{"id":1694,"date":"2021-05-17T02:56:33","date_gmt":"2021-05-17T00:56:33","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/heavenuponearth.com\/?p=1694"},"modified":"2021-06-19T05:10:29","modified_gmt":"2021-06-19T03:10:29","slug":"characteristics-of-the-spiritual-monastic-life-a-conversation-between-st-macarius-the-egyptian-and-father-matthew-the-poor","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/heavenuponearth.com\/?p=1694","title":{"rendered":"Characteristics of the spiritual monastic life: A conversation between: St. Macarius the Egyptian and Father Matthew the Poor."},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"1694\" class=\"elementor elementor-1694\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-1fc7eeb1 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"1fc7eeb1\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-7f5c812e\" data-id=\"7f5c812e\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-933bc03 elementor-toc--minimized-on-tablet elementor-widget elementor-widget-table-of-contents\" data-id=\"933bc03\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;headings_by_tags&quot;:[&quot;h1&quot;],&quot;exclude_headings_by_selector&quot;:[],&quot;marker_view&quot;:&quot;bullets&quot;,&quot;icon&quot;:{&quot;value&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;library&quot;:&quot;&quot;},&quot;no_headings_message&quot;:&quot;No headings were found on this page.&quot;,&quot;minimize_box&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;minimized_on&quot;:&quot;tablet&quot;,&quot;min_height&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;min_height_tablet&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;min_height_mobile&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]}}\" data-widget_type=\"table-of-contents.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toc__header\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h4 class=\"elementor-toc__header-title\">\n\t\t\t\tTable of Contents\t\t\t<\/h4>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toc__toggle-button elementor-toc__toggle-button--expand\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-controls=\"elementor-toc__933bc03\" aria-expanded=\"true\" aria-label=\"Open table of contents\"><svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-fas-chevron-down\" viewBox=\"0 0 448 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M207.029 381.476L12.686 187.132c-9.373-9.373-9.373-24.569 0-33.941l22.667-22.667c9.357-9.357 24.522-9.375 33.901-.04L224 284.505l154.745-154.021c9.379-9.335 24.544-9.317 33.901.04l22.667 22.667c9.373 9.373 9.373 24.569 0 33.941L240.971 381.476c-9.373 9.372-24.569 9.372-33.942 0z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toc__toggle-button elementor-toc__toggle-button--collapse\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-controls=\"elementor-toc__933bc03\" aria-expanded=\"true\" aria-label=\"Close table of contents\"><svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-fas-chevron-up\" viewBox=\"0 0 448 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M240.971 130.524l194.343 194.343c9.373 9.373 9.373 24.569 0 33.941l-22.667 22.667c-9.357 9.357-24.522 9.375-33.901.04L224 227.495 69.255 381.516c-9.379 9.335-24.544 9.317-33.901-.04l-22.667-22.667c-9.373-9.373-9.373-24.569 0-33.941L207.03 130.525c9.372-9.373 24.568-9.373 33.941-.001z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-toc__933bc03\" class=\"elementor-toc__body\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toc__spinner-container\">\n\t\t\t\t<svg class=\"elementor-toc__spinner eicon-animation-spin e-font-icon-svg e-eicon-loading\" aria-hidden=\"true\" viewBox=\"0 0 1000 1000\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M500 975V858C696 858 858 696 858 500S696 142 500 142 142 304 142 500H25C25 237 238 25 500 25S975 237 975 500 763 975 500 975Z\"><\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-09f26c4 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"09f26c4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h1 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Introduction:<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ba6cbaa elementor-blockquote--skin-quotation elementor-blockquote--align-left elementor-widget elementor-widget-blockquote\" data-id=\"ba6cbaa\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"blockquote.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<blockquote class=\"elementor-blockquote\">\n\t\t\t<p class=\"elementor-blockquote__content\">\n\t\t\t\tThe Spirit Himself bears witness for us with groanings which can not be uttered that we are a living part from a living history.\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-q-footer\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<cite class=\"elementor-blockquote__author\">Matta El Meskeen<\/cite>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/blockquote>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1c3faeb elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"1c3faeb\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 In one of his classical epistles to his disciples, Father Matthew the Poor wrote these words which reflect a very significant and important perspective for reading Church History. This important perspective is the perspective of the continuity of this very precious history. Father Matthew the Poor understood his monastic life and his disciples&#8217; monastic life as a continuation of the monastic life of the Early Desert Fathers.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 In spite of representing this perspective of the continuity, he also represented a perspective of the uniqueness. About his perspective of the uniqueness he wrote that he has a basic concept in his spiritual life. This concept can be briefed in that\u00a0<em>&#8220;my spiritual life has to be authentic and original&#8221;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/page-edit.g?blogID=8256130792733312457&amp;pageID=7557968515570716106#_ftn2\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>[2]<\/strong><\/a><\/em>. He did not want to be a copy from any one of the saints whatever these saints&#8217; greatness was. He affirmed that if he becomes a copy from anyone, he will be out of God&#8217;s purpose for his life.<a href=\"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/page-edit.g?blogID=8256130792733312457&amp;pageID=7557968515570716106#_ftn3\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">[3]<\/a>\u00a0According to his writings, these two perspectives, the continuity and the uniqueness, work together to shape the spiritual life of Father Matthew the Poor.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 In this research, these two perspectives will be examined. It will be examined by comparing the major characteristics of the spiritual life due to Matthew the Poor, (1919- 2006), with the same due to St. Macarius the Egyptian, one of the Early Desert Fathers who lived in the forth century (300-390).<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 First the research will follow, in details, the major characteristics due to Macarius. It will be followed in details to set the standard which can show the developments that occur according to the Poor.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Through an analytical reading of some texts relating to both, the research will try to answer the question: what are the similarities and the differences in the major characteristics of the two fathers&#8217; spiritual monastic life? Also, it will be shown if any development occurred for the same characteristic of the spiritual life from St. Macarius to Father Matthew the Poor. By this kind of comparisons, it can be discovered to which degree the contemporary monastic life, at least according to the life of Matthew the Poor, reflects the early desert fathers&#8217; monastic life. Then a brief conclusion will follow.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8c62960 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"8c62960\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h1 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">I. The characteristics of spiritual monastic life According to&nbsp;<i>St.&nbsp;Macarius&nbsp;the Egyptian<\/i>:<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-31262dc9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"31262dc9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><b>a) A brief biography: Abba Macarius the great (300- 390):<\/b>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 16px;\">In the sources, he is called St. Macarius the Egyptian to distinguish him from his namesake, Macarius the Alexandrian. The name Macarius means &#8220;blessed&#8221;<\/span><a style=\"font-size: 16px; font-weight: inherit; background-color: #ffffff;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/page-edit.g?blogID=8256130792733312457&amp;pageID=7557968515570716106#_ftn4\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">[4]<\/a><span style=\"font-size: 16px;\">.\u00a0St.\u00a0Macarius\u00a0the great was born in\u00a0<\/span><em style=\"font-size: 16px;\">Jijber<a href=\"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/page-edit.g?blogID=8256130792733312457&amp;pageID=7557968515570716106#_ftn5\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>[5]<\/strong><\/a><\/em><span style=\"font-size: 16px;\">\u00a0around the year 300. Before becoming a monk, he was a camel driver and a gatherer of\u00a0<\/span><em style=\"font-size: 16px;\">natron<\/em><a style=\"font-size: 16px; font-weight: inherit; background-color: #ffffff;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/page-edit.g?blogID=8256130792733312457&amp;pageID=7557968515570716106#_ftn6\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">[6]<\/a><span style=\"font-size: 16px;\">. Around 330 Macarius went to\u00a0<\/span><em style=\"font-size: 16px;\">Wadi al-Natron<\/em><span style=\"font-size: 16px;\">\u00a0where he first lived his ascetic life alone. Then this kind of life began to attract disciples and a small community formed.<\/span><a style=\"font-size: 16px; font-weight: inherit; background-color: #ffffff;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/page-edit.g?blogID=8256130792733312457&amp;pageID=7557968515570716106#_ftn7\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">[7]<\/a><span style=\"font-size: 16px;\">\u00a0St.\u00a0Macarius\u00a0visited St. Antony twice. In the first visit, St. Antony taught Macarius his monastic tradition. And in the second,\u00a0Antony\u00a0clothed Abba Macarius in the monastic habit<\/span><a style=\"font-size: 16px; font-weight: inherit; background-color: #ffffff;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/page-edit.g?blogID=8256130792733312457&amp;pageID=7557968515570716106#_ftn8\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">[8]<\/a><span style=\"font-size: 16px;\">\u00a0and this is the reason that Macarius is called the disciple of Abba Antony<\/span><a style=\"font-size: 16px; font-weight: inherit; background-color: #ffffff;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/page-edit.g?blogID=8256130792733312457&amp;pageID=7557968515570716106#_ftn9\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">[9]<\/a><span style=\"font-size: 16px;\">. According to the Coptic tradition, Macarius is the legal inheritor to the monastic tradition of St. Antony. Macarius&#8217; life filled with the heavenly wonders and signs. Year 390 is common as the year of his death<\/span><a style=\"font-size: 16px; font-weight: inherit; background-color: #ffffff;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/page-edit.g?blogID=8256130792733312457&amp;pageID=7557968515570716106#_ftn10\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">[10]<\/a><span style=\"font-size: 16px;\">, the 5<\/span><sup>th<\/sup><span style=\"font-size: 16px;\">\u00a0of April is considered the feast day of\u00a0St.\u00a0Macarius\u00a0in the Coptic Orthodox church<\/span><a style=\"font-size: 16px; font-weight: inherit; background-color: #ffffff;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/page-edit.g?blogID=8256130792733312457&amp;pageID=7557968515570716106#_ftn11\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">[11]<\/a><span style=\"font-size: 16px;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>There are many texts relating to Macarius. Among these texts, there are two Coptic works;\u00a0<em>&#8220;Life of Macarius&#8221;<\/em>\u00a0by Sarapion and\u00a0<em>&#8220;Virtues of Macarius&#8221;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/page-edit.g?blogID=8256130792733312457&amp;pageID=7557968515570716106#_ftn12\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>[12]<\/strong><\/a>.<\/em>\u00a0Also, there are 41 sayings attributed to him in the Greek alphabetical collection of\u00a0<em>&#8220;The sayings of the Desert Fathers&#8221;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/page-edit.g?blogID=8256130792733312457&amp;pageID=7557968515570716106#_ftn13\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>[13]<\/strong><\/a><\/em>. But, the most famous work attributed to him is\u00a0<em>&#8220;The fifty spiritual homilies&#8221;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/page-edit.g?blogID=8256130792733312457&amp;pageID=7557968515570716106#_ftn14\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>[14]<\/strong><\/a><\/em>. Also, there is an epistle called\u00a0<em>&#8220;To the sons of God&#8221;<\/em>, this letter was written to the monks and was found in Greek, Latin, Coptic and Syriac.<a href=\"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/page-edit.g?blogID=8256130792733312457&amp;pageID=7557968515570716106#_ftn15\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">[15]<\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><strong>b) The major Characteristics of St. Macarius&#8217; spiritual monastic life:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Through an analytical reading for some selected texts relating to St. Macarius<a href=\"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/page-edit.g?blogID=8256130792733312457&amp;pageID=7557968515570716106#_ftn16\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">[16]<\/a>, some major characteristics can be noticed. These major characteristics can be organized in three main categories. These three main categories are: the aim of the ascetic life, the steps to reach this aim and finally reaching and living this aim. These three categories will be described in details as follows:<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><strong>1-\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0<u>The aim of the ascetic life:\u00a0<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 16px;\">The writings of\u00a0St.\u00a0Macarius\u00a0are considered the first ascetic writings which proclaim a clear meaning about the aim of the ascetic life. It is difficult to discover this clear meaning from the previous ascetic writings like the writings of\u00a0Antony\u00a0or Pachomius.<\/span><a style=\"font-size: 16px; font-weight: inherit; background-color: #ffffff;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/page-edit.g?blogID=8256130792733312457&amp;pageID=7557968515570716106#_ftn17\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">[17]<\/a><span style=\"font-size: 16px;\">\u00a0According to Macarius, the aim of the ascetic life is to reach the Christian Perfection and to restore the first heavenly image of\u00a0Adam. These two themes can be noticed through his writings as follows:<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 80px;\">i.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Christian Perfection (Deification):<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 80px;\">Christian perfection, deification (15:35)<a href=\"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/page-edit.g?blogID=8256130792733312457&amp;pageID=7557968515570716106#_ftn18\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">[18]<\/a>, or communion with the heavenly nature (32:6)<a href=\"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/page-edit.g?blogID=8256130792733312457&amp;pageID=7557968515570716106#_ftn19\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">[19]<\/a>\u00a0is the aim of the Christian life. Perfect Christians are those\u00a0<em>&#8220;who have been permitted\u2026to come very near the King&#8221;<\/em>, they are\u00a0<em>&#8220;sons, and lords, and gods&#8221;<\/em>\u00a0(17:1)<a href=\"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/page-edit.g?blogID=8256130792733312457&amp;pageID=7557968515570716106#_ftn20\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">[20]<\/a>. Some times, Macarius called them saints who are cleaned and sanctified in the inner man (17:13).<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 80px;\">Loving God seems to be the first step to experience Christian perfection. If a man loves God and gives himself to God, this man can reach the pure love, pure prayer and all that he does may be purely done (15:22). The purity of the heart can be gained through only one way; through Him who was crucified for us (17:15). According to Macarius, the incarnation of the Word is the cause of humans&#8217; deification. Because of the incarnation, the heavenly Spirit entered in the humanity and brought Adam\u00a0<em>&#8220;into combination with the God-head&#8221;<\/em>\u00a0(11:9). In\u00a0Christ, the humanity can be deified because He gave us to be\u00a0<em>&#8220;partakers of the Spirit of\u00a0Christ&#8221;<\/em>\u00a0(15:4) and in\u00a0<em>&#8220;His substance&#8221;<\/em>\u00a0(15:38).<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 80px;\">The Apostles\u00a0<em>&#8220;were perfect&#8221;<\/em>\u00a0(17:7). Christian perfection is gained\u00a0<em>&#8220;bit by bit&#8221;<\/em>\u00a0(15:7) and the work of cleansing should be done\u00a0<em>&#8220;little by little&#8221;<\/em>\u00a0(17:11). Those perfect Christians may be excluded from this kind of life, if they despise the\u00a0Grace\u00a0of the Spirit (15:4). The main purpose for giving us the Bible is to teach us to be\u00a0<em>&#8220;partakers of the divine nature&#8221;<\/em>\u00a0(39)<a href=\"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/page-edit.g?blogID=8256130792733312457&amp;pageID=7557968515570716106#_ftn21\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">[21]<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 80px;\">ii.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Restoration of the first image: <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 80px;\">Adam was created in\u00a0<em>&#8220;the image and likeness of God&#8221;<\/em>, but this image was corrupted by sin (12:1)<a href=\"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/page-edit.g?blogID=8256130792733312457&amp;pageID=7557968515570716106#_ftn22\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">[22]<\/a>.The soul lost her image and because of\u00a0Adam&#8217;s disobedience,\u00a0<em>&#8220;death reigned over every soul, and defaced every image of\u00a0Adam&#8221;<\/em>\u00a0(11:4, 5)<a href=\"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/page-edit.g?blogID=8256130792733312457&amp;pageID=7557968515570716106#_ftn23\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">[23]<\/a>. Through\u00a0Christ&#8217;s work this\u00a0<em>&#8220;Heavenly image&#8221;<\/em>\u00a0(11:6) can be restored. This image was representing the\u00a0<em>&#8220;state of Purity&#8221;<\/em>\u00a0(15:25). Also, it was representing\u00a0Adam&#8217;s authority over the creatures. Through\u00a0Christ&#8217;s work\u00a0<em>&#8220;Adam\u00a0may again be king over death and lord of the creatures&#8221;<\/em>\u00a0(11:6).<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 80px;\">One of the manifestations for the restoration of the first authority of\u00a0Adam, for Macarius and for many of the other Desert Fathers, is to have an authority over the wild beasts and animals.<a href=\"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/page-edit.g?blogID=8256130792733312457&amp;pageID=7557968515570716106#_ftn24\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">[24]<\/a>\u00a0For Macarius, the issue is not only to have an authority over wild animals but also to have an intimacy with them.\u00a0<em>&#8220;Virtues of Macarius&#8221;<\/em> tells a story about healing a huge serpent. This story shows how\u00a0St.\u00a0Macarius\u00a0healed the serpent through the compassion of\u00a0Christ. Macarius himself tells us:<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 80px;\">&#8220;I put some spittle on the serpent&#8217;s face while saying, &#8216;My Lord Jesus Christ, who opened the eyes of the man born blind, have pity on this beast&#8217;s infirmity and heal it&#8217;. When I said this, the fragment fell from its eye and after it bent its neck three times it kissed my feet\u2026It left, giving glory to our Lord Jesus Christ\u2026&#8221;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/page-edit.g?blogID=8256130792733312457&amp;pageID=7557968515570716106#_ftn25\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">[25]<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 80px;\">Another story affirms the intimacy with the wild animals, it tells us that:<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 80px;\">&#8220;Macarius was praying in his cave\u2026 while he was praying, the hyena suddenly appeared\u2026 she brought out to him her own cubs which had been born blind. He prayed over them and returned them to the hyena with their sight healed. She in tern, by way of thank- offering, brought the man a huge skin of a large ram and laid it at his feet\u2026&#8221;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/page-edit.g?blogID=8256130792733312457&amp;pageID=7557968515570716106#_ftn26\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">[26]<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 80px;\">Restoration of the Divine image can be obtained in this life, at least in a primitive way, by the work of the Holy Spirit, so the souls can\u00a0<em>&#8220;regain its proper nature&#8221;<\/em>\u00a0(17:3). When\u00a0Adam\u00a0was in this Divine image, the Word Himself was his clothing and he had an\u00a0<em>&#8220;outward glory with him&#8221;<\/em>\u00a0(12:6, 7). The Christians who obtain this heavenly raiment now, in this age, clothed their souls; the same raiment will glorify their bodies in the coming age (32:2).<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><strong>2-\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0<u>Moving toward Christian Perfection: <\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\">Repentance, diligence and personal experience with the Holy Spirit are the main degrees toward tasting Christian Perfection for Macarius. These degrees are shown briefly in his letter\u00a0<em>&#8220;To the sons of God&#8221;<\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/page-edit.g?blogID=8256130792733312457&amp;pageID=7557968515570716106#_ftn27\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">[27]<\/a><em>.<\/em>\u00a0Personal experience with the Holy Spirit seems to be a stream which walks inside through the internal processes of repentance and diligence. Also, experience with the Holy Spirit seems as a mystical way. This mystical way begins narrow and then becomes wider and wider until reaching Deification. Diligence can be practiced in many ways. Prayer and fasting, Giving, serving God, spiritual warfare and studying the Scripture are considered as general characteristics in practicing diligence. Three of these characteristics are selected to be discussed, according to Macarius, in details as follows:<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 80px;\">i.\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"> Diligence in Spiritual warfare:<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 80px;\">The early Desert Fathers believed that diabolical temptation comes to those who desire to grow spiritually<a href=\"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/page-edit.g?blogID=8256130792733312457&amp;pageID=7557968515570716106#_ftn28\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">[28]<\/a>. For Macarius, this is a very important field which the Christian has to practice.\u00a0<em>&#8220;Life of Macarius&#8221;\u00a0<\/em>tells about many battles with some evil spirits<a href=\"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/page-edit.g?blogID=8256130792733312457&amp;pageID=7557968515570716106#_ftn29\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">[29]<\/a>.\u00a0<em>&#8220;A Christian has a twofold warfare set before him, an inward and outward\u2026&#8221;<\/em>\u00a0(21: Intro.). The outward warfare is visible, in this kind of warfare; the Christian has to fight to not be bound down by the affairs of this life or by the love of the world (21:2). According to Macarius, to sell what we have and distribute to the poor is a very effective way to win this kind of war (11:7). About the inward warfare, it is an invisible warfare. This invisible warfare has two directions. The first is against\u00a0<em>&#8220;the spirits of wickedness themselves&#8221;<\/em>\u00a0(21:1). And the second is against the indwelling evil which inside the heart, every Christian has\u00a0<em>&#8220;to fight&#8221;<\/em>\u00a0against this evil (15:24). This indwelling evil produces evil thoughts. Every one has to discover these thoughts. The Holy Spirit is the\u00a0<em>&#8220;Divine Lamp&#8221;<\/em>\u00a0who helps us to discern these thoughts and to\u00a0<em>&#8220;win the battle&#8221;<\/em>\u00a0(11:3).<\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"padding-left: 80px;\">ii.\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Diligence in Prayer:<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 80px;\">The writings relating to Macarius show two types of prayer according to him. The first type can be called the primitive prayer. It can be found in the context of Diligence. The second type is the pure prayer (15:22). Pure prayer can be found only in the context of tasting Christian Perfection and it will be discussed later in this research.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 80px;\">In the context of diligence, the primitive prayer can be found as a very simple prayer. Macarius talked clearly about it as mentioned in\u00a0<em>&#8220;The sayings of Macarius&#8221;<\/em>. He answered the question &#8220;How should one pray?&#8221; as follows:<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 80px;\">&#8220;It is not necessary to say a lot of words; just stretch your hands up to God and say, &#8216;Lord, as you will and as you desire, lead me.&#8217; And if you are afflicted, say, &#8216;Lord, help me.&#8217; He knows what is good. He will take pity on us in accordance with His mercies and His love of humanity.&#8221;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/page-edit.g?blogID=8256130792733312457&amp;pageID=7557968515570716106#_ftn30\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">[30]<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 80px;\">iii.\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Diligence in Giving:<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 80px;\">Giving is very important according to St. Macarius. After his father&#8217;s death, he began to distribute all what he had<a href=\"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/page-edit.g?blogID=8256130792733312457&amp;pageID=7557968515570716106#_ftn31\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">[31]<\/a>. Also, He repeated the command to sell every thing and distribute to the poor (11:7, 8).<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><strong>3-\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0<u>Living Christian Perfection:\u00a0<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\">After knowing the aim of the ascetic life which is Christian Perfection, and after being diligent to experience this aim, this aim will be tasted as a living style of life. This style of perfect life can be described in the following points:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 80px;\">i.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Experience Pure prayer: <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 80px;\">When we love God with all of our souls, we can experience the <em>&#8220;Pure prayer&#8221;<\/em> (15:22). The pure prayer is this prayer when the mind is\u00a0<em>&#8220;wholly occupied with the Lord&#8221;<\/em>\u00a0(15:13). In this kind of prayer the mind enters into rest, and may experience vision and knows the Divine mysteries (15:15). This level of prayer seems to be, according to Macarius, a heavenly gift,\u00a0<em>&#8220;a gift of prayer&#8221;<\/em> (17:5).<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 80px;\">ii.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Tasting the fire of the Holy Spirit: <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 80px;\">To receive <em>&#8220;The gift of the Spirit&#8221;<\/em>, we have to raise our eyes for the heavenly things (11:6). Also, we have to love God, leave all things and preserve in prayer. When we do these things, the Holy Ghost begins to teach us the secrets (12:17). The power of the Holy Spirit is working like a fire; Macarius called this power <em>&#8220;heavenly fire of the Godhead&#8221;<\/em>\u00a0and<em>\u00a0&#8220;Divine fire&#8221;<\/em> (11:1, 2). This Divine fire has two main works inside the faithful souls. The first work belongs to this age. In this age the fire forms, in secret, the\u00a0<em>&#8220;heavenly image upon their humanity&#8221;<\/em>\u00a0(11:2). The heavenly fire forms this image by clearing off the thorns and sanctifying the soul (15:53). The Divine fire&#8217;s second work belongs to the coming age. In the coming age the fire will cause the resurrection (11:1).<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 80px;\">iii.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">The mystical life and the supernatural wonders and signs: <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 80px;\">The service of the Spirit is performed <em>&#8220;secretly by the inner man&#8221;<\/em>\u00a0(15:5). The Holy Ghost writes the\u00a0<em>&#8220;mysteries of heaven&#8221;<\/em>\u00a0upon the tables of the heart (15:20).\u00a0Christ\u00a0is the\u00a0<em>&#8220;heavenly Bridegroom&#8221;<\/em>\u00a0who has espoused the soul for\u00a0<em>&#8220;mystical Divine fellowship&#8221;<\/em>\u00a0(15:2).\u00a0<em>&#8220;For the soul was fitted for communion with the heavenly Bridegroom, and mingles with the heavenly One&#8221;<\/em>\u00a0(12:15).<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 80px;\">Visions occurred sometimes during prayer (15:5). Also, to be caught away into the coming age is an experience that can be tasted (17:4). Macarius wrote about one of the brothers who was taken captive by Divine power, caught away and saw the city of Jerusalem (17:14).<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 80px;\">In homily 48, Macarius wrote to the monks about the divine healing.\u00a0Christ\u00a0is the\u00a0<em>&#8220;only true physician and healer&#8221;<\/em>. The monk has to believe that\u00a0Christ\u00a0can heal his body as He healed his soul. This is the true belief. The\u00a0<em>&#8220;earthly physicians&#8221;<\/em>\u00a0are for\u00a0<em>&#8220;those who could not yet entrust themselves wholly to God&#8221;<\/em>. In the\u00a0<em>&#8220;Life of Macarius&#8221;<\/em> by Sarapion, Sarapion testifies about Macarius&#8217; gift of healing,<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 80px;\">&#8220;Saint\u00a0Macarius\u00a0would be brought numbers of sick people from many places; even from far away lands, too, and he would heal all of them, almost like one of the apostles. Indeed,\u00a0Antony\u00a0the great had already testified about him, &#8216;the gift of healing has been given to Abba Macarius by God&#8217;\u2026the Holy Spirit who worked all things in him.&#8221;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/page-edit.g?blogID=8256130792733312457&amp;pageID=7557968515570716106#_ftn32\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">[32]<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 80px;\">Also, the visitations of angels were repeated with Macarius. A Cherub visited him many times.<a href=\"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/page-edit.g?blogID=8256130792733312457&amp;pageID=7557968515570716106#_ftn33\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">[33]<\/a>\u00a0Macarius was called &#8220;the Cherub&#8217;s friend&#8221; because of these repeating visitations<a href=\"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/page-edit.g?blogID=8256130792733312457&amp;pageID=7557968515570716106#_ftn34\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">[34]<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9f20310 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"9f20310\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h1 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">II. The characteristics of spiritual monastic life due to <i>Father Matthew the Poor<\/i>:<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-73d6ecf elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"73d6ecf\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><strong>a) A brief biography: Father Matthew the Poor (1919- 2006):\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Father Matthew the Poor was an Egyptian Coptic Orthodox monk and a spiritual father of 130 monks in the Monastery of St. Macarius the Great in the Wilderness of Wadi El Natrun, Egypt. He is also a renowned Orthodox theologian and author.<a href=\"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/page-edit.g?blogID=8256130792733312457&amp;pageID=7557968515570716106#_ftn35\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">[35]<\/a>\u00a0Father\u00a0Matthew\u00a0the Poor was born on\u00a0September 20, 1919, in Banha<a href=\"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/page-edit.g?blogID=8256130792733312457&amp;pageID=7557968515570716106#_ftn36\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">[36]<\/a>. He graduated as a pharmacist from\u00a0Cairo\u00a0University\u00a0in 1944. Before the beginning of his monastic life, the Poor played an important role in the Sunday School Movement<a href=\"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/page-edit.g?blogID=8256130792733312457&amp;pageID=7557968515570716106#_ftn37\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">[37]<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 16px;\">In 1948, the Poor entered the monastic life. After living for a few years in the monastery of\u00a0St.\u00a0Samuel\u00a0the Confessor,\u00a0Father\u00a0Matta\u00a0decided to move out into Wadi El Rayan in the late 1950s. After several changes, the Poor and his disciples went to the Monastery of St. Macarius\u00a0in 1969 to start a new monastic movement which influenced many monastic movements around the world.<\/span><a style=\"font-size: 16px; font-weight: inherit; background-color: #ffffff;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/page-edit.g?blogID=8256130792733312457&amp;pageID=7557968515570716106#_ftn38\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">[38]<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Father\u00a0Matthew\u00a0the Poor is the author for 187 published books<a href=\"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/page-edit.g?blogID=8256130792733312457&amp;pageID=7557968515570716106#_ftn39\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">[39]<\/a>. His writings include voluminous texts on Biblical exegesis, Ecclesiastical rites, spiritual and theological matters<a href=\"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/page-edit.g?blogID=8256130792733312457&amp;pageID=7557968515570716106#_ftn40\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">[40]<\/a>. His disciples, after his death, have another huge number of his unpublished material (232 articles and books)<a href=\"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/page-edit.g?blogID=8256130792733312457&amp;pageID=7557968515570716106#_ftn41\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">[41]<\/a>. His writings are considered as a restoration of the Early Fathers Tradition<a href=\"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/page-edit.g?blogID=8256130792733312457&amp;pageID=7557968515570716106#_ftn42\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">[42]<\/a>. Also, his writings formed a new monastic movement.\u00a0Father\u00a0Matthew\u00a0the Poor passed away on\u00a0June 8, 2006.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><strong>b)<\/strong> <strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">The major Characteristics of Father Matthew the Poor&#8217;s spiritual monastic life:<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>According to the writings of Matthew the Poor, the Characteristics of the spiritual monastic life can be organized in the same three main categories which are shown in the previous section according to Macarius.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><strong>1-\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<u>The aim of the ascetic life:<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\">For the Poor, The incarnation of the Word is the theological interpretation and foundation to understand the aim of the ascetic life<a href=\"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/page-edit.g?blogID=8256130792733312457&amp;pageID=7557968515570716106#_ftn43\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">[43]<\/a>. The Divine incarnation is considered as the greatest ascetic work. In the incarnation, the Word Himself took the higher available humility position. He emptied Himself so we can empty ourselves. He emptied himself, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness to be in union with us. For us, to empty ourselves by the ascetic life is for being, also, in union with Him. The aim of the ascetic life is to be in union with Him. To be in union with Him is equal to the sanctification. The ascetic life itself isn&#8217;t sufficient to obtain the sanctification. It prepares the soul to gain the gift of the sanctification from God by the Holy Spirit.<a href=\"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/page-edit.g?blogID=8256130792733312457&amp;pageID=7557968515570716106#_ftn44\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">[44]<\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\">The Holy Spirit sanctifies and delivers us to reach the Christian Perfection<a href=\"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/page-edit.g?blogID=8256130792733312457&amp;pageID=7557968515570716106#_ftn45\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">[45]<\/a>. The sanctification of the soul, Christian Perfection, is an inner changing and restoration of the first image of\u00a0Adam<a href=\"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/page-edit.g?blogID=8256130792733312457&amp;pageID=7557968515570716106#_ftn46\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">[46]<\/a>. The heavenly Divine image, which the Holy Spirit prints over our souls, makes us truly &#8220;Partakers of the Divine nature&#8221;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/page-edit.g?blogID=8256130792733312457&amp;pageID=7557968515570716106#_ftn47\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">[47]<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\">Restoration of the Divine image includes the restoration of the authority over the creation. Being &#8220;Partakers of the Divine nature&#8221;, tasting deification and Christian Perfection or Theosis, is not only the aim of the ascetic life but also it is the aim of the whole Christian life<a href=\"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/page-edit.g?blogID=8256130792733312457&amp;pageID=7557968515570716106#_ftn48\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">[48]<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><strong>2-\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<u>Moving toward\u00a0Union\u00a0with God<\/u><\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/page-edit.g?blogID=8256130792733312457&amp;pageID=7557968515570716106#_ftn49\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>[49]<\/strong><\/a><strong><u>:<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\">Repentance and diligence are the two main degrees toward the experience of\u00a0Union\u00a0with God. These two degrees couldn\u2019t be understood away of two concepts. The first concept is the human&#8217;s free will. The second is the work of\u00a0Grace. The work of\u00a0Grace\u00a0is given to us by the work of the Holy Spirit. This formula can be briefed in certain points as follows:<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 80px;\">a.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Repentance:<\/span> First, the Holy Spirit begins to approach the sinner with the holy commands<a href=\"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/page-edit.g?blogID=8256130792733312457&amp;pageID=7557968515570716106#_ftn50\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">[50]<\/a>. The Holy Spirit encourages us to repent. If this Divine will meets a free human will for repenting, this is a true repentance experience<a href=\"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/page-edit.g?blogID=8256130792733312457&amp;pageID=7557968515570716106#_ftn51\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">[51]<\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 80px;\">b.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Diligence:<\/span>\u00a0 It can be practiced in many ways. Three main characteristics of diligence are selected to be discussed, according to the Poor, in details as follows:<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 120px;\">i.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Diligence in Prayer:<\/span> In his first book, <em>&#8220;Orthodox Prayer Life: The Interior Way&#8221;<\/em>,\u00a0Matthew\u00a0the Poor wrote about the degrees of prayer. He classified the prayer life into two kinds of experience. The first is &#8220;the level of prayer&#8221; and the second is &#8220;beyond the level of prayer&#8221;. The level of prayer can be experienced through two degrees; Meditation and contemplation. Meditation seems to be by diligence with a secret help from the Holy Spirit. Contemplation is a direct grace from the Spirit. &#8220;Beyond the level of prayer&#8221; can be experienced through three degrees; Ecstasy, Vision of God and\u00a0Union\u00a0with God<a href=\"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/page-edit.g?blogID=8256130792733312457&amp;pageID=7557968515570716106#_ftn52\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">[52]<\/a>. Experience\u00a0Union\u00a0with God, which is the aim of the ascetic life, in prayer shows how the diligence in the prayer life is very important for\u00a0Matthew\u00a0the Poor.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 120px;\">ii.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Diligence in Giving:<\/span> The spiritual man always gives. This is a main spiritual characteristic. The spiritual one who is being filled with the Holy Spirit and doesn&#8217;t want to give is like a man who tries to keep the fire inside his hand<a href=\"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/page-edit.g?blogID=8256130792733312457&amp;pageID=7557968515570716106#_ftn53\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">[53]<\/a>. The life of contemplation can&#8217;t be lived without giving<a href=\"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/page-edit.g?blogID=8256130792733312457&amp;pageID=7557968515570716106#_ftn54\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">[54]<\/a>.\u00a0Matthew\u00a0the Poor himself sold everything he had and distributed to the poor<a href=\"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/page-edit.g?blogID=8256130792733312457&amp;pageID=7557968515570716106#_ftn55\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">[55]<\/a>. He said that one time he stopped to give his disciples what the Spirit taught him. After some days, he couldn&#8217;t understand more from the word of God. He understood that this is because he stopped to give. He cut a covenant with himself that he will teach and give every thing the Spirit gave to him.<a href=\"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/page-edit.g?blogID=8256130792733312457&amp;pageID=7557968515570716106#_ftn56\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">[56]<\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 120px;\">iii.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Diligence in Work:<\/span> The true spiritual life means reconciliation between work and prayer<a href=\"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/page-edit.g?blogID=8256130792733312457&amp;pageID=7557968515570716106#_ftn57\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">[57]<\/a>. The monk doesn&#8217;t have two kinds of lives, spiritual and practical. He has only one kind of life which represents the main substance for every work and every prayer. We can experience the presence of the Lord in the times of work in a dimension which is higher than that we can experience in the times of meditation<a href=\"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/page-edit.g?blogID=8256130792733312457&amp;pageID=7557968515570716106#_ftn58\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">[58]<\/a>.\u00a0 By work, we can discover if we are in union with God or not. The mystic experience for the presence of God in work gives the work its success<a href=\"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/page-edit.g?blogID=8256130792733312457&amp;pageID=7557968515570716106#_ftn59\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">[59]<\/a>. The improvement of the work is relating to the spiritual growth<a href=\"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/page-edit.g?blogID=8256130792733312457&amp;pageID=7557968515570716106#_ftn60\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">[60]<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><strong>3-\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<u>Living in Union with God:\u00a0<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\">What a blessed man this one who experiences the presence of God with him!<a href=\"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/page-edit.g?blogID=8256130792733312457&amp;pageID=7557968515570716106#_ftn61\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">[61]<\/a>\u00a0The presence of God is a mystical presence; it can be experienced in the pure prayer<a href=\"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/page-edit.g?blogID=8256130792733312457&amp;pageID=7557968515570716106#_ftn62\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">[62]<\/a>. Union with God by the Holy Spirit makes the soul restores the first piety and the first strength<a href=\"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/page-edit.g?blogID=8256130792733312457&amp;pageID=7557968515570716106#_ftn63\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">[63]<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\">The soul restores the first image and the first authority over the creation.\u00a0Father\u00a0Matthew\u00a0the Poor lived many years in his cave among the snakes, the serpents, the hyenas and many different wild animals. He told many stories to explain the reconciliation with the creation, even with the wild animals. One of these stories is mentioned as follows:<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\">&#8220;One day I was in my cave\u2026 a huge serpent entered\u2026 she began to\u00a0bend its neck for me\u2026 I gave her some food&#8230; she took the food silently\u2026 she lived with me in the cave\u2026 when I wanted to pray, I told her to go. She could understand and went.&#8221;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/page-edit.g?blogID=8256130792733312457&amp;pageID=7557968515570716106#_ftn64\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">[64]<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\">The reconciliation is not only with the animals but also it is with the plants. The agricultural crops in the monastery of\u00a0St.\u00a0Macarius\u00a0give strange blessed results in comparison with the normal statistics<a href=\"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/page-edit.g?blogID=8256130792733312457&amp;pageID=7557968515570716106#_ftn65\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">[65]<\/a>. Also, Vision, Divine dreams and supplying needs by miracles repeated many times in the life of the Poor and in the life of his disciples.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-41d26bd elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"41d26bd\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h1 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">III. From Macarius to Matthew the Poor: Similarities, Differences and Developments:<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c9bd118 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"c9bd118\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">A- Similarities:<\/span><\/p>\n<p>The aim of the Christian ascetic life is the same according to both,\u00a0St.\u00a0Macarius\u00a0and\u00a0Matthew\u00a0the Poor.\u00a0St.\u00a0Macarius\u00a0uses &#8220;Christian\u00a0Perfection&#8221; to refer to &#8220;deification&#8221;, &#8220;Union\u00a0with God&#8221; or &#8220;Theosis&#8221;.\u00a0Matthew\u00a0the Poor uses &#8220;Union\u00a0with God&#8221; and &#8220;Theosis&#8221; to refer to &#8220;Christian Perfection&#8221;. The incarnation of the Word is the basic foundation for humans&#8217; deification. Restoration of the first image of Adam seems according to both more than a theological issue. It is a real living fact. Both of them taught it and manifested it in his life, especially in the relation with the wild animals.<\/p>\n<p>Repentance and diligence are basic factors in the moving toward the aim of the ascetic life due to the two fathers. The Holy Spirit is the guide of this moving. Some times\u00a0Matthew\u00a0the Poor uses &#8220;the work of\u00a0Grace&#8221; to refer to the work of the Holy Spirit. &#8220;Diligence in giving&#8221; is the same for both of them; each one of them distributed all what he had. Diligence in prayer has the same concepts with different expressions. Primitive prayer due to Macarius is equal to Meditation due to the Poor. Pure prayer due to Macarius is equal to contemplation due to the Poor. Ecstasy due to the Poor can be considered as an equivalent to have visions and to be caught away into the heavenly realm according to Macarius.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">B- Differences:<\/span><\/p>\n<p>The gifts of the Holy Spirit can be considered as an area which carries some differences between the two fathers. Divine healing, for Macarius, is the normal thing which supposed to be experienced in the regular life of the monk. Macarius healed many<a href=\"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/page-edit.g?blogID=8256130792733312457&amp;pageID=7557968515570716106#_ftn66\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">[66]<\/a>\u00a0and told his disciples to not go to any earthly physicians, as shown previously. For\u00a0Matthew\u00a0the Poor, the direct experience of divine healing is not considered as a main issue.\u00a0Matthew\u00a0the Poor himself went many times to physicians<a href=\"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/page-edit.g?blogID=8256130792733312457&amp;pageID=7557968515570716106#_ftn67\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">[67]<\/a>\u00a0and passed away in a hospital<a href=\"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/page-edit.g?blogID=8256130792733312457&amp;pageID=7557968515570716106#_ftn68\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">[68]<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Also, rebuking the demons and the battles with evil spirits and demons seem to be clearer according to Macarius. This experience can be found many times in the life of Macarius<a href=\"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/page-edit.g?blogID=8256130792733312457&amp;pageID=7557968515570716106#_ftn69\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">[69]<\/a>. For the Poor, this experience doesn&#8217;t appear as a basic experience in his life, except some rare situations (one of these rare situations was before his entry to the monastic life)<a href=\"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/page-edit.g?blogID=8256130792733312457&amp;pageID=7557968515570716106#_ftn70\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">[70]<\/a>.\u00a0Matthew\u00a0the Poor refused to pray for those who are possessed by evil spirits, he explained that, &#8220;this is not my message; my message is the monastic life which I took from the previous fathers.&#8221;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/page-edit.g?blogID=8256130792733312457&amp;pageID=7557968515570716106#_ftn71\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">[71]<\/a>\u00a0 In general,\u00a0Matthew\u00a0the Poor explained that he didn&#8217;t ask God for the gifts of the Spirit<a href=\"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/page-edit.g?blogID=8256130792733312457&amp;pageID=7557968515570716106#_ftn72\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">[72]<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">C- Developments:<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&#8220;The Christian mystical life&#8221; can be defined, generally, as a special experience that occurred when the soul enters into a very real sense of union with God. The reality of this sense of union with God is beyond the physical sense. Macarius taught about this experience during the pure prayer. Also, for Macarius the supernatural signs can occur in this kind of experience. For\u00a0Matthew\u00a0the Poor this mystic experience occurs with some development. It is not only can be found in the pure prayer, but also it can be found in the normal daily life<a href=\"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/page-edit.g?blogID=8256130792733312457&amp;pageID=7557968515570716106#_ftn73\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">[73]<\/a>. It begins by the intuition in the direct secret experience in prayer<a href=\"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/page-edit.g?blogID=8256130792733312457&amp;pageID=7557968515570716106#_ftn74\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">[74]<\/a>. But also, it can continue during the time of daily work and during the relationships with the others. The mystical dimension, which is a mystic experience of a very strong assurance about the Lord&#8217;s presence, can be manifested to the monk through the world and through the others<a href=\"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/page-edit.g?blogID=8256130792733312457&amp;pageID=7557968515570716106#_ftn75\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">[75]<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Work for Macarius is to supply his needs. His work was blessed because of God&#8217;s presence. According to Macarius, the work has only a personal perspective<a href=\"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/page-edit.g?blogID=8256130792733312457&amp;pageID=7557968515570716106#_ftn76\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">[76]<\/a>. For\u00a0Matthew\u00a0the Poor, Work is a very central theme in his theology. Pure prayer can&#8217;t be found without daily work. And daily work can&#8217;t success without pure prayer. Work is not only important for the personal life of the monk, but also the work of the monk is important for the whole community. When the monks work, filling with the Holy Spirit, they will show the world the true meaning of the reconciliation between the visible and invisible realm.<a href=\"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/page-edit.g?blogID=8256130792733312457&amp;pageID=7557968515570716106#_ftn77\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">[77]<\/a><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5c1e8f4 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"5c1e8f4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h1 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Conclusion:<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-caa724e elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"caa724e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><em>&#8220;We are a living part from a living history&#8221;<\/em>, these papers began by these words which&nbsp;Matthew&nbsp;the poor wrote to his disciples. The research affirmed that these words are true.&nbsp;Matthew&nbsp;the Poor and his disciples are a very living part from the very living monastic Church History. The analytical reading for the texts relating to Macarius and&nbsp;Matthew&nbsp;the Poor showed clearly the perspective of the continuity of Church History. Also, the differences and developments showed clearly the perspective of the uniqueness.<\/p>\n<p>In spite of the differences and developments, it can be affirmed without doubt that: If the monastery of St. Macarius is considered to represent the contemporary Coptic monasticism, then it really reflects the Early Desert Fathers&#8217; monasticism.<\/p>\n<p>St.&nbsp;Macarius&nbsp;and&nbsp;Father&nbsp;Matthew&nbsp;the Poor are sharing many of the basic thoughts but each of them is still having some special understandings. The story of Church History seems to be a developing story which is going in the right way to fulfill His will. Each type of spiritual life completes the others and all of us&nbsp;<em>&#8220;may grow up in all things into Him who is the head-Christ-&#8220;<\/em>&nbsp;(Ephesians&nbsp;4:15)<em>.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>In the end of this research, in order to complete some further details about this issue; it is recommended to study about the contemporary situation in some other Coptic monasteries.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-acc8d93 elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"acc8d93\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-73c3e97 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"73c3e97\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h1 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Bibliography:<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7712673 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"7712673\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Burton-&nbsp;Christie,&nbsp;Douglas.&nbsp;<em>The Word in the Desert: Scripture and the quest for holiness in early Christian Monasticism<\/em>.&nbsp;New York,&nbsp;Oxford:&nbsp;Oxford&nbsp;University&nbsp;Press, 1993.<\/p>\n<p>Harmless,&nbsp;William.&nbsp;<em>Desert Fathers: an introduction to the literature of the Early Monasticism<\/em>.&nbsp;Oxford,&nbsp;New York:&nbsp;Oxford&nbsp;University&nbsp;Press, 2004.<\/p>\n<p>Matt\u00e1 al-Misk\u012bn.&nbsp;<em>Orthodox Prayer Life: The Interior Way<\/em>.&nbsp;Crestwood,&nbsp;N.Y.: St. Vladimir&#8217;s Seminary Press, 2003.<\/p>\n<p>________ <em>Spiritual epistles<\/em>. Wadi Al-Natroun: St.&nbsp;Macarius&#8217; Monastery Press, 1984.<\/p>\n<p>________<em>The Epistles of&nbsp;Matthew&nbsp;the Poor<\/em>. Wadi Al-Natroun:&nbsp;St.&nbsp;Macarius&#8217; Monastery Press, 2006.<\/p>\n<p>________<em>Coptic Monasticism<\/em>. Wadi Al-Natroun:&nbsp;St.&nbsp;Macarius&#8217; Monastery Press, 1972.<\/p>\n<p>________<em>Repentance and Ascetic life in the Bible<\/em>. Wadi Al-Natroun: St. Macarius&#8217; Monastery Press, 1982.<\/p>\n<p>________<em>The Divine vision for the Ecclesiastical feasts: the Holy Spirit, the living God<\/em>. Wadi Al-Natroun:&nbsp;St.&nbsp;Macarius&#8217; Monastery Press, 1981.<\/p>\n<p>________<em>With the Holy Spirit in our daily diligence: Synergy<\/em>. Wadi Al-Natroun:&nbsp;St.&nbsp;Macarius&#8217; Monastery Press, 2004.<\/p>\n<p>Monks of&nbsp;St.&nbsp;Macarius&#8217; Monastery.&nbsp;<em>Our&nbsp;Father&nbsp;Matthew&nbsp;the Poor: A detailed biography<\/em>. Wadi El-Natroun:&nbsp;St.&nbsp;Macarius&#8217; Monastery Press, 2008<\/p>\n<p>________<em>The Orthodox Patristic roots for the writings of&nbsp;Matthew&nbsp;the Poor: Part one<\/em>. &nbsp;Wadi El-Natroun:&nbsp;St.&nbsp;Macarius&#8217; Monastery Press, 2003.<\/p>\n<p>Rubenson,&nbsp;Samuel.&nbsp;<em>The influencing of the writings of Matthew the Poor<\/em>. Wadi El-Natroun:&nbsp;St.&nbsp;Macarius&#8217; Monastery Press, 2006.<\/p>\n<p>St.&nbsp;Macarius&nbsp;and&nbsp;Arthur&nbsp;James&nbsp;Mason.&nbsp;<em>Fifty Spiritual Homilies of&nbsp;St.&nbsp;Macarius&nbsp;the Egyptian<\/em>.&nbsp;London: Society for Promoting&nbsp;Christian&nbsp;Knowledge, 1921.<\/p>\n<p>Vivian,&nbsp;Tim.&nbsp;<em>St.&nbsp;Macarius the Spiritbearer: Coptic texts relating to Saint Macarius the Great<\/em>.&nbsp;Crestwood,&nbsp;New York:&nbsp;St.&nbsp;Vladimir&#8217;s Seminary Press, 2004.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Periodicals<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Teague,&nbsp;David.&nbsp;\u201cSpiritual warfare\u201d. An article in the curriculum:&nbsp;<em>Christianity in the Middle East-p.3<\/em>, Edited by&nbsp;Roger&nbsp;Rogahn. (ETSC, Cairo 2008)<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-feb77c4 elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"feb77c4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-308abb9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"308abb9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h1 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Article References:<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e405c02 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"e405c02\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/page-edit.g?blogID=8256130792733312457&amp;pageID=7557968515570716106#_ftnref1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">[1]<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0Matt\u00e1 al-Misk\u012bn,<em>\u00a0Spiritual Epistles<\/em>\u00a0(Wadi El-Natroun: St. Macarius&#8217; Monastery Press,1984), 5<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/page-edit.g?blogID=8256130792733312457&amp;pageID=7557968515570716106#_ftnref2\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">[2]<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0Matt\u00e1 al-Misk\u012bn,<em>\u00a0The Epistles of Matthew the Poor<\/em>\u00a0(Wadi El-Natroun:\u00a0St.\u00a0Macarius&#8217; Monastery Press,2006), 243<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/page-edit.g?blogID=8256130792733312457&amp;pageID=7557968515570716106#_ftnref3\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">[3]<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0Ibid, 243<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/page-edit.g?blogID=8256130792733312457&amp;pageID=7557968515570716106#_ftnref4\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">[4]<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0William\u00a0Harmless,\u00a0S.J.,\u00a0<em>Desert Christians: An introduction to the literature of early monasticism<\/em>\u00a0(Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2004), 194<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/page-edit.g?blogID=8256130792733312457&amp;pageID=7557968515570716106#_ftnref5\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">[5]<\/a><em>Jijber<\/em>\u00a0is a village in the southwest portion of the\u00a0Nile\u00a0delta, now it is called\u00a0<em>Shabshir.<\/em><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/page-edit.g?blogID=8256130792733312457&amp;pageID=7557968515570716106#_ftnref6\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">[6]<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0Natron is Sodium Carbonate, which was used as a preservative in mummification and as a reagent in manufacturing glass.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/page-edit.g?blogID=8256130792733312457&amp;pageID=7557968515570716106#_ftnref7\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">[7]<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0Tim\u00a0Vivian,\u00a0<em>Saint<\/em><em>\u00a0Macarius<\/em><em>\u00a0the Spiritbearer: Coptic texts relating to\u00a0Saint\u00a0Macarius\u00a0the Great<\/em>\u00a0(Crestwood,\u00a0New York:\u00a0St.\u00a0Vladimir&#8217;s Seminary Press, 2004), 19- 20\u00a0<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/page-edit.g?blogID=8256130792733312457&amp;pageID=7557968515570716106#_ftnref8\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">[8]<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0Matt\u00e1 al-Misk\u012bn,<em>\u00a0Coptic Monasticism\u00a0<\/em>(Wadi El-Natroun:\u00a0St.\u00a0Macarius&#8217; Monastery Press,1972), 50<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/page-edit.g?blogID=8256130792733312457&amp;pageID=7557968515570716106#_ftnref9\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">[9]<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0Tim\u00a0Vivian, 176<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/page-edit.g?blogID=8256130792733312457&amp;pageID=7557968515570716106#_ftnref10\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">[10]<\/a>\u00a0Matthew\u00a0the Poor mentioned in his book\u00a0<em>&#8220;Coptic Monasticism&#8221;<\/em>, p.119, that in the Coptic scroll, Sarapion wrote that Macarius lived 97 years. If this information is accurate, the year of his death will supposed to be 397 instead of 300.\u00a0<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/page-edit.g?blogID=8256130792733312457&amp;pageID=7557968515570716106#_ftnref11\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">[11]<\/a>\u00a0Tim\u00a0Vivian, 193<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/page-edit.g?blogID=8256130792733312457&amp;pageID=7557968515570716106#_ftnref12\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">[12]<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0William\u00a0Harmless, 196<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/page-edit.g?blogID=8256130792733312457&amp;pageID=7557968515570716106#_ftnref13\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">[13]<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0Tim\u00a0Vivian, 23<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/page-edit.g?blogID=8256130792733312457&amp;pageID=7557968515570716106#_ftnref14\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">[14]<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0St.\u00a0Macarius\u00a0and\u00a0Arthur\u00a0James\u00a0Mason,\u00a0<em>Fifty Spiritual Homilies of\u00a0St.\u00a0Macarius\u00a0the Egyptian<\/em>\u00a0(London: Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, 1921)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/page-edit.g?blogID=8256130792733312457&amp;pageID=7557968515570716106#_ftnref15\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">[15]<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0William\u00a0Harmless, 191, 192<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/page-edit.g?blogID=8256130792733312457&amp;pageID=7557968515570716106#_ftnref16\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">[16]<\/a><em>&#8220;The fifty spiritual homilies&#8221;<\/em>,\u00a0<em>&#8220;Virtues of Macarius&#8221;<\/em>,\u00a0<em>&#8220;The sayings of the Desert Fathers&#8221;<\/em>\u00a0and\u00a0<em>&#8220;Life of Macarius&#8221;<\/em>\u00a0by Sarapion will be used to follow his spiritual life&#8217; characteristics.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/page-edit.g?blogID=8256130792733312457&amp;pageID=7557968515570716106#_ftnref17\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">[17]<\/a>\u00a0From &#8220;The ascetic teachings according to Great Egyptians fathers in the forth century&#8221; by\u00a0P.\u00a0Resch\u00a0(The original title is in French), quoted in Matt\u00e1 al-Misk\u012bn,<em>\u00a0Coptic Monasticism\u00a0<\/em>(Wadi El-Natroun:\u00a0St.\u00a0Macarius&#8217; Monastery Press,2006), 136<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/page-edit.g?blogID=8256130792733312457&amp;pageID=7557968515570716106#_ftnref18\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">[18]<\/a>\u00a0St.\u00a0Macarius\u00a0and\u00a0Arthur\u00a0James\u00a0Mason, (15:35); (15:35) means Homily no. 15, verse 35.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 80px;\">&#8211;\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0This way of abbreviation (Homily no.: verse) will be used for every quotation from\u00a0<em>&#8220;The fifty spiritual homilies&#8221;<\/em>\u00a0by\u00a0St.\u00a0Macarius\u00a0and\u00a0Arthur\u00a0James\u00a0Mason.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 80px;\">&#8211;\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0In the English version, each homily begins by brief but doesn&#8217;t have any title. In the Arabic version, each homily begins with the same brief with additional title.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 80px;\">&#8211;\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Homily 15 is titled in the Arabic version\u00a0<em>&#8220;The Holiness and the Piety&#8221;<\/em>. It is\u00a0considered as the longest homily among the fifty homilies.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/page-edit.g?blogID=8256130792733312457&amp;pageID=7557968515570716106#_ftnref19\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">[19]<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0Homily 32 is titled in the Arabic version\u00a0<em>&#8220;The cloth of Glory now and in the Resurrection&#8221;<\/em><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/page-edit.g?blogID=8256130792733312457&amp;pageID=7557968515570716106#_ftnref20\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">[20]<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0Homily 17 is titled in the Arabic version\u00a0<em>&#8220;The anointing of the Holy Spirit&#8221;<\/em><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/page-edit.g?blogID=8256130792733312457&amp;pageID=7557968515570716106#_ftnref21\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">[21]<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0Homily 39 is titled in the Arabic version\u00a0<em>&#8220;Why did God give us the Bible?&#8221;\u00a0<\/em>It is considered as the shortest homily among the fifty homilies.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/page-edit.g?blogID=8256130792733312457&amp;pageID=7557968515570716106#_ftnref22\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">[22]<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0Homily 12 is titled in the Arabic version\u00a0<em>&#8220;The state of\u00a0Adam\u00a0before Falling and after&#8221;<\/em><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/page-edit.g?blogID=8256130792733312457&amp;pageID=7557968515570716106#_ftnref23\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">[23]<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0Homily 11 is titled in the Arabic version\u00a0<em>&#8220;The fire of the\u00a0Spirit-\u00a0Christ&#8217;s salvation for the soul&#8221;<\/em><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/page-edit.g?blogID=8256130792733312457&amp;pageID=7557968515570716106#_ftnref24\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">[24]<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0Douglas\u00a0Burton-\u00a0Christie,\u00a0<em>The Word in the Desert<\/em>\u00a0(New York, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1993), 231- 233<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/page-edit.g?blogID=8256130792733312457&amp;pageID=7557968515570716106#_ftnref25\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">[25]<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0Tim\u00a0Vivian, 143<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/page-edit.g?blogID=8256130792733312457&amp;pageID=7557968515570716106#_ftnref26\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">[26]<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0Macarius 15-16 [<em>Historica<\/em><em>\u00a0Manachorum<\/em>21: 15-16;\u00a0<em>The lives of the Desert Fathers.<\/em>\u00a0Intro.\u00a0Benedicta\u00a0Ward, trans.\u00a0Norman\u00a0Russell\u00a0(London: Mow bray, 1980), quoted in\u00a0Douglas\u00a0Burton-\u00a0Christie, 232<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/page-edit.g?blogID=8256130792733312457&amp;pageID=7557968515570716106#_ftnref27\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">[27]<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0Matt\u00e1 al-Misk\u012bn,<em>\u00a0Coptic Monasticism<\/em>, 126- 129<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/page-edit.g?blogID=8256130792733312457&amp;pageID=7557968515570716106#_ftnref28\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">[28]<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0David\u00a0Teague.\u00a0\u201cSpiritual Warfare\u201d.\u00a0An article in the curriculum:\u00a0<em>&#8220;Christianity in the Middle East-3&#8221;<\/em>, Edited by Roger Rogahn.\u00a0ETSC (Cairo:2008)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/page-edit.g?blogID=8256130792733312457&amp;pageID=7557968515570716106#_ftnref29\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">[29]<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0Matt\u00e1 al-Misk\u012bn,<em>\u00a0Coptic Monasticism<\/em>, 94- 97<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/page-edit.g?blogID=8256130792733312457&amp;pageID=7557968515570716106#_ftnref30\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">[30]<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0Tim Vivian, 68<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/page-edit.g?blogID=8256130792733312457&amp;pageID=7557968515570716106#_ftnref31\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">[31]<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0Matt\u00e1 al-Misk\u012bn,<em>\u00a0Coptic Monasticism<\/em>, 63<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/page-edit.g?blogID=8256130792733312457&amp;pageID=7557968515570716106#_ftnref32\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">[32]<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0Tim\u00a0Vivian, 180<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/page-edit.g?blogID=8256130792733312457&amp;pageID=7557968515570716106#_ftnref33\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">[33]<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0Ibid, 168,182<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/page-edit.g?blogID=8256130792733312457&amp;pageID=7557968515570716106#_ftnref34\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">[34]<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0Matt\u00e1 al-Misk\u012bn,<em>\u00a0Coptic Monasticism,\u00a0<\/em>58<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/page-edit.g?blogID=8256130792733312457&amp;pageID=7557968515570716106#_ftnref35\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">[35]<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0From Wikipedia: the free encyclopedia.\u00a0Matthew\u00a0the poor\\Matta\u00a0El Meskeen\u00a0&#8211; Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia files\\Matta\u00a0El Meskeen\u00a0&#8211; Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.htm<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/page-edit.g?blogID=8256130792733312457&amp;pageID=7557968515570716106#_ftnref36\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">[36]<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0A city located 45 km north of\u00a0Cairo.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/page-edit.g?blogID=8256130792733312457&amp;pageID=7557968515570716106#_ftnref37\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">[37]<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0Sunday School Movement is considered as a highly influential reform movement in the Coptic Orthodox Church started by non-clergy in the 1930s.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/page-edit.g?blogID=8256130792733312457&amp;pageID=7557968515570716106#_ftnref38\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">[38]<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0Samuel\u00a0Rubenson,\u00a0<em>The influencing of the writings of\u00a0Matthew\u00a0the Poor<\/em>\u00a0(Wadi El-Natroun:\u00a0St.\u00a0Macarius&#8217; Monastery Press,2006)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/page-edit.g?blogID=8256130792733312457&amp;pageID=7557968515570716106#_ftnref39\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">[39]<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0Monks of St. Macarius&#8217; Monastery,\u00a0<em>Our Father\u00a0Matthew\u00a0the Poor: A detailed Biography<\/em>\u00a0(Wadi El-Natroun:\u00a0St.\u00a0Macarius&#8217; Monastery Press, 2008), 471- 480<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/page-edit.g?blogID=8256130792733312457&amp;pageID=7557968515570716106#_ftnref40\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">[40]<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0From Wikipedia, Ibid<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/page-edit.g?blogID=8256130792733312457&amp;pageID=7557968515570716106#_ftnref41\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">[41]<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0Monks of\u00a0St.\u00a0Macarius&#8217; Monastery, 397- 470<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/page-edit.g?blogID=8256130792733312457&amp;pageID=7557968515570716106#_ftnref42\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">[42]<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0Monks of St. Macarius&#8217; Monastery,\u00a0<em>The Orthodox Patristic roots for the writings of\u00a0Matthew\u00a0the Poor: Part one<\/em>\u00a0(Wadi El-Natroun:\u00a0St.\u00a0Macarius&#8217; Monastery Press,2003), 1-17<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/page-edit.g?blogID=8256130792733312457&amp;pageID=7557968515570716106#_ftnref43\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">[43]<\/a>\u00a0Matt\u00e1 al-Misk\u012bn,<em>\u00a0Repentance and Ascetic life in the Bible<\/em>\u00a0(Wadi El-Natroun:\u00a0St.\u00a0Macarius&#8217; Monastery Press,1982), 52<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/page-edit.g?blogID=8256130792733312457&amp;pageID=7557968515570716106#_ftnref44\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">[44]<\/a>\u00a0Ibid, 52- 72<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/page-edit.g?blogID=8256130792733312457&amp;pageID=7557968515570716106#_ftnref45\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">[45]<\/a>\u00a0Matt\u00e1 al-Misk\u012bn,\u00a0<em>The Divine vision for the Ecclesiastical feasts: The Holy Spirit, the living God<\/em>\u00a0(Wadi El-Natroun:\u00a0St.\u00a0Macarius&#8217; Monastery Press,1981), 211<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/page-edit.g?blogID=8256130792733312457&amp;pageID=7557968515570716106#_ftnref46\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">[46]<\/a>\u00a0Ibid, 293<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/page-edit.g?blogID=8256130792733312457&amp;pageID=7557968515570716106#_ftnref47\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">[47]<\/a>\u00a0Ibid, 304<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/page-edit.g?blogID=8256130792733312457&amp;pageID=7557968515570716106#_ftnref48\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">[48]<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0Matt\u00e1 al-Misk\u012bn,\u00a0<em>Orthodox Prayer Life: The Interior Way<\/em>\u00a0(Crestwood,\u00a0N.Y.:\u00a0St.\u00a0Vladimir&#8217;s Seminary Press, 2003),112<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/page-edit.g?blogID=8256130792733312457&amp;pageID=7557968515570716106#_ftnref49\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">[49]<\/a>\u00a0&#8220;Union\u00a0with God&#8221; is used in this section because it is used more than &#8220;Christian Perfection&#8221; in the writings of\u00a0Matthew\u00a0the Poor.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/page-edit.g?blogID=8256130792733312457&amp;pageID=7557968515570716106#_ftnref50\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">[50]<\/a>\u00a0Matt\u00e1 al-Misk\u012bn,<em>\u00a0With the Holy Spirit in our daily diligence: Synergy<\/em>\u00a0(Wadi El-Natroun:\u00a0St.\u00a0Macarius&#8217; Monastery Press,2004), 9<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/page-edit.g?blogID=8256130792733312457&amp;pageID=7557968515570716106#_ftnref51\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">[51]<\/a>\u00a0Matt\u00e1 al-Misk\u012bn,<em>\u00a0Repentance and Ascetic life in the Bible<\/em>, 8<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/page-edit.g?blogID=8256130792733312457&amp;pageID=7557968515570716106#_ftnref52\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">[52]<\/a>\u00a0Matt\u00e1 al-Misk\u012bn,\u00a0<em>Orthodox Prayer Life: The Interior Way,<\/em><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/page-edit.g?blogID=8256130792733312457&amp;pageID=7557968515570716106#_ftnref53\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">[53]<\/a>\u00a0Matt\u00e1 al-Misk\u012bn,<em>\u00a0Spiritual Epistle,<\/em>\u00a025\u00a0\u00a0<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/page-edit.g?blogID=8256130792733312457&amp;pageID=7557968515570716106#_ftnref54\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">[54]<\/a>\u00a0Ibid, 31<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/page-edit.g?blogID=8256130792733312457&amp;pageID=7557968515570716106#_ftnref55\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">[55]<\/a>\u00a0Monks of St. Macarius&#8217; Monastery,\u00a0<em>Our Father\u00a0Matthew\u00a0the Poor: A detailed Biography,<\/em>\u00a050<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/page-edit.g?blogID=8256130792733312457&amp;pageID=7557968515570716106#_ftnref56\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">[56]<\/a>\u00a0Ibid, 83, 84<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/page-edit.g?blogID=8256130792733312457&amp;pageID=7557968515570716106#_ftnref57\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">[57]<\/a>\u00a0Matt\u00e1 al-Misk\u012bn,<em>\u00a0Spiritual Epistle,<\/em>\u00a08<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/page-edit.g?blogID=8256130792733312457&amp;pageID=7557968515570716106#_ftnref58\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">[58]<\/a>\u00a0Ibid, 11<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/page-edit.g?blogID=8256130792733312457&amp;pageID=7557968515570716106#_ftnref59\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">[59]<\/a>\u00a0Ibid, 13<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/page-edit.g?blogID=8256130792733312457&amp;pageID=7557968515570716106#_ftnref60\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">[60]<\/a>\u00a0Monks of St. Macarius&#8217; Monastery,\u00a0<em>Our Father\u00a0Matthew\u00a0the Poor: A detailed Biography,<\/em>\u00a0244- 255<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/page-edit.g?blogID=8256130792733312457&amp;pageID=7557968515570716106#_ftnref61\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">[61]<\/a>\u00a0Monks of St. Macarius&#8217; Monastery,\u00a0<em>Our Father\u00a0Matthew\u00a0the Poor: A detailed Biography,<\/em>\u00a073<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/page-edit.g?blogID=8256130792733312457&amp;pageID=7557968515570716106#_ftnref62\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">[62]<\/a>\u00a0Ibid, 75<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/page-edit.g?blogID=8256130792733312457&amp;pageID=7557968515570716106#_ftnref63\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">[63]<\/a>\u00a0Matt\u00e1 al-Misk\u012bn,\u00a0<em>The Divine vision for the Ecclesiastical feasts: The Holy Spirit, the living God<\/em>\u00a0, 300<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/page-edit.g?blogID=8256130792733312457&amp;pageID=7557968515570716106#_ftnref64\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">[64]<\/a>\u00a0Monks of St. Macarius&#8217; Monastery,\u00a0<em>Our Father\u00a0Matthew\u00a0the Poor: A detailed Biography<\/em>, 118, 119<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/page-edit.g?blogID=8256130792733312457&amp;pageID=7557968515570716106#_ftnref65\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">[65]<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0Ibid, 269- 273<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/page-edit.g?blogID=8256130792733312457&amp;pageID=7557968515570716106#_ftnref66\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">[66]<\/a>\u00a0Tim\u00a0Vivian, 180,181, 188<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/page-edit.g?blogID=8256130792733312457&amp;pageID=7557968515570716106#_ftnref67\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">[67]<\/a>\u00a0Ibid, 209<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/page-edit.g?blogID=8256130792733312457&amp;pageID=7557968515570716106#_ftnref68\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">[68]<\/a>\u00a0Ibid, 396<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/page-edit.g?blogID=8256130792733312457&amp;pageID=7557968515570716106#_ftnref69\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">[69]<\/a>\u00a0Matt\u00e1 al-Misk\u012bn,<em>\u00a0Coptic Monasticism<\/em>, 94- 97, also:\u00a0Tim\u00a0Vivian, 173, 178, 182, 186<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/page-edit.g?blogID=8256130792733312457&amp;pageID=7557968515570716106#_ftnref70\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">[70]<\/a>\u00a0Ibid, 29<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/page-edit.g?blogID=8256130792733312457&amp;pageID=7557968515570716106#_ftnref71\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">[71]<\/a>\u00a0Monks of St. Macarius&#8217; Monastery,\u00a0<em>Our Father\u00a0Matthew\u00a0the Poor: A detailed Biography<\/em>, 310<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/page-edit.g?blogID=8256130792733312457&amp;pageID=7557968515570716106#_ftnref72\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">[72]<\/a>\u00a0Ibid, 105<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/page-edit.g?blogID=8256130792733312457&amp;pageID=7557968515570716106#_ftnref73\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">[73]<\/a>\u00a0Matt\u00e1 al-Misk\u012bn,<em>\u00a0Spiritual Epistle,<\/em>\u00a08<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/page-edit.g?blogID=8256130792733312457&amp;pageID=7557968515570716106#_ftnref74\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">[74]<\/a>\u00a0Ibid, 11, 12<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/page-edit.g?blogID=8256130792733312457&amp;pageID=7557968515570716106#_ftnref75\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">[75]<\/a>\u00a0Ibid, 21<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/page-edit.g?blogID=8256130792733312457&amp;pageID=7557968515570716106#_ftnref76\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">[76]<\/a>\u00a0Matt\u00e1 al-Misk\u012bn,<em>\u00a0Coptic Monasticism<\/em>, 83- 85\u00a0\u00a0<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/page-edit.g?blogID=8256130792733312457&amp;pageID=7557968515570716106#_ftnref77\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">[77]<\/a>\u00a0Monks of St. Macarius&#8217; Monastery,\u00a0<em>Our Father\u00a0Matthew\u00a0the Poor: A detailed Biography<\/em>, 244- 255<\/li>\n<\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Table of Contents Introduction: The Spirit Himself bears witness for us with groanings which can not be uttered that we are a living part from a living history. Matta El Meskeen \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 In one of his classical epistles to his disciples, Father Matthew the Poor wrote these words which reflect a very [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1696,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"default","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"default","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[13,10],"tags":[21,20,15,19],"class_list":["post-1694","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-patristic-historical-studies","category-theological-studies","tag-church-fathers","tag-monasticism","tag-theological-studies","tag-theological-patristic-historical"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/heavenuponearth.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1694","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/heavenuponearth.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/heavenuponearth.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/heavenuponearth.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/heavenuponearth.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1694"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/heavenuponearth.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1694\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1926,"href":"https:\/\/heavenuponearth.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1694\/revisions\/1926"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/heavenuponearth.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/1696"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/heavenuponearth.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1694"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/heavenuponearth.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1694"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/heavenuponearth.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1694"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}