Journey Back to Eden.pdf - St Mark Coptic Orthodox Church Chicago

A TIME OF CONSECRATION 153it can be clearly seen that the cowl has been made from twopieces of cloth.When I asked about the meaning of this stitch work, I was toldthat it signifies that the monk, like the hood, is rent in two. He isseparated from the world, the world in which he had deep attachments,and he is separated from his own appetites, his own desiresand his own will. The monk is always being divided. Jesus said, “Ihave come to make division” (Luke 12:51). The monks say that theyare the ones in whom the division is the most graphic because theyhave been separated out of the world by their consecration and bytheir solitary prayer. “Kadosh” in Hebrew and “Kodes” in Arabicboth convey a sense that holiness is a process of separation fromworldly absorption.Of English Bibles and Coptic RitualsPope Shenouda was particularly joyous today. He invited me intothe sanctuary and asked to borrow my English Bible so that hecould read one or two of the passages from it on behalf of the English-speakingprelates who are present as guests. He told me oncethat he likes to use English in the Coptic ritual, since there is nothingin particular about the Arabic language that is essential to Copticritual. He said that if it is not being read in Coptic, the languageof the ancient Pharaohs, it may just as well be read in English. Iwonder whether he is content to use a language other than the languageof the Koran because, of course, the Koran has so completelyformed the Arabic language. He did not say this, nor wouldhe be likely to say so if asked. Nevertheless, Arabic is essential toIslam and only peripheral to Coptic Christianity.Impressions of AmericaSomehow in the midst of all of this commotion, His Holiness tookme aside for another walk around the edge of the monastery. Hespoke to me about his journey to America, from which he had justreturned, and his impressions of Christianity in America. He toldme how grateful he is that the Catholic Church in the States hasbeen so solicitous for the welfare of the Coptic Orthodox diaspora