MOR Michael Rabo (St. Michael The Great)

{1126-1166-1199}

As the twelfth century AD approached, Syria and upper and lower Mesopotamia, it found them in an unenviable state of misery, the Frank occupiers were ravaging the region in its entirety, killing, robbing and bringing destruction everywhere. They were establishing mini states that battled each other. One would not hear but news of turmoil, wars and fighting The Syrian Orthodox Church was an indivisible part of that corrupt and unstable society. As a result, the faith of some of the faithful weakened, their hearts became troubled and their thoughts were in a state of confusion. A large number of them lost hope in salvation because of the severity of distresses and the vicissitudes of political, social as well as ecclesiastical situations.

During that period of time, Mor Michael the Great was born, in 1126 AD, in Melitine (Malatya, Turkey), one of the famous Archdioceses of the Syrian Orthodox Apostolic See of Antioch. This was during the reign of Patriarch Mor Athnasius VII Abi AlFaraj son of Mamoor {1091-1129 AD}. Patriarch Athansius was said to be perfect in all virtues and a great scholar. Because of his love of knowledge and virtues and a great scholar. Because of his love of knowledge and virtue, he ordained the great scholar Malphan Said Ibn Al Sabouni as Metropolitan of Melitine {Malatya, Turkey}, who fell martyr in the hands of Gabriel, the unjust and brutal Byzantine ruler of Melitine. The latter fastened on him a political accusation of which he was as innocent as wolf of the blood of son of Jacob, Patriarch Athanasius himself suffered severe hardships in the administration of the Church from inside and outside.

The young Michael was raised in a Syrian home from which the sweet fragrance of Christ emanated. His father, Elia of Melitine, was a virtuous godly priest. He was a descendent of the Qandasi family that produced many servants to the Church. Among them were: Atanasius Zakka, Metropolitan of Ayn Zarba {+1166} and Patriarch Michael the Great's uncle, Mapheryono {Catholicos} Gregorios Yacoub; and Patriarch Michael II, known as Junior, who was Mor Michael the Great's nephew, that is Yeshou the Sephtono.

The young Michael became a monk at Mor Barsaumo's Monastery near Melitine. He was ordained a priest and appointed Abbot to the said Monastery. During his term he had water conveyed to the Monastery. When the Patriarchal See became vacant following the death of Patriarch Athansius VIII, the holy Syrian Orthodox Synod of Antioch, consisting of eighteen Metropolitans, convened in the Monastery of Fesqeen, near Gargar on Pentecost Day. With the guidance of the Holy Spirit, the Synod elected unanimously Raban Michael to become the Patriarch of the Apostolic See of Antioch. When Raban Michael learned about this, he fled and disappeared as he thought he was unworthy for this exalted position. When they found him, he did not consent until they promised him to abide by the ecclesiastical Canon. Mor Dionysius Yacoub Bar Saliba, Metropolitan of Amid {+1171} and one of the Holy Synod's members helped him to perform that duty. On Tuesday October 18, 1166, he was consecrated as Patriarch at Mor Barsaumo's Monastery with the laying on of hands of the Mapheryono {The Catholicos} together with twelve Bishops. The new Patriarch passed thirty-one laws in the Hananya Monastery.

Among the most glorious pastoral works of Patriarch Mor Michael the Great was the moving of the headquarters of the Patriarchal See of Antioch from Amid to Mor Hanania Monastery known as "Zafaran". On the day of his arrival to this Monastery and celebration of his enthronement on the Patriarchal Seat in this new headquarters of his, Metropolitan Mor Dionysius Yacoub Bar Salibi delivered a fascinating speech that began with "My beloved, today is the day of joy and delight". In his invaluable speech he enumerated the praiseworthy traits of Patriarch Michael.

 Patriarch Michael paid Apostolic visits to his Archdioceses that were widespread in that period of time. In 1188, he headed for Jerusalem and stayed at the Mary the Magdalene Monastery near tile Gate of the Pillar. There he consecrated Holy Chrism {Holy Mooroon} and ordained in Easter John {Yohanna} as Metropolitan for Damascus. He then returned to the headquarters or his Apostolic See at the Monastery of Hananya. There he passed a group of ecclesiastical canons, as reported by the great scholar Mapheryono {Catholicos} Mor Gregorios Bar Hebraeus. He held a Synod meeting in 1169 at Mor Barsaumo Monastery. In the following year, Emperor Manuel dispatched a messenger named Theoryanos to the Syrians and Armenians. Patriarch Mor Michael answered him through John, Bishop of Khayshoom, and the monk Theodoros Bar Wahboon.

In 1180 AD, Mor Michael held a Synod meeting where Theodoros Bar Wahboon of Melitine was excommunicated. Although he was a great scholar, Theodoros was arrogant and devoid of godliness and fear of God. He rebelled against his superior. He was ordained as alien Patriarch by four castaway bishops. Although he was a disciple of Patriarch Michael the Great and was educated in his Patriarchal house, he denied his favor, and so ended up excommunicated and dislodged. He died in 1193.

Mor Michael wrote a book that dealt with ranks of priesthood, Church Liturgy, preparation for taking Holy Qoorbono {Holy Communion}, duties of man, how to be disciple of Jesus, and the need for confession and repentance - The greatest of his works, however, is the general ecclesiastical and secular Chronicle that starts from creation until the year 1193 AD. A unique manuscript of this great work is kept until this day in the bookcase of St. George's church in the Syrian Quarter, Aleppo.

Following his consecration, and according to the ancient custom followed by the two Churches, the Syrian and the Coptic, he sent the letter of fellowship to the Patriarch of Alexandra at the time, Pope Yohanna, I, Ibn Abi Ghalib, known as Aba Al-Majd, in which he included his confession of faith. He authored another letter to his successor the Alexandrine Pope Mark III, Ibn Zar'ah on the Sacrament of Confession. The heretic Mark Ibn Qanbar the blind had rejected this Sacrament throwing confusion into the minds of the children of the sister Coptic Church for a long time by his false teaching. In doing so, he had renewed the heresy of the followers of Origen and the Messalians. Patriarch Mor Michael the Great refuted his weak thoughts and false teachings proving the necessity of practicing the Holy sacrament of Confession. Likewise, he obligated the excommunication of the heretic "Ibn" and his abhorrent heresy "Qanbar" - Patriarch Michael ordained one Mapheryono {Catholicos} and fifty-four bishops. He departed to the heavenly chambers on Monday November 7, 1999, at the age of seventy-three, thirty-three out of which he spent as Patriarch. He was buried in the new church at Mor Barsaumo Monastery in the tomb that he had prepared for himself.

Yea, the life of the commemorated Patriarch Mor Michael the Great, was one of righteousness and holiness He led a life of good confessors persecuted for the sake of righteousness following the example of most of the Patriarchs and some of the bishops of our Holy Church. He likewise was an honorable scholar and renown researcher. Patriarch Aphrem Barsoum describes him as "one of the greatest pontiffs of the church of God, the finest of Patriarchs of Antioch, the scholar, the famous historian {Chronicler} of everlasting name, graceful pursuit, praised courses, widely known virtues, and good deeds". He converses with him saying: "Is it not right for the general history of the world to perpetuate your honorable name after you have written those volumes that are full of the events of the ages from their inception until your happy reign, for you have brought to life what was, had it not been for you, totally forgotten? Yea, it is befitting to do so for the world in general and for your nation in particular. Your greatness is manifested not only in this, but in the fact that you were magnificent in your virtues, endurance and self-esteem. You were great in your Patriarchal works; It is no wonder that history discribes you as "The Great".

DEAR BELOVED:

On the occasion of the 800^th anniversary of the demise of Patriarch St. Mor Michael the Great to the heavenly chambers, we command, by our Apostolic authority, that our holy Church in the whole world celebrate this commemoration on the 7^th of November of this year, 1999, which we consider Patriarch Michael the Great's year. We further command that the celebration of this happy occasion be launched by Divine Liturgy which we, too, will celebrate, God willing, at St. Ephrem's Monastery in Ma'arrat Saydnaya. Their Eminence the Metropolitans of the Syrian Orthodox Church and her priests will celebrate the Divine Liturgy all over the world on the same day, which should be dedicated for worshipping God and soliciting the prayer of St. Michael the Great. The preachers are to speak about the biography of the honorable commemorated in their sermons. The Apostolic Bull of ours is to be read once again for our faithful, after it has been read for the first time on Sunday May 23, this year. We also command that the clergy and people come forward for canonical confession offering to God true repentance and partake of the Holy Communion with faith, godliness and fear of God so that they may have the blessing of the Lord, for "the memory of the righteous is blessed" {Proverbs 10:7}, as the author of proverbs says. Let honorary celebrations, scholarly seminars, and symposia be held on his pure and godly life. And his precious works. In the forefront of this is the Symposium of the scholars and orientalists that was scheduled to convene in Aleppo, but now has been moved to our Theological seminary at St. Ephrem's Monastery in Saydnaya between October 1 - 8, 1999. We have appointed H.E. Archbishop Mor Gregorios Youhanna Ibrahim as the moderator of that meeting.

DEARLY BELOVED:

When we reflect on the biography of Patriarch St. Michael the Great and the secular and religious events that were contemporaneous to the stages of his life, from his birth until his departure to the heavenly chambers in the twelfth century AD, we find that our Syrian Orthodox Church in that crucial time of her history was like the boat that the Lord Jesus took, as narrated in the Holy Gospel, to cross to the other side. His disciples were with Him. A great windstorm arose and waves beat into the boat so that it was already filling. He was in the stem, asleep on a pillow, And they awoke Him and said to Him "Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?" Then He rose and rebuked the wind, and said to the see, "Peace, be still!" And the wind ceased and there was a great calm. He said to them, "Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?" And they feared exceedingly, and said to one another, "who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey him!" {Mark 4:35-41}.

Yes, lack of faith in difficult circumstances such as these leads to fear and terror. However, true believers in Jesus Christ our Lord, who place their confidence in His Divine capability and His divine providence do not become frightened and their hearts do not become troubled no matter what happens in the universe since Christ has promised them to be with them even to the end of age. They ought to remain in faith in Him for He is the Almighty God. They never become frightened and their hearts never become troubled {John 14:1} so long as Christ is with them in His Church. No matter how grave the distress and the presentations waged against the Church of Christ are, she remains steadfast and will never be shaken for God is in her midst {Psalm 46:5}. When the Lord Christ founded her on the rock of faith that heavens proclaimed through the head of the Apostles, Peter, He promised her saying, "and the gates of Hads shall not prevail against it" {Matthew 16:18}. Even though the accursed Devil is still trying to "deceive, if possible, even the elect," {Matthew 24:24} but he will always be defeated in the face of the power of Christ Jesus and His righteous followers. Nevertheless, we should not be surprised if we find sometimes some of those whom the Lord selected to become light for the world follow the seduction of the Devil and the light in them turns into darkness. They cause troubles to the good shepherds of the church. The Lord in His speech on the Last Days has informed us saying, "because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. But he who endures to the end should be saved {Matthew 24:12 & 13}.

We thank God, may He be exalted, who looks at His church with the eye of His mercy, embrace her with His care and constitutes in her good shepherds such as the commemorated Patriarch St. Mor Michael the Great, to shepherd his sheep, ewes and rams with good care and offer His servants their spiritual food on time. Those are the holy fathers who live according to the Gospel of Christ and act in accordance with the law of the Lord Jesus, His enjoyments, and Canon of His holy church for which he gave his precious blood. In doing this they bear hardships, fight the good fight, finish the race and keep the faith like St. Paul the Apostle. The Lord, the righteous judge, will lay up for them in Heaven the crown of righteousness which He will give to each one of them, and not to them only but also to all who await His second coming.

How happy then we, shepherds and floks will be if we make Patriarch St. Mor Michael the Great an example to us in holding to the faith, working according to the law of the Lord persisting in it day and night, and complying with the Canon of the Church which has been enacted by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit that it may keep us within the fold of Christ Jesus our Lord.

May God make this happy memory a means for blessing for you all with the prayer of our Lady Virgin Mary, that of the holy Patriarch Mor Michael the great, the righteous martyrs and all the Saints. May the grace of the Lord embrace you always and forever. Amen. Wabon d'bashmayo w'sharko {Our Father who are in Heaven…}.

 ISSUED AT OUR PATRIARCHAL HOUSE IN DAMASCUS, SYRIA ON THE 14^TH DAY OF MARCH, IN THE YEAR ONE THOUSAND NINE HUNDRED AND NINETY NINE WHICH IS THE 19^TH YEAR OF OUR

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