Arab West Report Egyptian press summaries and media research for dialogue

 

Recently, the Holy Synod of the Coptic Orthodox Church banned a book entitled ‘al-‘Azrā’ Ummi’ [The Virgin, my Mother] written by a young monk, Tīmūn al-Syriānī, and revised by Bishop Mattā’us, abbot of Virgin Mary Monastery [al-Syriān] in Wādī al-Natrūn. In the book’s introduction, Bishop Mattā’us applauds the book and its writer and states that the book is full of sublime emotional feelings towards the Virgin Mary. However, the Holy Synod banned the book because it uses shocking and weird expressions, which do not convey accurate theological teachings. The book is not the first to be banned after the revision and introduction by a bishop. Here, the author refers to some other banned books and stresses the fact that the theological knowledge of bishops is not as profound as it should be.

 

In the first chapter of the book, the author gives a detailed sketch of Mary’s childhood and early life, focusing on some fundamental doctrines of the Orthodox Church, such as the continuation of Mary’s virginity after the birth of Christ. Using an unfamiliar expression when talking about St. John the Evangelist, “Son of Mary by adoption according to the Lord’s order,” provoked a great controversy, especially when the Catholic Church rejected the expression as well. Father Rafīq Jirīsh, head of the press office in the Catholic Church, rejects the expression and states that John was not a minor for adoption. The second chapter consists of meditations on the major events in Mary’s life, while the third chapter introduces the honor of the Virgin Mary in both Old and New Testaments and Church history. One of the controversial topics in the book is the relation between the Virgin Mary and the Holy Spirit, as well as the similarities between her and the priests. Unconventionally, the book ends with a presentation of the Virgin Mary in Catholic and Evangelical doctrines.

 

In light of the usual secrecy of the Church concerning the real reasons behind the banning, the author states that he tried his best to uncover the reality of the ban. He deductively adds to the list of reasons the possibility that the book was banned because its reference list includes titles of banned books by the late Bishop Gregorius and the late Father Mattá al-Miskīn, in addition to titles of non-Orthodox books which are totally rejected by the Church.