Basil IV

Early life Samy Tawadros Girgis (Arabic: سامي تاوضروس جرجس), in Asyut, Asyut, Egypt was born on November 1, 1923; he was the fifth of six siblings. After completing his secondary education in 1940, he travelled to Cairo and met with Archdeacon Habib Girgis, seeking to be enrolled in the Coptic Theological and Clerical College. He graduated first of his class from the Coptic Theological and Clerical College, and received a Diploma in Theology in 1943.

Following his graduation, he worked as a Christian Religious Education teacher in Rizkallah al-Mashriqi Secondary School in Girga, Sohag, Egypt. During his years in Girga, he helped establish the Rizkallah al-Mashriqi Primary School, and was appointed its Principal.

Metropolitan Basil, put much time and effort during his time to try and resolve this issue, however it has yet to be resolved.

Death On September 24, 1991, he went on a pastoral visit to the flock in Amman, Jordan. Following a long day of service, he retired to his room to rest at around midnight. When morning came and he did not exit his room, the fathers who were with him felt worried, and went in to check on him, finding him comatose on his bed. He was rushed to Luzmila Hospital, where he was diagnosed with a brain stroke. When news of this came to the then King of Jordan, King Hussein, he ordered him to be transported to the King Hussein Medical Center, to ensure that he receive effective treatment. He remained ill in the hospital, falling in and out of consciousness, and with minimal control over his body, until his death early in the morning on Sunday October 13, 1991. Upon his death, he was transported to Cairo, where the funerary rites were prayed upon him by Pope Shenouda III, in the Virgin Mary Cathedral, Zeitoun. He was buried in a specially prepared tomb in the Monastery of Saint Anthony, in the Red Sea Wilderness.

Published works He wrote a great number of books including:

Analytical Study of the Book of Zachariah ; (published as a periodical column in the "Awakening Magazine ", 1943–1945) Strong Arguments Against Protestant Delusions ; Star of the Wilderness (Arabic: كوكب البرية); (1950) The Age of the Councils (Arabic: عصر المجامع); (1952) Saint Cyril the Pillar of the Faith ; The Pillar of Religion and Rock of Faith ; The Copts During the Islamic Invasion ; The Orthodoxy of the Coptic Church ; (written in Greek) The Coptic Orthodox Right of Ownership of Deir al-Sultan ; (1961)