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It is undocumentedly alleged that Father Matta was suspended twice, first by Pope Yousab II in 1955, and then again by Pope Kyrillos VI for nine years from 1960 to 1969<sup>[http://www.copticpope.org/modules.php?name=Sections&op=viewarticle&artid=154&page=6]</sup> for administrative/"political" (e.g., his book about the 'Church and the State', in which he called for total separation of the two<sup>[http://www.rezgar.com/debat/show.art.asp?t=0&aid=69143],[http://www.al-ahaly.com/articles/06-06-14/1282-inv06.htm]</sup>) rather than for any truly theological or core dogmatic issues.<sup>[http://www.islamonline.net/arabic/famous/religious/2006/06/01.shtml]</sup> However this allegation is not true at all and undocumented. Some say undocumentedly that what is called the 1960s suspension was because of Father Matta's objection to the Coptic Church signing of the Catholic Declaration of the Innocence of the Jews from the Blood of Christ.<sup>[http://groups.yahoo.com/group/arbible/message/31375]</sup> But also this allegation is not true and undocumented. The saintly Pope Kyrillos VI later insisted that Father Matta absolve and forgive him in the presence of H.E. Metropolitan Mikhail of Assiut.
Let's skip undocumented allegations.
But more recently, some misunderstandings between both leaders and their followers<sup>[http://groups.yahoo.com/group/arbible/message/30051],[http://arabi.ahram.org.eg/Arabi/ahram/2006/6/17/WEEK6.htm],[http://masr.20at.com/article.php?sid=571],[http://www.rezgar.com/debat/show.art.asp?aid=68761]</sup> have surfaced, e.g., recent discussions on the concept of [[theosis]]<sup>[http://www.monachos.net/forum/showthread.php?p=22429],[http://orthodoxchristianity.net/index.php?option=com_smf&Itemid=32&topic=8933.msg119518#msg119518],[http://www.orthodoxchristianity.net/forum/index.php?topic=8362.0]</sup> and also the position Father Matta held on the [[Mark 16|sixteenth chapter of St. Mark's gospel]]. See: [http://au.geocities.com/coptic_truth01 Web site by some of Fr. Matta's proponents], [http://www.stmina-monastery.org/FrMatta/Mark_16.zip a detailed study about the Mark 16 controversy (Arabic)], Pope Shenouda III's reply concerning the theological and dogmatic opinions of Fr. Matta: [http://masr.20at.com/media/matta/01.rm Part 1],[http://masr.20at.com/media/matta/02.rm Part 2] (Arabic RealAudio; recorded in 1991/2003 - [http://www.zeitun-eg.net/PopeShenoudaIIIs_reply_concerning_the_opinions_of_FrMattaElMeskeen_1991.zip zipped mirror]), and HE Metropolitan Bishoy's lecture about Fr Matta: [http://www.stmina-monastery.org/FrMatta/HE_AnbaBishoy_aboutFrMatta.zip 4 parts zipped together] (Arabic Audio; recorded on 18 September 2006).
== Early life ==
==Further reading==
A comprehensive bibliography of writings by and about of Fr Matta is maintained on the ''Archive of Contemporary Coptic Orthodox Theology'': [https://accot.stcyrils.edu.au/authors/matthew-the-poor-1919-2006/#Secondary Works about Primary Bibliography of Fr Matthew the Poor (in English Translation], [https://accot.stcyrils.edu.au)/authors/matthew-the-poor-1919-2006/#Secondary Biographies and Academic Studies].
In Vol.27, No. 3 & 4, Fall & Winter 2006 of ''Coptic Church Review'', there is an important article by Rev. Dr. John Watson, who lives in Highclisse, Dorset, UK. It is in 27 pages and its title is "Abouna Matta El Meskeen Contemporary Desert Mystic". Coptic Church Review is published by Society of Coptic Church Studies, P.O. Box 714, E. Brunswick, NJ 08816, USA. The article is also available in microfilm format from University Microfilms International, 300 North Zeeb Rd., Ann Arbor, MI 48106, USA.
* [http://www.stmacariusmonastery.org/eabout.htm The Monastery of St. Macarius]
* [https://accot.stcyrils.edu.au/authors/matthew-the-poor-1919-2006/ Fr Matthew the Poor (Archive of Contemporary Coptic Orthodox Theology)]
* [http://www.stmacariusmonastery.org/media/clips_1978.wmv Video interview of Fr Matta El-Meskeen]
* http://www.fathermatta.com ([http://www.fathermatta.com/english/index.php English section])