Moving the Mokattam Mountain

What is a miracle? Can anyone tell me of a miracle that they’re parents have told them? Or one that you have heard of? What does it mean when something is a miracle?

Miracle in Egypt God performed a huge miracle in the days of Caliph Al Moez. What is a Caliph? A leader of Islam This miracle actually occurred in Cairo, Egypt. It was done to save the Christians that lived in Egypt from further persecution.

Faith of a mustard seed… Caliph Al Moez had a Jewish minister who hated the Christians and was looking for any opportunity to persecute them. So one day, he came to Caliph Al Moez and mocked Christianity by saying that Christ said, “if you have the faith of a mustard seed you will say to the mountain, ‘move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.” This verse is found in Matthew 17:20

The test The Jewish minister obviously did not believe a word of what Lord Jesus Christ said, so he told the Caliph to test the Christians and see if this in fact will happen. He told the Caliph to ask the Christians to move the Mokattam Mountain so that the air will be purer and the weather nicer in Cairo. He said that if it doesn’t move according to their verse that the Caliph should take all the homes and possessions for themselves and drive the Christians out of the country.

The Jewish minister convinced Al Moez and sent for the Patriach at that time. His name was Anba Abram the Syrian and told him the plan of the Jewish minister. The Patriach was so upset, but he told the Caliph to give him 3 days to figure something out. Anba Abram went back to his church in such grief! How will he make this happen?!?!

Prayer and fasting Anba Abram sent letters to the people, priests, and bishops all around the area asking them to fast for 3 consecutive days till evening and pray masses everyday for the church was in danger. Everyone in Cairo was in such grief at the situation. What could they do!? How would they survive? Anba Abram himself locked himself in the Hanging Church in Cairo for those 3 days without water or food. He kept praying to the Lord, “O Lord help us…O Lord deliver us.”

The dream After he prayed and prayed and prayed, he went to sleep and had a dream. In his dream he saw a beautiful lady (who was this beautiful lady?) The Virgin Mary! She came to him and told him that the Lord had heard his prayers and the prayers of the people and that when he woke up and went out to the market place there would be a man with a jar of water and he will tell him what to do.

Simon the Tanner As soon as he woke up, he knelt down and thanked God over and over again for His mercies! Anba Abram went out and found the man and brought him to the church and told him what happened. The man’s name was Simon the Tanner or shoe fixer. Simon said a very important phrase: “The Lord will fight for you and you will hold your peace.” Let’s repeat this important verse.

When the time came, Anba Abram came to the Caliph with many people, deacons, and priests. The minister started mocking the Patriach by saying, “ you have come to say that you cannot move the mountain of course!!!” Anba Abram made the sign of the cross and repeated what Simon the Tanner told him. What was that?

The True Faith! The Caliph, statesmen, nobles, and the ministers came out to see how in the world was this mountain going to move! The minister was really excited to see how much the Christians would be disappointed when the mountain did not move. Anba Abram stood with deacons, Simon the Tanner, other priests, and the people after the liturgy chanting, “Lord have mercy” over and over again.

The moving of the mountain Suddenly!! An earthquake occurred and the Mountain started to move causing the ground to shake underneath them. All the leaders including the Calipha were afraid and asked the Pope to stop for they thought that the city was going to fall apart!

Calipha Al Moez was so amazed by this great wonder that he was baptized and became a monk. His tomb is actually still there in the church of Abu Sefein in Cairo. The Christians were saved thanks to the love and wonders of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Questions What was the name of the Calipha? Where can we find the verse “if you have the faith of a mustard seed…”? What is the name of the Patriach? What did the Patriach and the people do? Who gave an order that the Mountain should be moved? What happened to the mountain?

Conclusion The person who walks with God has nothing to fear. If you look at Anba Abram, he had so much reason to give up and turn and run away. But he didn’t! He told the Calipha to give him some time to find a solution. We always say prayer and fasting are very important and here is a case where it proved to be so crucial to the faith of the people. Our Coptic church has gone through so much persecution, but throughout it all we have stood firm and strong in our faith and trust in God and through that Christ has delivered us and brought us through it all. We should always thank God for everything he does for us, and realize how important trusting Him no matter what the odds are against us because He will help us overcome it all. God is great, and mighty and can do anything even the things that we feel is impossible. Nothing is impossible for lord Jesus Christ.

Memory Verse “The Lord shall fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.” Exodus 14:14