The Time of My Exile

English · Scan 4

In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, the One God. Amen.

Praise and Thanksgiving to God

I thank You, my Lord, for I was born in the first decade of this twentieth century, and by Your grace I have now reached its last decade. I bow before You with praise and thanksgiving, repeating with the psalmist: “Nevertheless I am continually with You; You hold me by my right hand. You guide me with Your counsel, and afterward You will receive me into glory” (Psalm 73:23).

Memories and Successive Images

I recall these decades and the memories they hold, passing before me like a fleeting shadow. Some are general, others personal. I could find no fitting title for them except the words of Moses, the chief of the prophets, in his song: “There is none like God, O Jeshurun, who rides the heavens to help you, and the clouds in His majesty. The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms” (Deuteronomy 33:26–27).

Born in Alexandria

I was born in the city of Alexandria at noon on Friday, February 19, 1909, which corresponds to the 12th of the Coptic month of Amshir, in the year 1626 of the righteous martyrs. I am happy with this timing for several reasons: Alexandria is the first fruit of the preaching of St. Mark the Apostle in the land of Egypt, midday on Friday is the time when our good Savior was crucified and made redemption for the world, and the twelfth day of the Coptic month is the commemoration of the Archangel Michael. He is the namesake I carried when I was called to the priesthood.

The Parents

My father was the late Saad Ibrahim Ibrahim al-A'sar. He was from the village of al-Safiya, in the Desouk district of the Gharbia Governorate. This village is located on the Nile and at that time only had two Christian families.