[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 115 (Wednesday, September 8, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1802]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  IN HONOR OF THE VERY REVEREND FATHER MIKHAIL EDWARD MIKHAIL, D. MIN

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. DENNIS J. KUCINICH

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, September 8, 1999

  Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the Very Reverend 
Father Mikhail E. Mikhail, D. Min who celebrates the Silver Jubilee of 
the Priestly Ordination for 25 years of service at the Saint Mark 
Coptic Orthodox Church of Cleveland.
  The Very Rev. Fr. Mikhail E. Mikhail began his service to God at a 
young age as a student of several Coptic Orthodox Church leaders in 
Cairo, Egypt. He excelled in his studies and was fortunate to enter the 
Coptic Orthodox Theological Seminary in Caro which he came under the 
patronage of his most influential mentor, H. H. Pope Shenouda III, who 
was the H.G. Shenouda, Bishop of the Christian Education and Dean of 
the Seminary.
  In 1972, the Very Rev. Fr. Mikhail, then Deacon Mounier, graduated 
from the Seminary and was assigned to serve at St. Mary Coptic Orthodox 
Church in Masarra Shoubra in Cairo. Shortly after, he became the first 
consecrated deacon to serve in the United States at the St. Mary & St. 
Antonius in Queens, New York. Only a year later, in 1974, he was called 
back to Cairo and on May 11, 1974 Deacon Mounir married Seham Samuel. 
On August 23, 1974 Deacon Mounier was ordained the Priest Mikhail 
Edward Mikhail by H. H. Pope Shenouda III at St. Marks Cathedral.
  In 1975, Fr. Mikhail and his wife arrived in Cleveland to begin his 
new ministry as the first resident pastor of the St. Mark Coptic 
Orthodox Church. Here he served a community which was about fifty 
families large as well as other Coptic communities in Columbus, Dayton 
and Cincinnati in Ohio; and Pittsburgh Pennsylvania and Minneapolis-St. 
Paul, Minnesota.
  Fr. Mikhail took the lead in the building of a new church in 
Cleveland in the traditional Coptic style which officially opened in 
1988. The Very Rev. Fr. Mikhail has dedicated his life in the past 25 
years to the spiritual growth and enhancement of the Coptic community 
in Cleveland. As a result of his guidance there has been a revived 
interest in true Coptic Orthodox religious practices that have brought 
people closer to God. As a father, a teacher, and friend, the Very Rev. 
Fr. Mikhail has been a blessing to the Coptic community both in 
Cleveland and abroad.
  My Fellow colleagues, join me in honoring the Very Rev. Fr. Mikhail, 
a man who has dedicated his life to God, freedom and the well-being of 
all people.

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