Part Two: The most noteable of the lay leaders of that age was Archdeacon Habeeb Guirguis, who was so outstanding not only because of his momentous deeds, but also because of the number of brilliant disciples he left behind, who followed his path and also wrote at length about his achievements since his death in 1951.

This giant man, who lived to the age of seventy-five, dedicated his whole life to the service of his church, even refusing marriage in order to channel time and many talents to its service. His vision was to see the resurrection of the glories of the church and he went about the task with unwavering love and enthusiasm. The main traits of his service were his perfection and comprehensiveness, and the combination of hard work with vision. In that he achieved the mark of greatness as stated by our Lord Jesus Christ, “...he who does (these commandments) and teaches them shall be called great in the kingdom of Heaven...”

Habeeb Guirguis was born in Cairo in 1876, his father hailed from the upper Egyptian town of Tema. He was only four years old when his father died, and his mother brought him up on Christian principles and nurtured his love of the church since his early childhood. If not for his upbringing, he would unlikely have had such burning love for his church and he would not have fought so hard to advance its cause.

He was educated in the "Great Coptic School" (Madraset elaqbat el-kubra) established by Pope Kirollos IV - father of the reform. He was ordained a deacon and remained at the side of Pope Kirollos V throughout his patriarchate. His photograph in deacon's vestments beside the Pope in his celebratory vestments is one which left a deep impression on me when I first saw it enlarged and framed on the walls of the headquarters of the Education Episcopal Office in Cairo.

With the end of the early stormy years of the Patriarchate of Pope Kirollos V, and especially after the bitter disputes launched by "El-Tawfik Coptic Association" members who were also members of the Coptic Community Council, the Pope began the process of reform. The cornerstone of that process was the preparation of a newly educated and enlightened priesthood.

In July 1893, the Pope thought of establishing a theological college which would provide the opportunity of learning for those called to become servants of the altar. Naturally the  establishment of such an institution required funds. For this the Pope chose his disciple, the bright young deacon, Habeeb Guirguis, who was seventeen years of age at the time, to tour the country in order to ask those who love their church to give what they can in order to establish the college.