Part Four: That very year, Habeeb Guirguis started serving his church on two fronts, one as a teacher in the Theological College and the other as a traveling lay preacher. He was a truly gifted preacher, who possessed a strong voice, wide-ranging knowledge and, more importantly, a spirit that greatly affected his listeners. Fouad Basili (later Father Boulos Bassili), himself a gifted preacher, once said, "It appears to me that Habeeb Guirguis was preaching the very day he was born, for he is the archetypical preacher." It is essential to note at this juncture that Habeeb Guirguis' life was one living sermon as witnessed  by all his contemporaries. He once stood to say words of congratulation to one of the Egyptian Nationalist leaders, Ahmed Pasha el-Menshawi, on his release from a prison sentence imposed by British colonial authorities. Pasha El-Menshawi was so taken by the young man's words and courtesy that he presented him with a 250 pound cheque as a gift to express his admiration. Habeeb immediately added the amount to a fund he was collecting to repair and extend the college building.

With his usual zeal, Habeeb proceeded to buy most available land and houses around the college until he managed to amalgamate an area of more than 5000 square meters. He once convinced an elderly neighbor to will 6 acres as a gift to the college and he proceeded to purchase 365 acres of land to add to the college estate outside the upper Egyptian town of el-Menia.

Due to his tireless efforts, the Pope ordained him Archdeacon and bought him a house for 550 pounds adjoining the college property and said to him, "I give you this house Habeeb in appreciation of your efforts and sacrifice." Habeeb accepted the gift with graceful appreciation. A few days later, he brought to his Pope the house's title registered in the Pope's name. His Holiness was ever more pleased with the grace that filled the heart of his spiritual son. It was no wonder that the Pope used to visit him regularly listening attentively to his suggestions and providing him with every assistance and organizing for payments to cover the needs of the service and his own livelihood.

Habeeb Guirguis returned this Christian bond of love with his Pope. He built a special Papal suite attached to the college.When the Pope visited that suite, he was so pleased that he said: "This is the new Patriarchate. I will make this a place of residence, and whoever wants to meet me, shall meet me here." Later he said, "This time I am here for a short visit, but next time I will stay a while." Indeed, the Pope went back and stayed in that suite for a month and during his stay he

repeatedly said, "What a pity, this residence came so late in time, but it came in the fullness of time."

Habeeb Guirguis became the principal of the college in 1918, the year in which its previous principal, Youssef Mankarious departed this world. Pope Kirollos found no better than Habeeb Guirguis to take over. Habeeb, for 33 years, directed the collage with great capability. The following is a translation of the letter of appointment that the Pope wrote to his beloved son, which in itself is a display of the admiration the Pope had for him.