Saint Parsoma the Naked (Coptic: Ⲁⲃⲃⲁ Ⲡⲁⲣⲥⲱⲙⲁ Ⲡⲓⲣⲉϥⲃⲏϣ) (otherwise known as Saint Barsoum[1]) (1257-1317) is a Coptic saint, recognized by the Coptic Orthodox Church.
Parsoma was born in Cairo. His father was El-Wageeh Moufdel, the scribe of the Queen Shajarat al-Durr, and his mother was from the noble family of El-Taban.[2] After his parents died, his uncle took possession of all that they had left. Parsoma did not quarrel with him but rather forsook the world and lived the life of a hermit.
Ascetic lifeedit
Parsoma lived outside the city of Cairo for five years suffering the harshness of the summer heat and the winter cold. He wore no clothing except a hairy sackcloth, following the example of Paul of Thebes, the first hermit. Then he shut himself in a cave inside the church of St. Philopateer Mercurius for twenty years[3] in ceaseless prayer and fasting. In his cave, there was a huge serpent, which Parsoma befriended and tamed through his prayers.
Later life and persecutionedit
After some time, Parsoma left the cave and lived on the roof of the church. He endured the summer heat and the winter cold, until his skin became dark from much worship and asceticism. He remained in this state for fifteen years. During his days, a great persecution befell the Christians in Egypt. The churches were shut and the Christians were forced to wear blue turbans. The ruler seized Parsoma, severely beat him and put him in prison;[4] when he was released, he went to the monastery of Shahran, where he lived on the roof of the church and increased in his asceticism. Many princes, judges and others, knew that he always wore a white turban, but no one dared to force him to wear a blue one.
Departureedit
Parsoma died on the 5th day of the Little Month (Koji Enavot) (10 September), 1317 A.D. at the age of sixty. Pope John VIII presided over his funeral. He was buried at the Monastery of Shahran.[5]
^ResearchGate website, St Barsoum the Naked by H. G. Bishop Martyros
^Website of Saint Mary & Archangel Michael Coptic Orthodox Church, Houston, Texas, presentation on St Barsoum
^Otto Friedrich August Meinardus, Two Thousand Years of Coptic Christianity, (American University in Cairo Press, 1999), 188.
^Oxford University Press website, review of Christianity and Monasticism in Northern Egypt: Beni Suef, Giza, Cairo, and the Nile Delta, edited by Gawdat Gabra and Hany N. Takla (2017)
parsoma, saint, naked, coptic, Ⲁⲃⲃⲁ, Ⲡⲁⲣⲥⲱⲙⲁ, Ⲡⲓⲣⲉϥⲃⲏϣ, otherwise, known, saint, barsoum, 1257, 1317, coptic, saint, recognized, coptic, orthodox, church, saintprison, cell, saint, mercurius, church, coptic, cairoborncairo, egyptdied1317venerated, incoptic, or. Saint Parsoma the Naked Coptic Ⲁⲃⲃⲁ Ⲡⲁⲣⲥⲱⲙⲁ Ⲡⲓⲣⲉϥⲃⲏϣ otherwise known as Saint Barsoum 1 1257 1317 is a Coptic saint recognized by the Coptic Orthodox Church SaintParsomaPrison cell of St Parsoma Saint Mercurius Church in Coptic CairoBornCairo EgyptDied1317Venerated inCoptic Orthodox Church Contents 1 History 1 1 Early life 1 2 Ascetic life 1 3 Later life and persecution 1 4 Departure 2 See also 3 ReferencesHistory editEarly life edit Parsoma was born in Cairo His father was El Wageeh Moufdel the scribe of the Queen Shajarat al Durr and his mother was from the noble family of El Taban 2 After his parents died his uncle took possession of all that they had left Parsoma did not quarrel with him but rather forsook the world and lived the life of a hermit Ascetic life edit Parsoma lived outside the city of Cairo for five years suffering the harshness of the summer heat and the winter cold He wore no clothing except a hairy sackcloth following the example of Paul of Thebes the first hermit Then he shut himself in a cave inside the church of St Philopateer Mercurius for twenty years 3 in ceaseless prayer and fasting In his cave there was a huge serpent which Parsoma befriended and tamed through his prayers Later life and persecution edit After some time Parsoma left the cave and lived on the roof of the church He endured the summer heat and the winter cold until his skin became dark from much worship and asceticism He remained in this state for fifteen years During his days a great persecution befell the Christians in Egypt The churches were shut and the Christians were forced to wear blue turbans The ruler seized Parsoma severely beat him and put him in prison 4 when he was released he went to the monastery of Shahran where he lived on the roof of the church and increased in his asceticism Many princes judges and others knew that he always wore a white turban but no one dared to force him to wear a blue one Departure edit Parsoma died on the 5th day of the Little Month Koji Enavot 10 September 1317 A D at the age of sixty Pope John VIII presided over his funeral He was buried at the Monastery of Shahran 5 See also editCoptic ChristianityReferences edit ResearchGate website St Barsoum the Naked by H G Bishop Martyros Website of Saint Mary amp Archangel Michael Coptic Orthodox Church Houston Texas presentation on St Barsoum Otto Friedrich August Meinardus Two Thousand Years of Coptic Christianity American University in Cairo Press 1999 188 Oxford University Press website review of Christianity and Monasticism in Northern Egypt Beni Suef Giza Cairo and the Nile Delta edited by Gawdat Gabra and Hany N Takla 2017 St Takla Haymanout Coptic Orthodox Website Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Parsoma amp oldid 1189019083, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
