Monastery of Saint Macarius (Dayr Abū Maqār) in Wādī al-Natrūn is witnessing a crisis among monks who want Bishop Mikhael of Asyut to become the head of the monastery once again.

Nearly 70 monks, disciples of Father Mattá al-Miskīn, collected signatures and sent a memo to acting patriarch Bishop Pachomius, asking him for the return of Bishop Mikhael who resigned for unknown reasons, denying that it was for his health as it was being circulated.

A well-informed source from the Coptic Orthodox Holy Synod said that Bishop Paphontius of Samallūt requested the attendance of the excommunicated Bishops such as Bishop Tiklā of Dishnā, Bishop Mattias of al-Mahallah and Bishop Amonius of Luxor. However, Bishop Bīshūy, the secretary-general of the Holy Synod, refused. That came during the meeting of the Holy Synod on March 27. [Ahmad al-Sa’dāwī, al-Shurūq al-Jadīd, March 29, p. 3] Read original text in Arabic