WATANI International
16 September 2011
Today, Friday 16 September, the funeral service of the Archbishop of Giza, Anba Dumadius (1925 – 2011), was held at Mar-Girgis (St George) church at the Giza archbishopric. Pope Shenouda III presided over the ceremony which was attended by a congregation some 3000-strong, a large number of clergy from the Coptic Orthodox Church and other churches in Egypt, as well as local politicians and security chiefs. Giza governor Ali Abdel-Rahman and Interior Minister Mansour al-Essawi were on hand to offer their condolences.
Anba Theodosius, Bishop of Giza, delivered the sermon in which he reminded of the life and achievements of Anba Dumadius. Anba Theodosius was for years the close helper of Anba Dumadius and, being a medical doctor, a dedicated care-giver to the archbishop whom he dearly loved and whose ailing health had him in a wheelchair. Two years ago, Pope Shenouda III promoted the then archpriest Father Theodosius to bishop, with the express mission of helping Anba Dumadius.
Anba Dumadius, in full clerical vestments, was placed in an open casket. After the funeral prayers the casket was closed and carried through the church by a procession of deacons chanting praises.
He was later buried in the casket and burial place he had prepared for himself underneath the Mar-Girgis church at the Giza archbishopric some 18 years ago.
Anba Dumadius was born Michel Khalil in 1925 in the town of Maghagha in Minya, Upper Egypt. He earned a university degree in agriculture in 1946 but, already a passionate volunteer worker and deacon, he lost no time in deciding he would take orders. In 1951 he joined the Surian Monastery of the Holy Virgin in the Western Desert. He was ordained a priest in 1953 and Bishop of Giza in 1963. In 1985, Pope Shenouda III promoted him to Archbishop of Giza.
Despite the fact that Anba Dumadius had been in a wheelchair for some 20 years, he had a reputation for being among the most actively serving bishops in the Church. When he began his service, the parish of Giza included 13 churches; under him it expanded to 103 churches that serve a congregation which mushroomed throughout the years.
Anba Dumadius was well-loved by his congregation, and was honoured for his dedicated service despite his illness. The Copts of Giza had a saying that almost became a cliché: “Anba Dumadius has achieved while in a wheelchair ten times what he achieved while in full health.” The “superhuman” success was attributed to the grace of God which obviously sheltered the archbishop.
Watani offers its condolences to the Coptic Church, Pope Shenouda III, and every member of the clergy and the congregation in Giza. May the Lord bless the soul of Anba Dumadius and rest him in peace.
