The Coptic Orthodox Church lost one of its oldest and most senior bishops in Upper Egypt, Anba Kyrillos of Naga Hammadi and its affiliate districts, who passed in the early hours of 21 November 2022 after a long battle with illness. He was 74. Naga Hammadi lies 570km south of Cairo.
Pope Tawadros II and the Coptic Orthodox Holy Synod mourned Anba Kyrillos in a statement which said they bid him farewell in hope of the Resurrection, following a life that spanned more than 49 years as a monk; 45 years of them as Bishop of Nag Hammadi and its affiliate districts. During these years, the Pope said in the statement, Anba Kyrillos served his congregation in a spirit of true fatherhood, and endured many hardships with which he dealt in wisdom and faithfulness. He thus earned the love of his congregation and all who knew him.
Anba Kyrillos endured the burden of sickness for a long time without complaint, but in full faith and thankfulness, the statement said.
The Pope extended his condolences to the priest assembly of Naga Hammadi, the deacons, ministers, and congregation.
Anba Kyrillos was also mourned by Ashraf al-Daoudi, Governor of Qena [Naga Hammadi is located in the governorate of Qena], who said that the departed Bishop played a significant, progressive role in the Coptic Orthodox Church in Naga Hammadi, especially regarding active societal participation. “He was a good tempered man of integrity, and invariably and wisely prioritised national interests. He insisted that we were all, Muslims and Christians, partners in one homeland.”
A funeral service was held for Anba Kyrillos at 5pm on 21 November, after he was laid in the church of Anba Bdaba in Nag Hammadi since 8:30 that morning for members of the congregation to pay him their respects.
Joining in the funeral prayers were nine metropolitans and bishops: Anba Wissa, Metropolitan of Baliana; Anba Pimen, Metropolitan of Negada and Qous; Anba Takla, Metropolitan of Deshna; Anba Timotheus, Bishop of Zagazig; Anba Sharobim, Metropolitan of Qena; Anba Yu’annis, Bishop of Assiut; Anba Bigoul, Abbot of al-Muharraq Monastery; Anba Bakhoum, Bishop of Sohag; and Anba Ishaq, Bishop of Tema.
Thousands of clergy and congregation attended the funeral.
The diocese declared it would be open for condolences on Friday and Saturday 23 and 24 December.
Anba Kyrillos was born in September 1948 in the city of Manfalout in Assiut, some 350km south of Cairo. He graduated from Assiut University with a degree in Commerce. In 1973 he took orders under the name Antonios at the Red Sea monastery of Anba Pola (St Paul the Hermit). In May 1977, Pope Shenouda III consecrated him Bishop of Naga Hammadi.
During the last few years, Anba Kyrillos’s increasingly failing health led Pope Tawadros to assign in 2021 a three-bishop committee [Anba Pimen, Anba Yu’annis, and Anba Pigoul] to manage the doicese and submit a monthly report to the Pope. During his final weeks, Anba Kyrillos had to be hospitalised, his last days in intensive care.
Watani International
24 December 2022