A BREIF TRANSLATION OF THE MOR MICHAEL RABO'S VISITS TO JERUSALEM BY V. REV. FR. BOUTROS TOUMA ISSA AS PART OF THE ST. EPHRAIM SYRIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH, PERTH AUSTRALIA'S ACTIVITIES UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF V. REV. FR. BOUTROS TOUMA ISSA IN LINE WITH H.H. MORAN MOR IGANTIUS ZAKKA I IWAS'S APOSTOLIC MESSAGE OF MARCH 1999, WITH REGARDS TO THE COMMEMORATION OF MOR MICHAEL RABO AT THE 800TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE DEPARTURE OF THIS SAINT FROM THIS EARTHLY LIFE TO THE HEAVENLY CHAMBERS.

 

MOR MICHAEL RABO IN JERUSALEM

The Holy places hold a special place and eminence and distinction within the hearts of the faithful that is derived from the Holy Bible. Thus, the faithful will endeavour to visit those holy places to remind him/herself of the great events that took place as per the Holy Bible; thus fulfilling the souls with the happiness and the pleasure by witnessing such great places.

During the reign of Mor Michael Rabo {i.e. the 12^th century} the Monastery of Mary Magdalene and Samaan Pharisees was considered to be the office and residence of the Archbishop of Jerusalem.

This monastery is located near Damascus Gate in Jerusalem, which during the crusade occupation was named {Syrian Suburb}. This Monastery used to have seventy monks amongst its cadre; which is clear proof on great area it was built on and the strong management.

This Monastery continued to graduate monks until the thirteenth century; when suddenly it was occupied by the MOSLEMS who transformed it into a school that was name "MA'MOUNYAH" and later changed that name into "QADESYAH"!

The Church's history tells us that Mor Michael Rabo visited Jerusalem three times: - 

• THE FIRST VISIT

This visit was in the year 1168, and stayed during this visit at Mary Madgalle and Samaan Pharisees Monastery. He celebrated the consecration of Mayron {The Holy Oil}. On Easter he promoted to the rank of Archbishop Youhanna, who was appointed Archbishop of Damascus. Then returned to the Holy See at Mor Hananya Monastery {Za'faran Monastery} where he wrote laws and constitutions for the Church {H.H. Moran Mor Ignatius Zakka I Iwas Apostolic Message of 14^th March 1999}.

• THE SECOND VISIT

Mor Michael Rabo arrived Jerusalem on the Thursday that antecede the Maundy Thursday {Holy Thursday} in the year 1178 accompanied by Mor Ignatius Bishop Karkar, Mor Baselyous, Bishop of Qaysaryah. Mor Ignatius the Second Archbishop of Jerusalem headed the reception delegation.

Mor Ignatius the Second delivered a speech on the occasion, through which he talked extremely highly of the great visitor to Jerusalem; and exerted every effort to make that reception a memorable one. Amongst the delegation 90 monks who came from different Syrian Orthodox Monasteries in Jerusalem {i.e. Mary Magdalene & Samaan Pharisees Monastery, Mor Touma's {St. Thomas} Monastery, Mor Marqous {St. Mark} Monastery, and Lentils Monastery etc…}.

Mor Michael Rabo accompanied by all the above and community members entered the Church of the Holy Sepulchre Following the thanksgiving prayers at the Holy Tomb; they returned to Mary Magdalene's Monastery where He stayed for the remainder of his visit.

During this visit he headed the Holy Week celebrations in Jerusalem, also he consecrated the Holy Mayron {Holy Oil}. On Easter Sunday he met the Roman Catholic Patriarch, who offered him a great reception. {Fr. Youhanna Doulabani {Bishop then} Hikmah Magazine, Jerusalem, 2^nd year volume 5, February 1928 page 238}

• THE THIRD VISIT

About this visit Mor Michael Rabo says {Mor Michael History, translated by Mor Gregarious Saliba, Mardin Publishing House, Aleppo 1996 - first edition - 3^rd part page 324} : in the year 1490 {Greek Calendar} the year 1179 AC we departed our Holy See, and met in Akka that young king Baghdouni, who welcomed us showed Him his late father's will, which led us to write him a covenant.

During this third visit, Mor Michael Rabo exerted every effort to proof that those who explain the sacraments of the Repentance and Confession in a way different than our Church's belief are wrong. In this instance Mor Michael Rabo says: when we arrived Jerusalem, we received a delegation from Mark, Patriarch of Alexandria in Egypt {This Patriarch was originally Syrian Orthodox from Tikreet and his name was Mark Bar Zar'ah}

Mor Michael Rabo received the Patriarchal delegation and that sent by Bar Qanbar, who delivered letters to H.H. with regards to interpretation and analysis of Bar Qanbar to the Holy Sacraments of Repentance and Confession. After reading the two messages, H.H. stated that what Bar Qanbar is calling for is strange and should not be accepted by the followers of the Holy Church.

Bar Qanbar's teachings were briefly stating that the body of the human beings becomes immaterial as they confess their sins, thus departing the pain phase and becoming similar to that of Our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, will be in a position to accept the body and blood of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

Defending the Holy Church's laws and canons, Mor Michael Rabo fought aggressively and decided to interdict Bar Qanbar and deprive him from his rights at the Holy Church due to his misleading teachings. On the other hand Mor Michael Rabo sent a message to the Patriarch advising him not to follow the misleading teachings of Bar Qanbar.

The Church's history further tells us that Bar Qanbar and his whole family left the Syrian Orthodox Church and followed the Melkite. Then suddenly he decided to repent and asked the Syrian Orthodox Church to accept him back, which they did. Then he decided once again to leave the Syrian Orthodox Church, and this time when he decided to return to the Church, yet the Church did not accept him back this time.

Thank you.

V. Rev. Fr. Boutros Touma Issa - Perth, WA 3^rd September 1999.