Saint Bishoy

Saint Bishoy was born around 320 AD in the Shansit area of Egypt, the seventh of seven sons. His mother dedicated him to God from birth, and he entered the desert at a young age to become a monk. He settled in the Nitrian Desert under the guidance of the famous St. Pambo.

Saint Bishoy was known for his extraordinary love and humility. God gave him a specific instruction: welcome every stranger and wash their feet, for you might be serving one of the saints or even an angel. One evening, an old, weary traveler appeared at Bishoy's cell. Bishoy welcomed him, washed his feet with great care, and offered him food. As the old man was leaving, he turned — and Bishoy realized he was in the presence of Jesus Himself.

After this encounter, St. Bishoy's holiness deepened even further. He is said to have spent so many nights in prayer, tying his hair to the ceiling so he would not fall asleep, that he was able to stand in prayer for entire nights without rest. His body rests in the Monastery of St. Bishoy in Wadi El Natrun, which is one of the most visited monasteries in Egypt. His relics are incorrupt — preserved miraculously by God after more than 1,600 years.