www.suscopticdiocese.org/evangelism/frames/history_of_2 -
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Published on: 6/12/2002
Last Visited: 9/10/2003
Bishop Antonius Markos:
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When he was a student in the Medicine College in Cairo, Egypt, he was assigned to a serve as a Sunday school teacher in a small village.When he started serving people there, he saw the needs of others in remote areas and across the cultural barrier to hear about the Lord.He decided to go to evangelize in Africa. . At that time the focus of the church was in the pastoral area so he received no encouragement.However, he did not give up, but continued to pray and communicate with those who could help him.One time he went to the airport at 2:00 AM to talk to two bishops, who were traveling to Ethiopia to ask their assistance in finding him a way to start his missionary work in Africa.The call to evangelism was very strong in his life that it became his dream, his passionate desire, and his heart longing.
One of the two bishops obtained an agreement from the Department of Health in Ethiopia to let the new doctor work as a physician.He welcomed that offer based on the fact that St. Paul worked as a ‘Tent Maker' and as an evangelist at the same time.However, a few days before leaving to Ethiopia a presidential decree was issued, forbidding doctors to leave Egypt.In his sadness he went to his room and cried to God for a long time.In the middle of his prayers, he saw a great vision, a luminous person standing in the center of the room looking at him.This person was dressed in white vestments, his face was shining and a hallo of light surrounded his head.He lifted his hands and said: "You shall go to Africa and God will be with you and work through you."
His Ordination As a Bishop:
Afterwards he went to Ethiopia to work as a physician and at the same time to lead a revival in the ministry to children and youth that reached tens of thousands.Not before long, he returned to Egypt to become a monk.Then, in 1975 he traveled to Kenya to start his long missionary work that was full of tribulations and dangers.After having a back surgery, he returned to Egypt.In 1976, he was ordained as a bishop and was given the name of Bishop Antonius Markos.
Characteristics of Bishop Antonius Markos:
Bishop Antonius Markos is one of the great missionary workers of the Orthodox Church.His name and his life should be recorded in the history of evangelism.
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Since we are serious about evangelism in America, I think we have to ask ourselves the same questions Bishop Antonius Markos asked about the new indigenous churches.
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Bishop Antonius Markos succeeded in evangelism in Africa, because he clearly see what is Egyptian cultural and what is Biblical/traditional.
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For Bishop Antonius Markos, November 1, 2001 marks spending of twenty- five years in his evangelism in Africa.He started alone and stayed alone for years.He suffered a lot in the beginning of his service in Kenya.For many years he saw no fruits but he was patient.A good lesson in evangelism is patience.He offered himself as a good example of a Christian and an evangelist that attracted others.
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In regards to H.G. Bishop Antonius Markos, we pray to our beloved God to support his service.His two books "Story of Our Coptic Orthodox Church in Africa In our present time" and "An Introduction to the Theology of Missions," are very valuable books.Although, Bishop Antonius Markos is one of the greatest evangelists and thinkers, however, so far he did not write about his thoughts and principles of evangelism.Such writings would be great contribution to the evangelistic thought and theology.We pray that God gives him the strength to write down his evangelistic thoughts.
References:1- H.G. Bishop Antonius Markos, Come Across And Help Us, The Story of Our Coptic Orthodox Church in Africa In our present time, book one, by, Coptic Bishopric of African Affairs, Cairo 1988, page 182
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2- H.G. Bishop Antonius Markos ,Come Across And Help Us, The Story of Our Coptic Orthodox Church in Africa In our present time, book two, Coptic Bishopric of African Affairs, Cairo 1996.
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3- H.G. Bishop Antonius Markos, An Introduction Into Theology of Mission, 1997, Coptic Bishopric of African Affairs, Cairo 1997
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