View source for Bishoy (Nicola) of Damietta

'''His Eminence Metropolitan Bishoy''' (or Bishoi) is the [[Coptic]] Orthodox [[Metropolitan]] of Damietta, Kafr El-Sheikh and the [[Monastery]] of [[Saint]] [[Demiana]], Barrari, Belkas, Egypt. He is also serving as Secretary of the Coptic Orthodox Holy [[Synod]] since 1985.<sup>[http://www.theholysynod.copticpope.org/m004.htm]</sup>

Makram Eskander Nicola (His Eminence's name before [[consecration]]) was born on 19th July 1942. He completed his senior school in 1958 and in 1959 joined the Faculty of Engineering (Mechanics Division) in Alexandria, Egypt, as a student. In 1963 he graduated with a Bachelor Degree at the age of 21 years, and took honors in becoming an Assistant Lecturer at the Faculty of Engineering. Before leaving the world to become a [[monk]], he decided to complete his Master's Degree in Mechanical Engineering, which he received on 28th May 1968. Two days after the Faculty's ratification of his Master's Degree results, he left on the day of [[Ascension]] (30th May 1968) to become a monk in the Coptic Orthodox monastery of the Blessed Holy [[Virgin Mary]] that is famous by the name of Deir Al-Sourian.<sup>[http://www.st-mary-mons.org/]</sup> 

Before leaving to the monastery he was pressured to become a married [[priest]] in Damietta, Egypt, but he refused. He was also offered to study and complete a Doctorate Degree in Engineering abroad, which he again refused. 

==Monastic profile==
On 16th February 1969 he became monk in Deir El-Sourian, and was named Toma El-Souriani (Thomas of Al-Sourian Monastery). Then against his will, he was [[ordination|ordained]] a priest on Palm Sunday 1970, as he did not desire any priestly rank in the monastery. He was later ordained a hegumen priest on 17th August 1972.

On 24th September 1972 he was enthroned against his will as the [[Bishop]] of Damietta, Kafr El-Sheikh and the Monastery of Saint Demiana, Barrari, Belkas. On Sunday 2 September 1990 His Grace Bishop Bishoy was ordained Metropolitan in the [[Cathedral]] of Saint [[Athanasius the Apostle]] in Damanhur, Egypt.

==Involvement in [[ecumenical]] dialogue with other [[Churches]]==
For details, reports (in English) and photographs, interested readers are referred to http://www.metroplit-bishoy.org/english/Dialogues.htm

==A "controversial" figure==
Despite His Eminence's very active and commended involvement in fruitful ecumenical dialogues with other Churches, he is frequently criticized by many because of his strong words against non-Orthodox Churches (and the [[salvation]] of their faithful),<sup>[http://www.zeitun-eg.net/members_contrib/anbabishoy06622.mp3 audio excerpt]</sup> and also against those whom he labels as heretics or heterodox concerning dogmatic matters he does not agree with.

==Source==
http://www.metroplit-bishoy.org/english/Sayedna.htm

==Resources==
* [http://www.metroplit-bishoy.org/ HE Metropolitan Bishoy Official WebSite (English/Arabic)]
* [http://www.zeitun-eg.net/members_contrib/AnbaBishoyOnTheGospelOfJudas20060408(Australia)Arabic.mp3 HE Metropolitan Bishoy discussing the alleged Gospel of Judas (audio - Arabic)]
* [http://www.metroplit-bishoy.org/english/simplifyingfaith.htm Simplifying Faith - Lecture series by Metropolitan Bishoy (English)]