Aloysius Posted September 23, 2013 Share Posted September 23, 2013 On Saturday night I met a real desert hermit in the cave of St. Anthony in the Western Desert of Egypt not far from the Red Sea. His name is Fr. Lazarus el Antony, and he is an Australian who was once an Atheist professor. It was amazing to meet him, like traveling back in time to meet the desert fathers. I waited outside the cave of St. Anthony up on the mountain while he prayed mass inside with some of the monks that had come up to visit him and bring him some bread... it was nighttime, but the moon was full and it was bright, though it was just behind the mountain so I could see some stars. I followed along with the Mass in my Coptic/Arabic/English booklet (thanks Light and Truth for helping me get that!) as the prayers echoed from the small cave inside. It was about 2am when the other monks came outside and told me I could go in to meet him. He told me of some of the visions he has had of Mary and of St. Anthony, and how once when he slipped and almost fell over a cliff he felt the arms of Mary around him, catching him. He also told me about his pet mouse, Abuna Far (Father Mouse) :) [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XmSm120gFlQ[/media] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rkwright Posted September 23, 2013 Share Posted September 23, 2013 WHOA. Very cool Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhuturePriest Posted September 23, 2013 Share Posted September 23, 2013 Is he Coptic Catholic or Coptic Orthodox? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Apotheoun Posted September 23, 2013 Share Posted September 23, 2013 Is he Coptic Catholic or Coptic Orthodox? He I believe he is Coptic Orthodox. There are not really that many Coptic Catholics. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhuturePriest Posted September 23, 2013 Share Posted September 23, 2013 He I believe he is Coptic Orthodox. There are not really that many Coptic Catholics. Coptic Catholics have insanely awesome traditions. I believe their Easter Vigil Mass lasts a minimum of twelve hours, right? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Apotheoun Posted September 23, 2013 Share Posted September 23, 2013 Coptic Catholics have insanely amesome traditions. I believe their Easter Vigil Mass lasts a minimum of twelve hours, right? I do not really know that much about the Coptic Catholic Church, but I believe it became heavily Latinized at the end of the 19th century. As far as the Coptic Orthodox Church is concerned, yes, it does have very beautiful liturgy. The Oriental Orthodox and the Eastern Orthodox have a lot in common (although their approach to liturgy is different, it is not vastly so), but they are divided over the Christological questions discussed at the Council of Chalcedon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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