Very Rev. Fr. Mankarious Awadallah

Biography

Hegomen Mankarious Awadallah was born in Cairo, Egypt on December 15, 1913. He enrolled in secondary education (high school) in 1928 and finished his baccalaureate degree among the top graduates all over Egypt. His parents desired for him to join the Faculty of Medicine; instead he preferred to join the Coptic Orthodox Seminary to fulfill his wish – since childhood – to serve God.

His service in Egypt and Canada:

• Fr. Mankarious received his bachelor degree in 1936 and ranked first of his graduating class. Among his Professors were the late Archdeacon Habib Girgis, Hegomen Ibrahim Atteya, Mr. Yassa Abdel-Massih, and Mr. Edward Yustus (The late Bishop Dioscorus of Monofia) and other renowned teachers.
• He was ordained a priest at the Church of Saint Mina in Beni Mazar (Upper Egypt) on December 10, 1944, at the hands of the late Anba Athanasius Bishop of Beni Suef, in the era of Pope Makarios III. He served that Church until 1954. During his service in Beni Mazar he established an elementary school and a clinic. In addition, he used to travel to Cairo three times a week to teach at the Seminary.
• In Cairo, he served in the Church of St. Virgin Mary (Masarah) in Shubra, the Church of St. Virgin Mary in Zamalek and the Church of St. George in Heliopolis.
• At the Seminary, Fr. Mankarious taught Orthodox Liturgical Studies and Canonical Tradition. He conducted a lot of research in these fields and established corresponding curriculum. He also taught the Old Testament Studies.
• He took on the editing and publication of the “Church Teachings” magazine which he used to issue monthly for 18 years (1950-1968).
• He authored a number of books and Church references including the highly renowned: “Manaret El Akdas” (The Lighthouse of the Holies). This five-part series is one of the most important references that ex-plain the Church rituals and the liturgy.
• In addition to being a member of the Clerical Council, Fr. Mankarious was a member of church committees, including:
  • Commission on the preparation of the Sunday School Curriculum.
  • Commission on the studying and unification of the Coptic Calendar.
  • Commission on studying the Church ritual and related references.
• On April 18, 1973, he immigrated to Canada and was the third priest in the region. In North America he served in a number of Churches in Philadelphia, Jersey City, Ottawa, and Mississauga. For over 20 years he took on the monthly service for the congregation of Kingston, Ontario.
• In 1990 with the Grace of God, Fr. Mankarious founded the Church of Ti Agia Maria and St. Demiana the Martyr in Etobicoke where he served until his departure.
• On December 13, 2009, the Church celebrated her beloved father’s sixty-fifth ordination anniversary. This ceremony was attended by His Grace Bishop David of the United States of America and a large number of priests in the region. Bishop David delivered special congratulations from His Holiness Pope Shenouda III to Father Mankarious on this awesome occasion.