The Myrrh-Pouring Patriarch

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Keraza Magazine issue 41-42 October 25, 2013

Attempting to talk about this great saint, Pope Cyril VI, comes with great difficulty; our words dim before the luster of this great blessed saint, radiant as the sun in the kingdom of his Father. Yet we dare, with the affection of children, to approach this vessel of glory, to describe God’s work in him and through him.

This saint...

Poured out the myrrh of his life at the feet of His Savior, ignoring the attacks of observers: "Why this waste?" and so he personally became the fragrance of Christ.
He clung to God in constant prayer, and so God was present with him at all times.
He fell to the ground and died as a grain of wheat, and so his self-entombing brought forth much fruit.
He detached, leaving everything behind, and so he gained God who is all in all.
He forsook all honors, fleeing them as from a serpent, and so they ran after him and dressed him in glory.
He was a disciple to, and guided by, the Holy Spirit, and so the Holy Spirit made him a guide in the church, mentoring generations.
He maintained the fear of God all the days of his life, and so God made all diabolic powers fear him.
He was cautious to partake of the Eucharistic Mysteries every day, and so he was invited to the Lamb’s wedding feast forever.
He did not neglect the Midnight Praises for one day, and so he became the praise of many.
He was faithful in keeping his three vows of monasticism, even after he became patriarch, and so God was faithful in His promises to him.
He did not withdraw from his congregation, being always available to them, and so heaven with all its angels and saints did not withdraw from him.
He did not command authority from the congregation, but cared for his people with a father’s heart, and so God submitted kings and rulers to him.
He disciplined the insubordinate in the spirit of meekness, and so he caught them in the net of repentance, gaining them for the kingdom.
He did not listen to the talebearers and would not accept an accusation against anyone without investigation and scrutiny, and so the adversary did not find any accusation to hold against him before the Judge.
He did not act as the Groom, but as the friend of the Bridegroom, an entrusted steward of the church, and so God made him a pillar in His sanctuary.
He understood that the Good Shepherd is Jesus Christ alone, handing to Him the church at the moment of his departure, and so God responded by succeeding him with shepherds according to His heart, who shepherded the people with knowledge and wisdom.

Oh, that you, our saintly father, would pray on our behalf in your paternal compassion, so that the Holy Spirit would give us of this same outpouring of which you took, until Christ is formed in our hearts through faith, always fulfilling God the Father’s will in us from now and forevermore. Amen.

Bishop Youssef
Bishop, Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Southern United States