SAINT DIMIANA
THE REFERENCES, WHICH ARE USED
I: Sagy Selman Aziz (Fr .Shenouda Nouar)
II SYNAXARIUM, the Twelfth Day of Bashans
& the Thirteenth Day of the Blessed Month of Toba.
III Les Saints D’Egypte by Dr. Paul Cheneau d’Orleans Translated
into Arabic by Deacon Dr. Michael Maksy Iskander
IV Coptic monasticism COMPILED BY MARK
MIKHAEL 1998 Edited by Fr Daniel Al-Antony, Youth Co-Coordinator Melbourne –
Australia
V The Coptic Calendar and the church of Alexandria By Fr Tadros
Y. Malaty
VI The Saints of Egypt In the Coptic Calendar by: Delacy Evans
O’Leary, Translated into Arabic by Deacon Dr. Michael Maksy Iskander, printed
by Harmony Co. of Printing, 2000.
VII The Revival of the Coptic Monasticism, by the secretary of the
Holy Synod, printed in the monastery of St. Mina, Mariout, 2004.
VIII the Coptic Encyclopedia by Azis S. Atiya Vol
3 P 903 Printing 1991 by Macmillan Publishing Company New York.
IV The Coptic Encyclopedia by Azis S. Atiya
Vol 6 P1968 Printing 1991 by Macmillan Publishing Company New York.
X WWW.METROPLIT-BISHOY.ORG
XI SCRIPTURE NO. 72631A IN THE MONASATERY OF ST. DEMIANA
IN THE YEAR 1732, SCRIPTURE NO. 72555A IN THE MONATSREY IN THE YEAR 1781
AND BOTH WERE TAKEN FROM SCRIPTURE ON THE 6TH CENTURY IN THE TIME OF
POPE DEMIANOUS 35 (598-563).
Saint DIMIANA main
points
What caused her to think of
being a nun? And how did she start the monastic life?
Her father’s denial of
Christianity and how did she convince him to come back to Christ and to become
one of his followers?
What led to St. Dimiana
convent’s ruin? And how it was restored it its former glory?
The work and the
writings of the fathers about the Saint, and all the details which are written
about her in the Coptic Orthodox Synaxarium.
The latest miracle which is
told by a Bishop
Introduction: THE MONASTIC LIFE:
IV, 8-9 from the saying of H.H. Pope Shenouda III
What is
monasticism, as known by our Egyptian Coptic Orthodox Church when itwas
founded and blossomed in the early centuries?
Monasticism is not
only a name or belonging to a monastery or convent. It is not the monks or nuns
dress, or appearance from their kolonsowa (head garment or scarf) to their
belts. Monasticism is a way of life to rid the inner self of materialism.
The calendar of Coptic the
Orthodox Church is the calendar of martyrdom. This calendar started in the year
two hundred and eighty four after the death of Christ.
V p6
Since
the fourth century, as many of the Copts were martyred, they considered the Era
of Diocletian as the golden age, and chose the year of Diocletian’s military
election as
Emperor in November 284 as the starting point of
their calendar. The Era of
Diocletian is usually called the “Era of the Martyrs,” and its
abbreviation is A.M. (for anno martyrdom).
This is the time where
Christians offered their lives as a cheap price for the sake of witnessing
Christianity to the entire world at that time, including kings and rulers.
Knowing that, in doing so they shall inherit a better life, an eternal one with
Christ in the heavenly Jerusalem, 1John 2:23-25, Heb 12:22.
What caused St.
Dimiana to become a nun? And how did she start her monastic life?
I: 8,9,10
St. Dimiana was the sole
daughter of Marcus, Roman governor of the district of Parallus (al-Bururullus),
Zafaran, and Wadi al Saysaban in the northern Delta of valley of the Nail she
was born at an unknown date in the third century (VIII P 903). Her parents were
Christians and God fearing people. She was the only child in this righteous
family (VIII P 903). She was a very beautiful girl, who was loved by everyone
who saw her. Her parents were very generous parents, who knew how to give to
the poor and needy. On St. Dimiana’s first birthday, her parents arranged a
three day party and invited all the poor and needy of their province.’ (II, 338)
The saint grew up in the
knowledge of the biblical word. She loved reading and meditating upon the word
of God. She used to spend hours reading the Bible with tears running down her
cheeks. She knew all about praying and fasting.
When she reached the age of
marriage, that is fifteen years old (
II ), numerous (the would be future husband) handsome pious young men
proposed to her father to marry Dimiana. Nevertheless, she was surprised even
at the thought that her father was considering the matter. She indicated very
clearly and strongly to her father that she will spend the rest of her life as
a nun on this earth and a bride for the Lord Christ in eternity.
Thus her father accepted her
wishes with gladness. He then asked Dimiana if he could help her to achieve her
goal. So she asked her father to construct another place away from the palace
and its never-ending duties, a place where she can find real solitude. This is
to be a place for worshiping the Lord God, and praying fervently. That is to
peruse monasticism for the rest of her life. So her father the governor built
another small palace to the north of the city. A place called the city of
El-Zaafran. The monastery of Dimiana in a suburb called El-Barary, and this in
turn belongs to a place called Belkas. III, 53
This was to be for Dimaina and
for any other virgin females of this city who would vow themselves to be nuns.
After a short while forty other virgins joined Dimiana
Her father’s
denial of Christianity and how did she convince him to come back to Christ and
to become one of his followers?
A short while later the
Emperor Diocletian was deceived by some evil governors saying that not all
those who govern follow the rules of the land. Mark was one of them. Hence
Diocletian sent for Mark; Dimiana’s father; and ordered him to worship the
idols, but he refused at first. But it
did not take the emperor much to persuade mark to worship and offer incense to
the idols forsaking the Almighty God and the creator of this world. (VIII P903)
Later, Dimiana found out what
her father had done. She was greatly disturbed and saddened. Consequently, on
her first meeting with her father, she met him without greeting, saying
“What have I heard about you?
I wished I have heard the news of your death, and not knowing that you have
forsaken God who have created you, and worshipped what is made by hands. If you
insist on what you are doing, and you do not repent by denouncing the idols,
you are not my father, and I am not your daughter” II, 339
“It is better for you, O my
father, that you die a martyr and live with Christ in heaven forever, than you
live as a pagan here and die with the devil in Hades forever”II 339
Thus, her father was greatly
troubled by what his daughter said to him. Obviously, Mark went back to Emperor
Diocletian and confessed his faith in Christ. When Diocletian could not change
his mind, he ordered him to be beheaded.
The work and the
writings of the fathers about the Saint, and all the details, which are written
about her in the Coptic Orthodox Synaxarium & in Coptic ENCYCLOPEDIA:
Diocletian found out that the
one that turned Governor Mark against worshipping the idols was not only his
daughter Dimiana, but also she is a beautiful lady. II p 339
VI p 137
Thus the emperor sent to her a
prince to gently and diligently try to convince her to come back to worshipping
the idols. But when St Dimiana refused at first, the prince tried to promise
her of many gifts and marrying her. Thus, she may become a queen one day and
have all the pleasure and prestige that go with that role. Then the Saint spoke
boldly against the idols and how they are just rocks which are shaped by the
hand of artists, and that they are mute and deaf statues which can not feel nor
see, and most of all are houses for devils.
Obviously, it did not take
long for the word to get back to the emperor who could not contain his anger.
Therefore, quickly and swiftly, the emperor threatened Dimiana and killed the
other forty virgins who lived with her,
VI p 137
He then took Dimiana and
tortured her in many different ways. But the Lord Jesus and St. Mary the mother
of God used to appear to St. Dimiana and heal her each time. As a result, many
of the pagans “who have seen how the lord treated St. Dimiana” were turned into
the God of Dimiana and believed in Christ as the only God. This in turn has
fueled the anger of the emperor and his advisors. Finally, and when the emperor
ran out of ideas of torturing Dimiana, he ordered his servant to cut off her
head to stop people believing in Christ.
What led to St.
Dimiana convent’s ruin? And how it was restored it its former glory?
II p 340
Abba Yoannis, Bishop of
El-Borollus, said in his book, The History of the Church: “The church was
destroyed in the 8th century by one of the Arab rulers, who built in
its place a palace for his residence”
At this time the water of the
Mediterranean see flooded the Delta of the Nile River until it reached the
western side of the palace, which would be the western side of the church. When
the news reached King Hassan Ibn Atahia, the king at that time, was saddened
because this district was a rich one in its aromatic plants. These plants used
to bring in a great amount of money to the government. One of the King’s close
friends was a Jew, who asked the King to bring in the Patriarch of the Copts
and order him to pray in faith to bring everything back to normal.
Now, God assisted this
Patriarch through the help of one of the righteous men who was known as
El-Toffahi, in this trying time.
Instantly the water receded to
the north before them. The Patriarch, behind him El-Tofahi, the priests, the
people, and the king continued to walk until they reached El-Zaafran where they
erected tents for the king beside the destroyed palace, under which the body of
St. Dimiana along with the bodies of the forty martyred virgins was kept.
VII, P 164-166
The Church that was destroyed
in the 8th Century has become the monastery of St. Dimiana in 1527.
This monastery has a number of churches, some of which are very old and are
considered to be Christian shrines and invaluable memorials, for Coptic and
Non-Coptic Christians alike. These churches are dated back to the 8th,
10th, 16th, and the last two centuries. At the present
time, and under the leadership of H.H. Pope Shenouda III most of these churches
have been restored to their former glory. “H.H. Pope Shenouda III has ordained
twenty three nuns for this monastery on 24th and 25th
September 1978.” P169. Many more groups of nuns have been ordained since then.
The nuns produce a number of hands made items, which can be used in churches or
bought by the general public for their handicraft and blessings. There is a
well-known centre for preparing those who would like to become nuns one day. In
addition, there is a special building for those who seek a quiet place for
spiritual seclusion and/or meditation.
Conclusion:
In Conclusion, the ascetic
life of St. Dimiana was a life of faith, love, and hope through the Lord
Christ, the Saviour of the world. It is a life of courage, meditation and
commitment. Her monastery is a Christian shrine that is not only famous between
the Coptic Orthodox of the world but also is of great importance to all
Christians of the world.
