U.S. Copts Association

By Nader Shukry

The palace of Heshmat Pasha, which was owned by the Upper Egyptian Coptic, landowning Abadir family, lies in Deir Mawwas, Minya, in Upper Egypt, some 250kms south of Cairo. It sprawls over some 22 qirats (approximately 3,850sq.m) of land. Father Wissa Sobhy of Deir Mawwas bishopric told Watani that until 1988 Deir Mawwas was part of the parish of Dairut, but the growing congregation and parish duties led Pope Shenouda III to establish Deir Mawwas as a separate parish. Anba Aghabius was ordained as bishop of Deir Mawwas, and the Abadir family decided to donate their palace to the newly-formed bishopric, to be the seat of the bishop.
At that time Egypt was going through an increased wave of violence at the hands of the Muslim Brotherhood (MB), whose members were attacking Copts and their property. During this time of unrest, and before Anba Aghabius was seated, the MB attempted to seize the palace. One Friday in 1989 following noon prayers, a Muslim group attacked the premises, stealing antiquities and silver pieces. Some of them endeavoured to turn the palace into a mosque with one of them climbing up the roof dome to call for prayers (azan). However, police were alerted to the danger and fired tear gas. Their attempts to repel the attackers failed, but the one on the roof was killed.

“The police held a reconciliation session between the MB and the Deir Mawwas Copts, but tried in turn to seize the palace on the pretext of using it for public purposes,” Fr Wissa said. From then on the police kept their hands on the palace in order, so they said, to secure its safety. Fr Wissa said the security forces expected the Orthodox Church to give up the palace, but all endeavours failed and the Church hung on. Finally in 2006, after lengthy negotiations with security, the palace was handed to the Bishopric.
In the meantime all remaining furniture in the palace had been trashed. After being assured that the terms with security was settled, the palace was restored and a license was issued to build a fence around it.
The restored palace, now known as the Karma Building (The Vineyard), is used for social services, and as a sportive and cultural club.