History of Saint Takla Himanout's Church

Ibrahimia, Alexandria,
Egypt
 

St-Takla.org Image: St. Takla Haymanot Coptic Orthodox Church, Ibrahimia, Alexandria, Egypt. صورة: كنيسة قبطية أرثوذكسية : كنيسة القديس تكلاهيمانوت القبطية الأرثوذكسية، الإبراهيمية، الإسكندرية، مصر.

 

* "This is none other but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven". (Ge 28:17)

* Father Bishoy Kamel longed that a church be built in "El-Ibrahimia", because this area was served by people from St. George Church (Sporting).

* The place where the church is now, was a villa with a garden and a garage, and was owned by three brothers (one of whom died in an accident, his name was Takla). After the accident, one of the brothers dreamt of his brother asking him to give his share of the place to the church. Then he went to Father Bishoy telling him about the dream, who in turn came to see the place (about 20x14).

* The matter has been proceeded to Pope Kirellos the Sixth, who agreed that a church be built in that place by the name of "Saint Takla Hemanout". And he agreed too on praying the 1st mass that will be held in the remembrance of Archangel Michael (the patron of Saint Takla and his family).

* "For now have I chosen and sanctified this house, that my name may be there forever: and mine eyes and mine heart shall be there perpetually". (2Ch 7:16)

* Few arrangements were made, and Bishop Athnasious, of Bani-Sweif started the prayers in Thursday, 19 June 1969 (18 Baona 1685M.). Father Timothawos El-Maharaay (the vicar of the Patriarchate at that time) shared in the prayer too, with Father Bishoy Kamel, and Father Tadrous Yaakoob, Father Louca Sidaroos (from Saint George Church), and Father Felimon (Saint Mina, Fleming). Also El-Moalem Naeem, and some deacons and servants from Saint George Church, and some people…

* "Enlarge the place of thy tent, and let them stretch forth the curtains of thine habitations: spare not, lengthen thy cords, and strengthen thy stakes; For thou shalt break forth on the right hand and on the left". (IS 54:2-3)

* Every Wednesday prayers and masses were held in the "building", and El-mekades "Youssef Habeeb" who exerted great effort on teaching and forming the first deacons of the church, and making them learn the liturgy of our Coptic Church, for all occasions. He was also a scholar who wrote several books, and he had a great deal in helping and bringing part of Saint Takla's body to the church.

    And this went as follows:
 Father Bishoy wanted to enlarge the church, instead of that small place, so they used the garden to build it in (34x25m.). They started praying in it at the time of the late Monk Mina Ava-Mina (the vicar of the Patriarchate at that time, who was later the Bishop and head of Saint Mina's Monastery in Mariout).

* Later the baptistery was built.

* The late Bishop Maximous, of Kalioubia, who loved the church and used to come many times to pray and visit, was asked to "bless" the baptistery, so he promised to do so.

* Bishop Maximous visited Pope Kirellos to take the permission from him, and the Pope agreed. (that was on a Tuesday, exactly a week before Pope Kirellos passed away).

* After 4 months, Bishop Maximous did what he was asked to do.. And every week a Bishop used to come to the church.. and that was something noticed by everybody..

* "Behold, I build a house to the name of the Lord my God, to dedicate it to him, and to burn before him sweet incense". (2Ch 2:4)

* At these times, efforts were made to build  upper stairs to the church.. and that was made on Saturday, 17 January 1987 (8 Touba 1704), by the blessing of His Holiness Pope Shenouda III, who "blessed" the church.

* The great artist "Izac Fanous" drew all the pictures and icons of the church..

* God interfered many times to save his church from many problems..  which at that time was at its beginning, and the "Abou Talat Retreat House" was being built. The income of the church increased in a strange way..
    There was another problem concerning the foundations of the church, and threatened of stopping the prayers until somthing was done.. but God helped with an alternative..

* The church was in no financial problems, in spite of the increasing need of money.. but whenever the church was close to something like that.. God offers money through his people in a miraculous way…

* As usual the devil never stopped fighting the church… but our Lord is always stronger.

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