Love Took Flesh: Nativity Letters

by Matthew the Poor, Kirollos Kilada (Illustrator), Barnabas El Macari (Introduction)

Today, after the sterility of spirit that had befallen our two ancestors, humanity has become fertile. Today has been born to man a Son who is called an everlasting God. Today, we celebrate the birth of the first-fruit of humanity, the first-born among many brethren, the head of the spiritual Church that fills Heaven. He is the sole Mediator between us and the Father, for He is our brother and the Son of God at one and the same time. Love took flesh, sacrifice became a body. When the Father’s love for sinners united with the Son’s love for the Father, Christ was born.

121 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 9, 2021

About the author

(Arabic: متى المسكين)
Father Matta El-Meskeen (Maskeen or Maskine ; translated as Matthew the Poor ), born Youssef Eskander (September 20, 1919 - June 8, 2006), was a Coptic Orthodox monk and spiritual father of 130 monks in the Monastery of St. Macarius the Great at Scetis in Wadi Natrun, Egypt. He is considered by many to be a renowned Orthodox theologian, and was an author of voluminous texts on numerous topics, including biblical exegesis, ecclesiastical rites, and other spiritual and theological matters (181 books, besides hundreds of journal articles).
Father Matta is celebrated by many Copts as a reformer and a prominent figure in recent Coptic history. Following the repose of Pope Kyrillos VI in 1971, Father Matta and two others (Bishops Samuel and Shenouda) were considered as candidates for the Patriarchal throne. Bishop Shenouda was chosen to be the Coptic Pope of Alexandria.
Father Matta and Pope Shenouda share some common history. Both participated in the Sunday school movement and Matta was Shenouda's confessor in the 1950s. Pope Shenouda acknowledges his debt to his teacher, Father Matta El-Meskeen, whom he calls 'my father monk' in the introduction to his book Intelaq Al-Rouh (The Release of the Spirit).(Father Matta was also the spiritual guide of the late Alexandrian priest Father Bishoy Kamel, a contemporary Coptic Orthodox saint.)
It is undocumentedly alleged that Father Matta was suspended twice, first by Pope Yousab II in 1955, and then again by Pope Kyrillos VI for nine years from 1960 to 1969[15] for administrative/"political" (e.g., his book about the 'Church and the State', in which he called for total separation of the two) rather than for any truly theological or core dogmatic issues. However this allegation is not true at all and undocumented. Some say undocumentedly that what is called the 1960s suspension was because of Father Matta's objection to the Coptic Church signing of the Catholic Declaration of the Innocence of the Jews from the Blood of Christ. But also this allegation is not true and undocumented. The saintly Pope Kyrillos VI later insisted that Father Matta absolve and forgive him in the presence of H.E. Metropolitan Mikhail of Assiut.

Early life

Father Matta El Meskeen was born in Benha, elKaliobia, Egypt, in 1919. (One source says he was born in Damanhour, Egypt.) In 1944, he graduated in Pharmacy from the University of Cairo. In 1948, after leading a successful life and establishing a wealthy lifestyle for himself--Eskander at the time was the owner of two pharmacies, two villas, and two cars--he renounced his material possessions, and entered the Monastery of St. Samuel the Confessor in Qualmun (roughly near Maghagha, Upper Egypt). In 1951, he was ordained a priest against his will.

Monastic life

After living for a few years in the Monastery of St. Samuel the Confessor, Matta decided to move out into Wadi El Rayan in the late 1950s. There, he lived as a recluse in the spirit of the ancient Desert Fathers for twelve years. By 1960, seven other monks joined him. The community expanded to twelve by 1964. These twelve monks were sent by Pope Kyrillos VI to Wadi El Natroun in 1969 to develop the monastery of St. Macarius the Great. At that time only six elderly, frail fathers lived near the road between Cairo and Alexandria. Matta and his twelve companions cared for them while reconstructing the monastery. The administrative, agricultural, institutional, and printing/publishing developments at the renewed Monastery of St. Macarius the Great were staggering. But the spiritual revolution was much greater. By 1981 Matta had over eighty monks in the monastery.

Reviews

[Mark Rizk Farag · Rating 5 out of 5]

A thoroughly beautiful, mystical, spiritual, Christ Centred, accessible work. A collection of letters written by Fr Matthew the Poor, one of the most prolific and revered Coptic monks, to his fellow monks.

It provides a great degree of spiritual depth and consideration to the Nativity, shifting it from a historical narrative or religious story, to a personal experience with the most high.

The writing style was simple, but poetic and rich at the same time, with very short chapters and clear take away points. I highlighted most of the book!

Highly recommended for Orthodox Christians and others during the Advent period.

[Bishoy · Rating 5 out of 5]

15 Letters by Fr. Matthew the Poor that are mostly written for monks. Fr. Matthew's letters are enlightening and applicable also for lay people. The letters are filled with rich theological/spiritual meanings and an understanding of the nativity that is very personal and intimate. An understanding of a monk who experiences the joys of nativity on an ontological level and not just as a bystander at church or a person who's heavily involved with the nativity feasts (servant/deacon/monk/priest) but lacks the understanding (intellectual and practical) of the essence of the feast.

[Youssef Botros · Rating 5 out of 5]

sweetness of sorrow mingled joy

Fr. Matthew the Poor is poetic and emotional. This isn’t a theological piece. Its truth is discovered only experientially. Excellent read during the Nativity.

[Phoebe · Rating 5 out of 5]

I basically highlighted the whole book

This is a beautiful collection of letters on the Nativity. I basically highlighted the whole book. It's on my Orthodox Advent Reading list: http://beingincommunity.com/orthodox-...

[Randall Herman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Insightful letters

These letter were written by Father Matthew to fellow monks in Egypt. They all center on the Incarnation, and what that means for this world and for us.

[w gall · Rating 4 out of 5]

Exhortations to his fellow monks. Matthew the Poor connects Christ's birth with our birth in Him. I must admit that at times I really didn't get that he was getting at - probably because I am a spiritually poor well-fed American Orthodox Christian living in material comfort,. As St. Luke said, "Blessed are you who are poor." Such truly know that the Lord Is our sustenance.