One year ago, Bishop Kyrillos faced a problem with the church due to events in
his Bishopric. Bishop Kyrillos narrates these events and says that a year ago a girl sought protection from her family
from the monastery in Naj‘ Ḥammādī. However, the family of the girl attacked the clergyman of
Mar Girgis Church, and asked for their daughter to be returned to them. Bishop Kyrillos reported these events to the
police. He added that he faced another problem with one of the clergymen when he inquired about his wealth. As a
result, some clergymen traveled to Cairo to file a complaint with Pope Shenouda against Bishop Kyrillos.
Pope
Shenouda could end all these conflicts and problems by requesting that Bishop Kyrillos and the clergymen involved meet
in order to solve all their problems. Moreover, Bishop Kyrillos faced another complaint filed last January by Dr
Rushdī Wāṣif, who wanted to write a book about Bishop Badaba and asked for Bishop Kyrillos’ help. He
accused Bishop Kyrillos of stealing his book [Editor: apparently an accusation of a copyright violation] to present a
film on Bishop Badābā. Pope Shenouda could have also resolved this problem by ordering Bishop Kyrillos
to return to his position as the head of Naj‘ Ḥammādī’s Bishopric. The bishop expressed his
gratitude to Pope Shenouda and the people of Naj‘ Ḥammādī, Muslim as well as Copts, for their
celebration of his return.
Some figures in Naj‘ Ḥammādī expressed their love and
respect of Bishop Kyrillos, such as Fatḥī Fakhrī, a member of the People’s Assembly, and Muhammad Ahmad
al-Saghīr, the general manager of housing in Qinā, who asserted that Bishop Kyrillos succeeded in ending
all conflict between Muslims and Copts in Naj‘ Ḥammādī. In addition, he used to treat all
people with love and respect. On the other hand some clergymen, such as Bishop Samuel Kāmil and Father Lūqā Hilāl, expressed their respect of Bishop Kyrillos who is accredited with many great achievements in
Naj‘ Ḥammādī. He was known for encouraging Copts to participate in the political and social
life in Egypt.
العربية