Egypt has always been associated with supernatural signs and wonders. It was in the land of Egypt that some of the most awesome Bible signs were wrought under the rod of Moses. Egyptians hunger for the supernatural, and one of the greatest miracles in the Middle-Eastern church was purportedly accomplished in Egypt. Many Egyptian Christians believe the following account to be historical fact:
In the 10th Century Fatimid Caliph Al Muizz, an enlightened man, often invited religious leaders to debate in his presence.
In one of those meetings Pope Abram, the spiritual leader of the orthodox Egyptian Christians, debated an adversary named Jacob Ibn Killis. The Coptic Pope waxed eloquent in the debate. Plotting to take revenge, Ibn Killis quoted the New Testament verse in which Jesus declared, "If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you." (Matthew 17:20)
The Caliph demanded that the Coptic Pope demonstrate the veracity of his faith by means of moving the Mokattam Mountain. (The Caliph saw a practical opportunity to remove the Mokattam, which was spoiling his view. At the same time, if the Copts proved powerless, it would signify that the Christian religion was false, and they could be destroyed.)
And so, taking the Biblical pattern found in the Book of Esther, after three days of earnest prayer and fasting by Christians throughout the land of Egypt, a simple shoemaker named Simon was chosen for his humility and faith to command the mountain to move. At that time, the Coptic Christians were engaged in handicrafts for livelihood. Simon worked in one of the crafts widespread in Old Cairo—tanning, which is a craft still known in the bazaars to make shoes and leather goods.
Simon simply believed that mountains could literally be moved, just as the Bible says! Under his faith commands, a great earthquake swept over the mountain. Each time the people stood up to worship, the mountain was thrust upwards, and the sun could be seen shining underneath it. When the people sat down, the mountain thrust down. This was repeated three times, and because of this miracle, the mountain was moved and the Christian community was saved.
Simon was never seen again. It was popularly believed that he disappeared to avoid receiving any glory or credit for the miracle. Today in Egypt he is beloved by Christians and many Muslims as Saint Simon the Tanner--St. Sama'an, in Arabic--and a monastery was dedicated to Simon nearly a thousand years after his mountain-moving miracle.
The monastery and a beautiful cave cathedral lie behind the Zabbalin village of garbage collectors. This village was established in 1969 when Cairo garbage collectors, many of whom are cultural Christians, were moved to one of the hills of the miracle Mokattam Mountain.
At the far end of the “garbage†village, awaits an unexpected, stunning place; a vast open space lying in the bosom of the hills, with dramatic colored carvings by a Polish artist decorating the miracle mountain. The artwork presents stories from the Bible such as the Holy Family’s journey to Egypt. The main Cathedral is named after St. Simon to commemorate the transfer of Mokattam Mountain in November 979. The power of God is said to be moving there. The believers in Egypt are crying out to God for major miracles to happen again in their land, and for those who are asking for prayer, See what one Prayer Can Do!!!
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