The Oldest Icon of Crucifixion in Egypt
(about the 13th Century)
El-Suryan Monastery

Two Billion Dollars

Written by:
The Editor


Recently, I traveled to Canada on a family vacation and toured the Province of Quebec. It was really picturesque country with the puffy white clouds in the sky, the icecaps floating in the St Lawrence River, and snow covering the farmlands and mountains in a vastness of white. With whiteness covering all that the eye should see one could not help but to think of this as perhaps an earthly Heaven giving us a glimpse of the beautiful Kingdom of God.

While in this inspiring setting I visited historical landmarks, which included beautiful, breath taking Basilica's. The paintings and ornamentation of the Basilica's were beyond words. While visiting the St Anne Basilica in Beaupre' I read the "original" church was dedicated to St Anne, the mother of St Mary, for the safe keeping of shipwrecked mariners journeying to Canada. The "original" church had burned and this magnificent church had replaced the "original." The word "original" did not soon leave me. I was told the Basilica's value was estimated at:

Two Billion Dollars.

Another Basilica that I visited was in Montreal, the Basilica of Notre Dame. It was yet another beautiful monument of religious worship. The pipe organs, the Italian paintings, and statues will always be remembered. The Church was very rich in historical significance for the area of Montreal. I read that the Old Notre-Dame Church was "demolished" in 1830 and its old bell tower " knocked down" in 1843 following the completion of the new towers in the new church to take its place. The word "demolished" did not soon leave me either. My best guess is that this church compared to the previous one is worth well in excess of:

Two Billion Dollars.

I begin to think of our many Coptic Orthodox Cathedrals and monasteries in Egypt. Did the Coptic homeland and its many places of worship to the Lord Jesus Christ have an estimated value? Do the churches and cathedrals contain as much wealth (gold, paintings, ornamentation, and carved inscriptions) as the Basilica's I had visited? This thought of comparison had never before entered into my mind. Why now?

After pondering on this question for some time. I came to the realization that the Coptic Orthodox Church is truly blessed. The Lord and all His Goodness and Mercy has taken very careful care of our beloved Church. The vast majority of our churches are still in their "original" state. The vast majority of our churches have not been "demolished" through efforts of our own.

It is truly a blessing to be able to appreciate original wall paintings that are "painted on the walls" and STILL THERE ON THE WALLS! Ancient Coptic art can be found in many Egyptian Churches. Authentic Coptic architecture abounds within these same places of worship. This was a blessing that I had taken for granted until now. My best estimate for the worth of our churches:

Priceless

I purchased a book entitled "St Anne de Beaupre" and within it outlined the history of the Basilica in which I toured. I found an interesting beginning for the book, "St Anne worship first started in the Orient (that's us, Coptic Orthodox) following the Ephese Council in 431 which determined Mary's Motherhood and thus acknowledged her own mother's dignity." First the devotion to St Anne began in Jerusalem, then Constantinople and then throughout the East. While reading I quickly came to another conclusion. Not only were we blessed with authenticity in structures also we were blessed with authenticity in faith.

Much has already been addressed with the 2000 Years of Coptic Christianity that we have witnessed. Yet when another religious denomination speaks to and documents this in correlation to one of their monuments it really makes one take a step back. It certainly made me feel that I have not been appreciative enough of this blessing. The price of authenticity of the Orthodox faith and worship without change:

Priceless

Along with structures and preservation of faith I begin to think of our monastic heritage. Many Coptic Monasteries have been inhabited since the third century. The artifacts being uncovered everyday are astounding to me. Manuscripts abound and precious care is taken of all written documents. Primitive artwork is more common than uncommon. Relics of saints are innumerable. Again, My best estimate for the replacement value of the monasteries:

Priceless

Antiquity is indeed priceless. This article is not about money or wealth in terms of paper. It is about blessings that I did not value until a visit made to another country. It is about blessings that were always mine but I did not count until recently. Perhaps you should know that, although Coptic Orthodox, I have only visited the country of Egypt through pictures and words in books as many of you. I can't image the feelings that I will have when I actually visit the authentic places that I have only read of.

In keeping with the thought of authenticity I want to entreat everyone to help the Coptic motherland protect our many blessings. In January, I read an article in the Tampa Tribune that addressed a 2000-year-old tree being destroyed. Upon reading further I realized it was a tree in which a Coptic tradition holds "bowed before the Lord Christ" when St Mary and St Joseph passed through Egypt to escape from King Herod.

Why anyone would want to destroy a 2000-year-old tree is incomprehensible to me. Why anyone would want to destroy a Christian MONUMENT such as this tree was, is heartbreaking AND incomprehensible. The deed has been done but we must not rest with "There is nothing I can do about it now."

Because there is something we can all do. We can encourage the Egyptian tourism ministry to protect and develop our Christian landmarks or before you know it, our landmarks will become as others have become. Places of worship with "estimated values."

Please pray with me that God will continue to bless Egypt in its authenticity.