Foreword to The Invaluable Treasure (1970)
Source: Habib Girgis, The Invaluable Treasure: A Summary of the Bible and Sacred History, vol. 1 (1923).
This papal letter was printed on the opening pages of the first edition of Archdeacon Habib Girgis’ book The Invaluable Treasure: A Summary of the Bible and Sacred History. In 1923, the aged Pope was already 99 years old.
Blessed Orthodox son Habib effendi Girgis, Dean of the Coptic Theological Seminary and Preacher of the Cathedral of St Mark. May God Most High bless you with His heavenly blessing, amen.
My son, after granting you the apostolic blessings and bestowing upon you a good and beneficent invocation by the grace of our Lord, God and Saviour Jesus Christ, may you be in possession of full health and perfect welfare.
This book of yours, The Invaluable Treasure: An Abridgement of the Holy Bible and Sacred History which you have laboured to produce for the benefit of our children the school students, was read out to me,[1]tallā ‘alā musāmi‘nā. This is perhaps an indication that the 99 year old patriarch’s eyesight was failing. and it perfectly delighted and pleased me with its simple style. I was very well-pleased by its arrangement and the body of the text; especially the teachings and interpretive spiritual applications leading to the refinement of the soul, and to that for which we have been very concerned: the education of our children the school students, and their instruction in the principles of religion, Orthodox doctrine and pious virtues.[2]Educating young Copts had become a major priority for Kyrillos in the later years of his patriarchate. See his Pastoral Letter of 1907, and also Bishop Suriel, Habib Girgis (2017), 56, 62–63.
It seems good to us to decree that the aforementioned book of yours be taught in all our Coptic schools, and to publish this letter of blessing for you, announcing and declaring thereby our pleasure at your work and our blessing upon it. It seems good to us also that you should be encouraged more and more towards the production of profitable books for the refinement of our children and their advancement and growth in virtues and good morals.
We ask God Most High to fill you with grace and bless you with all spiritual blessings, and crown all your service with success to the glory of His holy name. And to His Majesty be thanks unto ages of ages, Amen.
21 Amshir 1639
27 February 1923
Kyrillos V
Patriarch of the See of St Mark
— i —
Notes:
| ↑1 | tallā ‘alā musāmi‘nā. This is perhaps an indication that the 99 year old patriarch’s eyesight was failing. |
|---|---|
| ↑2 | Educating young Copts had become a major priority for Kyrillos in the later years of his patriarchate. See his Pastoral Letter of 1907, and also Bishop Suriel, Habib Girgis (2017), 56, 62–63. |
How to cite this text (Chicago/Turabian):
Kyrillos V, Kyrillos V to Habib Girgis, 27 February 1923, in Habib Girgis, al-Kanz al-ānfas fī mulakhkhaṣ al-kitāb wa-l-tārīkh al-muqaddas, vol. 1, i. Cairo, 1923. Translated by Samuel Kaldas. In Archive of Contemporary Coptic Orthodox Theology. Sydney, NSW: St Cyril’s Coptic Orthodox Theological College. https://accot.stcyrils.edu.au//.
(For more information, see Citation Guidelines)
Related: