WATANI International
22 March 2009
Anba Mikhail, Archbishop of Assiut and the 17th abbot of St Makarius (Abu-Maqar) Monastery in the Western Desert region of Wadi Natroun, last week sent a memorandum to Pope Shenouda III asking to be relieved of his responsibility as abbot, which he has shouldered since 1946.
Anba Mikhail started his service at the fourth century monastery in 1944 as deputy to the late Fr Bakhoum. In July 1981 he opened and consecrated the library of St Paul the Apostle at St Makarius’, as well as the chapel of the Holy Virgin at the library building.