St. Bishoy Monastery

Saint Bishoy

Bishoy is a Coptic word meaning "the exalted" or "the high one." He was born in 320 AD in the town of Shentna, in the Menoufia Governorate. An angel appeared to his mother in a dream during the night and told her that God had chosen Bishoy to be a monk and that he would become the father of a large community of monks. After Abba Bishoy became a young man, he left the world and went to the Wadi El Natrun desert in 340 AD, where he became a monk and a disciple of Saint Anba Pambo. He continued in this life of discipleship for 34 years.

His Grace Bishop Pimen (Bishop of Mallawi)

The Bishop Pimen (Bishop of Mallawi), may God have mercy on him, was ordained a general bishop on 6/22/1975 AD, and was enthroned as Bishop of Mallawi on 6/13/1976 AD, and passed away on 5/19/1986 AD.

His Grace Bishop Makary (Bishop of Sinai)

The Bishop Makari of Sinai (who became a monk at the Monastery of Abu Maqar and moved to the Monastery of Anba Bishoy), was ordained a bishop on 11/14/1996 AD, and passed away on 7/25/2000 AD.

His Grace Bishop Karas, Bishop and Abbot of the Monastery of Saint Anthony

The Bishop Karas, Bishop and Abbot of the Monastery of St. Anthony, was consecrated as a bishop on 6/6/1993 AD, and passed away on 1/17/2002 AD (in California - United States of America).

His Grace Bishop Bemoa, Bishop and Abbot of St. George Monastery in Khatatba

His Grace Bishop Bema, Bishop and Abbot of the Monastery of St. George in Khatatba (who became a monk at the Monastery of the Syrians and later moved to the Monastery of St. Bishoy), was ordained a Chorepiscopus on June 18, 1978, and enthroned as Bishop and Abbot of the Monastery of St. George in Khatatba on June 11, 1995. He passed away on March 30, 2002.

His Grace Bishop Markos, Metropolitan of Toulon and Marseille, France

The Bishop Markos, Metropolitan of Toulon and Marseille in France, was consecrated bishop on June 2, 1974, and metropolitan on June 19, 1994, and passed away on May 11, 2008.

His Grace Bishop Ighnatius of Suez

The Bishop Ignatius of Suez (who became a monk at the Monastery of Saint Macarius and later moved to the Monastery of Saint Bishoy), was consecrated bishop on May 29, 1977, and passed away on December 28, 2013.

His Grace Bishop Abraham, Metropolitan of Jerusalem

The Metropolitan Abraham, Metropolitan of Jerusalem (the Jerusalem See), the Near East and the Gulf States, was ordained as Metropolitan on 11/17/1991 AD, and passed away on 11/25/2015 AD.

His Grace Bishop Fam (Bishop of Tama and its dependencies)

The late Bishop Anba Fam (Bishop of Tama and its dependencies), consecrated as bishop on 25/5/1980 AD, passed away on 25/2/2018 AD

His Grace Bishop Silwanus, Bishop and Abbot of the Monastery of St. Pachomius (the Elder) in Luxor

The late Bishop Silwanus, Bishop and Abbot of the Monastery of Anba Pachomius (Al-Shaib) in Luxor, was ordained as a general bishop for the churches of ancient Egypt on 5/30/1999 AD, and was enthroned as Bishop and Abbot of the Monastery of Anba Pachomius in Luxor on 16/11/2013 AD, and passed away on 25/5/2021 AD.

His Grace Bishop Lucas

The late Bishop Lucas, Bishop of Abnub, Al-Fath, and New Assiut, and Abbot of the Monastery of Saint Mina in Jabal Abnub, was consecrated as a bishop on June 22, 1986, and passed away on February 12, 2022.

His Grace Bishop Athanasius

His Grace, the Most Reverend Anba Athanasius, Metropolitan of Marseille and Toulon in France, was ordained a Chorepiscopus on September 7, 1985, a General Bishop in France on June 19, 1994, enthroned as Bishop of the French Coptic Diocese on July 13, 2013, and Metropolitan of Marseille and Toulon in France on February 28, 2013. He departed this life on October 22, 2023.

His Grace Bishop Basanti, Bishop of Helwan and Maasara

The late Bishop Basanti, Bishop of Helwan and Ma'asara (who became a monk at the Monastery of Abu Maqar and later moved to the Monastery of Anba Bishoy), was ordained a general bishop on June 22, 1986, and enthroned as Bishop of Helwan and Ma'asara on May 29, 1988. He passed away on March 3, 2024.

His Grace Bishop Agapius, Bishop of Deir Mawas and Dalga

The late Bishop Agapius, Bishop of Deir Mawas and Dalga, was consecrated bishop on 13/11/1988 and passed away on 4/2/2025

His Grace Metropolitan Wissa

His Grace Bishop Wissa, Metropolitan of Baliana, Bardis, Awlad Touq, Al-Kashh and its dependencies, was consecrated bishop on 22/6/1975 AD, and metropolitan on 19/3/2006 AD

His Grace Bishop Tadros, Metropolitan of Port Said

His Grace Bishop Tadros, Metropolitan of Port Said, was consecrated bishop on 14/11/1976 and metropolitan on 28/2/2016

Pope Shenouda III

His Holiness Pope Shenouda III (the 117th Pope) was of blessed memory. He became a monk at the Monastery of the Syrians in Wadi El Natrun, taking the name Father Antonius the Syrian, and was chosen as Patriarch of the See of St. Mark in 1971. Pope Shenouda III passed away in 2012, and his life and teachings continue to be a source of inspiration and love for millions of Copts around the world.

His Holiness Pope Macarius III

His Holiness Pope Macarius III (114), of blessed memory, reigned from February 13, 1945 to August 31, 1945. He was consecrated Bishop-Metropolitan of Asyut on July 12, 1897.

His Holiness Pope Gabriel VIII

The Most Reverend Pope Gabriel VIII (Pope No. 97), whose papacy lasted from 20/6/1587 to 14/5/1603

Anba Sarabamoun

His Eminence Metropolitan Anba Sarabamoun was a distinguished spiritual father and the long-serving Bishop and Abbot of the Monastery of Saint Anba Bishoy. Known for his deep ascetic life, wisdom, and devotion to monasticism, he led the monastery through a remarkable period of spiritual and architectural growth. His legacy continues to inspire monks and visitors seeking a life of prayer, humility, and faith.

Coptic Church