Abuna Suriyel al-Urshalimi R.I.P.

One of most beautiful gifts of our inter-faith activity is with no doubt our friendship with the monks from the Coptic-orthodox monastery of Jerusalem. This relationship started a few years ago, when our Jewish friends from Kehillat Zion put us in contact in order to organize an inter-religious prayer. This way we got to know Abouna Suriyel and Abouna Markos who were fresh arrived from the Emirates, coming to join the Jerusalem monastery (from which they get their new family name). Over the years our friendship developed and deepened more and more, and we discovered that a common faith unites us together with fraternal feelings. They came to both my ordinations, came to visit me at the hospital when I was sick, and very gladly appreciated the visits to the monasteries of Dir Rafat and Bet Jamal. They were always ready and active when there was need for a prayer or a hymn to sing, and participated in all things with great humility.

Abouna Suriyel passed away on Thursday June 10^th, during the Vespers of the Ascension of the Lord, according to the Orthodox calendar. He just finished reciting the last words of the Credo: “…in the resurrection of the body and eternal life”, collapsed and his heart stopped beating. He celebrated the feast with the Lord whom he so much loved.

We will always remember you, abouna Suriyel, your shiny eyes, your humility and your sense of humor. And you, please: don’t forget us in your prayers. See you soon!