The Cost of Understanding Father Matthew the Poor

                             Fr. Matthew the Poor (left) and Patriarch Cyril (Kirolos) the 6th.

The following was a talk given in 2013 at a local Orthodox Parish community in the greater Toronto area. Father Matthew the Poor is a modern Coptic theologian of great importance in the area of monasticism, prayer, liturgy, Eucharist, biblical exegesis and the list is endless. A modern reformer within his own monastic community which he began the renovation of St. Macarius Monastery in 1969 commisioned by the late Patriarch Cyril (Kirolos) the 6th. He arrived with his disciples to find 6 old aged monks, two of whom were blind and the monastery was on the verge of collapsing. Today with close to 140 monks and his disciples living out his message, Father Matthew the Poor is a monk who's starting point in life and his works was Christ. He saw Christ as his starting point and Christ then became his thesis not only in his writing but in his life. What it means to be a human being is to live a life in the image and likeness of Christ. Becoming icons of Christ is what it means to live Christ and be Christ like to all. This is how Fr. Matthew the Poor lived in a world that bows down to idols, power and money-money and power which he gave up by selling his two pharmacies, gave up all his riches and began the monastic life in 1948.

The beauty about what it means to live in Christ being your starting point is that you do not have to be wearing a black cassock in order to live iin Christ. Christ can be lived out in the world within the community that constitutes the body of Christ. Actually, father Matthew the Poor and father Alexander Schmemann, may there memories be eternal, would probably say that you do not have to be a monk to make Christ your starting point. They would instead say make Christ your starting point from which ever position you find your life to be in. If Christ is your starting point then living in Christ is the life we are meant to share and behold in the world. As the institution narrative says "He gave up his life for the world".   

The talk was given by a church youth who I am pleased to call my brother and father. I am indebted to him because he showed me what it means to live in Christ at a time when I did not know who Christ was. His knowledge of Father Matthew the Poor goes beyond a doubt that makes him an expert on his works and knowing Father Matthew the Poor, a man in whom both of us have never met but I can reserve with no hesitations we have both become indebted to. Owing our lives to this man my friend sees in no other way but to share his work to others not to glorify this humble monk but rather to become a living witness of Christ through the example of the life of Matthew the Poor. His contribution to Coptic monasticism, liturgy and prayer life has not only given us life but has become life for all. What it means to live out prayer in our lives is based on making Christ and union with Him our starting point. Christ is all and in all: