History of the church
St Anthony Church has been a Coptic Orthodox Church since 1997. It currently belogns to the Diocese of Ireland, Scotland and NE England, UK. This is led by His Grace Bishop Anthony. The Church is decorated from inside by coptic icons. There are two alters, one consecrated for Saint Anthony and the other for Saint Marcorius. Masses are regularly held in the Chucrch on Sundays, Christmass, Easter and other Coptic Feasts.
The Church was previously known as St Stephen's Church. The first moves to build the church was in 1869. The foundation stone was laid in November 1872.The church was consecrated in 1874.The Tower and peal of bells were added in 1910 by Sir Charles J Stoddart. The church was built to satisfy the spriritual requirements of the growing district of Eastwood at that time.
Saint Anthony
St Anthony is considered to be the father of all monks. He was born in 251 AD to rich parents who brought him up according to the teachings of the church. When he grew up, he heard the deacon reading the bible in the church and saying the following verse: "Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me " (Matthew 19:21)
Immediately he took his sister to a place where virgins reside and he left to the desert.
The devil initially tried to tempt him to fall in adultery, then tried to scare him. He was steadfast in his love to Christ and was able to overcome all the trials through his humbleness and faith in Jesus Christ. He told the devils that one of them will be enough to fight against him. The devil could not withstand the saint's humbleness and disappeared in the air like smoke. He stayed in his place for 20 years and went to El-Fayoom to strengthen the faith of the brethren.
He went to Alexandria and confessed the name of Jesus Christ. The Governor was not pleased and asked him to stop that threatening him of torture. He did not listen and continued confessing the name of the Lord and strengthening the faith of the Christians. The Lord delivered him from the Governor and he returned to the desert.
He found that many people knew about him and came to visit him. Being more concerned about spending more time in praying, he left this place and went deep in the eastern desert. This is the place where the Monastery of St Anthony is present.
As he was spending most of his life in the desert, he felt bored. God showed him an angel wearing the clothes of the monks and weaving the leaves of the palm trees. He followed the angel and he was never bored again.
He met St Paul, the first hermit, at the end of his life. Through him; we know the biography of St Paul.
He also met St Makarios the Great and gave him the clothes of the monk to wear.
Concerning his departure from the world, he asked his disciples to hide his body and to give his belongings to St Makarios. He departed in peace with the company of the angels.
H.H. Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and the Patriarch of the see of St Mark
St Mark the Evangelist was the first Pope. Pope Tawadros is the pope number 118 in the Coptic Church. He was born on 4/11/1952. He was graduated from Alexandria University, faculty of pharmacy in 1975. He studied in England and, in 1985, he was able to receive a fellowship of the World Health Organisation from the the Bristish International Health Institute.In 1983, he was graduated from the Coptic Orthodox Theological Seminary of Alexandria. He managed a pharceutical company.
He was known to Bishop Pachomious as he served in the Archangel Michael Church in Damanhour. He became a monk in St Bishoy Monastery in 1988. His was given the name "Theodore Anba Bishoy". In 1990, he became a priest and was helping HG Bishop Pachomious being responsible for the youth in the diocese. He became a bishop in 1997 and was given the name Bishop Tawadros. He was chosen to be the pope of the church on 4/11/2012 and was enthroned as a pope on 18/11/2012.
H.G. Bishop Anthony
He entered the Monastery of St Bishoy in 1981. He became a monk and then a priest by the name of Father Akxiou El Anba Bishoy. After serving in Europe he was ordained as a Bishop by the name of Bishop Anthony to become the Bishop of the Coptic Diocese of Ireland, Scotland, North East England and its affiliated regions.
