A funeral service was held yesterday, 16 October 2017, for the soul of Tamav Mariam, Mother Superior of the nuns of the convent of the Holy Virgin in Haret Zweila in Cairo and Nubariya south of Alexandria, who passed away on 15 October, at age 84. The service was held at the Nubariya convent church of the Holy Virgin and St Joseph, and was attended by large number of nuns, monks, and members of the clergy. Presiding over the service was Anba Raphail, Secretary-General of the Coptic Orthodox Holy Synod and Bishop-General of Downtown Cairo; participating with him in the service were a number of bishops, among them: Anba Kyrillos, Abbot of Mar-Mina Monastery in Maryout; and Anba Theodosius of Giza. Attending were the Mothers Superior of several convents: Tamav Udrosis of Amir Tadros Convent; Tamav Kyria of Abu-Seifein’s; Tamav Tekla of Mar-Girgis’s in Old Cairo; and Tamav Athnasia of Mar-Girgis’s in Haret Zweila.
Tamav (Mother) Mariam was born on 26 June 1933, and joined the convent in January 1963. She took orders in the convent of Abu-Seifein (St Mercurius) in Old Cairo in August 1966. In May 1969, Pope Kyrillos VI consecrated her Mother Superior of the convent of the Holy Virgin in Haret Zweila.
She served the convent and nuns well for 48 years, developing the convent and establishing the branch convent in Nubariya. More important, she instilled in the nuns a spirit of overflowing love palpable to all who dealt with them.
Watani International
17 October 2017