How Mary protected the Coptic Church through the faith of Saint Samaan (II)

Saint Samaan, a one-eyed tanner and shoemaker, lived in old Cairo at the end of the 10th century. Of modest appearance, hard-working and pure of heart, he was the one chosen by God to perform a great miracle - the removal of the hill of Mokattam in Egypt - and thus save his Church and lift high the cross of Christ. He would have remained unknown to all but God had not something happened to make him the instrument of His will.

In those days, the governor Al-Mu'iz Li-Din Illah was a keen literary debater who took a great interest in religious controversy. He used to regularly gather religious leaders from the Muslim, Christian and Jewish communities to debate in his presence. A member of Al-Mu'iz's entourage provoked a controversy between representatives of the Christian and Jewish communities for personal reasons. On this occasion, it was suggested to the Caliph that he should test the Christians on a verse from the Gospel of Saint Matthew (17:20) "Verily I say unto you, if ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye would say to this mountain, remove thyself from hence, and it would remove itself; and nothing would be impossible unto you."

Caliph Al-Mu'iz summoned Amba Abram, the religious leader of the Christians, and told him to prove that Christ's words were true and that the Christian religion was right by moving the Mokattam hill to the east, which would allow the new city of Cairo to expand. In the event of refusal or inability to achieve this feat, the Christian community would have to choose one of the following alternatives: convert to Islam or leave Egypt.

The dismayed patriarch asked and obtained from the caliph a delay of three days before giving his answer. He prayed to God to inspire him, and called on the Coptic people and the whole Church of Egypt to fast with him for three days, from sunrise to sunset, and to pray fervently to avert the ordeal. At dawn on the third day, the Virgin Mary appeared to Amba Abram in a dream and said:

"Do not be afraid, faithful shepherd, ...the tears you have shed in this church, the fasts and prayers you and your people have offered will not have been in vain. Rise and go to the iron gate that leads to the marketplace. There you will find a one-eyed man carrying a jar of water. It is through him that the miracle will take place." This man was the one-eyed tanner from old Cairo whom popular piety canonized as Saint Samaan.

From The Biography of Saint Samaan the Shoemaker published by Saint Samaan Church, Mokattam, Cairo 

Excerpt from an article by Mohamed Salmawy published in AL-AHRAM Hebdo 

Week of March 8-14, 2000