The Coptic Church is known for its myriads of saints and martyrs; however, rarely are we presented with an account of the life and times of our beloved saints that go beyond the bounds of mere hagiography. A Silent Patriarch: Life and Legacy by Daniel Fanous provides insight into the inner person of a highly esteemed and revered saint, Pope Kyrillos VI, leaving you with a truly deeper appreciation for a saint you once thought you knew. Fanous has spent over three years interviewing those close to the Pope, diving into archival records, uncovering never-before-seen documents, and fact checking sources to leave us with a true magnum opus.
Readers who are familiar with Pope Kyrillos IV are accustomed to the dozens upon dozens of small books recording miracles done by him both during his lifetime and following his death. These books, though important to account for his impact in the lives of those in the community, are generally poorly translated and difficult to connect with. For a generation of conscientious— and slightly skeptical—youth, these books have likely been met with faithful acceptance at best and inner skepticism at worst. A Silent Patriarch frames Pope Kyrillos in an approachable and studied manner. The book is incredibly well-written and provides a detailed picture of the spiritual, political, societal and personal circumstances that came together to form the person and life of Pope Kyrillos. Moreover, the author weaves in the method of Pope Kyrillos’ powerful reform and reinvigoration of the Church throughout the book, making this the true centerpiece of the work. For example, when speaking of the beginnings of his reform the author notes “In that unassuming church [St. Mena’s Monastery in Old Cairo], Fr. Mina modeled a rare and radical monastic ideal, an ascetic lifestyle that was just as radically open to the intellectual aspirations of the present age. He was, in the words of Shenouda III, ‘an intermediary between the old generation and the new’, exemplifying the reconciliation between a progressive laity and conservative clergy.”
Lest you think the book is strictly about Pope Kyrillos’ personhood, the author provides separate sections for those individuals who would soon become major reformers of the church in their own right. Again, the author here is not solely concerned with the historical accounts but rather Pope Kyrillos’ unique relationship with and impact on each of these individuals. Although other sources may differ with the author regarding the nature of their relationship with Pope Kyrillos, Pope Shenouda III, Fr. Matta El Miskeen, Bishop Samuel and Fr. Salib Suryal, all pillars of the Sunday School movement, benefitted from his “transformative ascesis” and built upon his legacy.
Personally, seeking to be enlightened on Coptic Church history, I rather grew more inspired by Pope Kyrillos’ prayer life and spiritual disciplines. His simplicity and dedication to Christ moved me in the deepest parts as I began to yearn to see what he saw, know what he knew, and understand what he lived daily. I suppose that this is precisely the crux of it; his deep and silent dedication to Christ spoke volumes. Countless paragraphs could not sufficiently cover all the dynamic aspects of Pope Kyrillos’ life and impact on the Church from priesthood to papacy. Even decades after passing, not only his papacy, but his personal ascesis continues to affect our community in ways which we remain unaware of.
Note about our book review pieces:
This month’s book review was written by Sara Salama. These books are meant to be a good entry point to learn more about the Copts. Our goal is to highlight books that are easily accessible, easy to read, and that shine a light on the Copts and their issues. If you would like to contribute, please contact us at copticvoiceus@gmail.com.
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