) while standing at the rock, that we mentioned earlier, praying; he sat down to rest a little. Forthwith, the rock split in half, and behold it is a sign unto this day. So my father was exceedingly saddened and said, "Truly, Shinshif has lost (the) luminous lamp of the desert, who is Saint Thomas." And when he said this, he saw Archangel Raphael pointing to him with his right hand and saying to him, "Greeting unto you, O the friend of God, my(?) teacher and beloved of all the righteous and the saints. Let us go to cover the body of the saint, for the Lord and His angels are waiting for you and you shall hear the appropriate, enjoyable sweet talk." So he followed him and came to the monastery. And it was night, and he met a diligent brother, reading in this psalm which say, "I rise up at midnight to give thanks (for) sayings of blessings and (for) your justice". So my father said to him, "follow me". And they came to brother Akhnoukh (or Enoch), and he was a brave strong (person), and he was reading in this psalm, "I take cover (lit. shadow) under His wings, and His justice surrounds you as a shield, So my father said to him, "Follow me". Then they came to the third, Anba Yusab, the wise scribe while reading (466) in this psalm, saying in it, We got up and arose and in the name of our God, we arose." So

my father said to him, "Peace be to you, O the good fruit, follow me" Then he entered to the altar and prayed with the three fervent brothers and straitened up and went with Raphael the angel walking before them until they reached the door of the dwelling without a ship. My father entered first while calling, "Bless me". So he heard the Chanter David as he was saying, " Blessed is he who cometh in the name of the Lord." Then he kissed the Lord Savior mouth to mouth and he struck the harp of the prophet David and chanted saying, "Our mouths was filled with joy". And the Lord Savior Christ, ascended with His angels. So my father invited the brothers and recited for them (prayers) for a long time, then they prepared him and buried him with great preparation and returned to the monastery without a ship. And no one opened his mouth nor talked for the Archangel Raphael was preceding them and in his hand a scepter of fire before them. This was so that you glorify God and His saints. BIBLIOGRAPHY Amelineau, E.C. Monuments pour servir a l'histoire de l'Egypte chretienne. Memoires de la Mission Archeologique Francaise du Caire 4. Paris, 1888. Crum, W.E. Catalogue of the Coptic Manuscripts in the British Museum . London, 1905. Troupeau, G. Catalogue des manuscrits arabes , Vol. 1. Paris, 1972.

Bible in Egypt - Book Exhibit June 2000 (by Hany N. Takla)

St. Shenouda Coptic Newsletter in Greek and even Hebrew (before the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls) has made their ways to the world libraries and museums out of Egypt. The Coptic version of the Bible, whose home is Egypt of course, has yielded the best, the oldest, and most faithful version to the original Greek. Introduction: Egypt has been truly the cradle of biblical manuscripts. The Septuagint translation of the Hebrew Old Testament was made in Egypt. The grouping that we have of the Pauline Epistles is traditionally attributed to Egypt. The first critical edition of the Septuagint was composed in Egypt by an Egyptian, Origen's Hexapla. The oldest and best preserved manuscripts of the Bible The Society's book and microfilm collections were developed to help in the preservation and

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