Anba Bisenti, Bishop of Helwan and al-Maasara, passed away on the evening of Sunday 3 March 2024 in Helwan, a southern suburb of Cairo.
The Coptic Orthodox Church Facebook page posted that the Anba Bisenti rested in the Lord following a long struggle with illness. He passed at the good old age of 83, among them 53 years in monastic life. He had been Bishop of Helwan and al-Masada for 38 hears.
The Facebook post informed that the funeral prayers for Anba Bisenti will be held at St Mark’s Cathedral in Abbasiya, Cairo, on Monday 4 March at 3pm.
In a statement, Pope Tawadros II and the Holy Synod of the Coptic Orthodox Church bid farewell, in the hope of resurrection, to the venerable bishop.
“H.G. Bishop Bisenti,” the statement said, “dedicated his entire life to God, and served the Church with all sincerity, honesty, and simplicity of heart, and bore the multiple responsibilities that were entrusted to him since his early youth, until the illness that afflicted him in recent years, which he endured with gratitude and contentment.
“We trust that he will receive the portion of the faithful servant praised by the Lord who says:
‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your Lord.’’ (Matthew 25:21)
“Sincere condolences to the priest assembly of the Diocese of Helwan, al-Maasara, al-Tabin, 15th of May, the deacons, the congregation, and the Church servants.
“May the Lord repose His Grace’s soul in the bosom of the saints
Anba Bisenti had taken his monastic vows in August 1971 as Fr Bisenty Abba Bishoy (of St Bishoy Monastery, Wadi al-Natrun in Egypt’s Western Desert). He was ordained a priest in November 1972, and was made hegumen in July 1975.
In June 1986, Pope Shenouda III consecrated him General Bishop and, in May 1988 Bishop of Helwan and al-Masada.
Watani International
4 March 2024
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