The Silent Monk - St. Justus El-Antony
in Arabic with well-done English subtitles
I think this is, by far, our church's favorite video. If you haven't seen this DVD chronicling the life of St. Justus (Youstos) El-Antony, make sure to stop by the church library to rent it! As you find in all Coptic Saint videos, the music and acting are very melodramatic. But in the life of the "Silent Monk" nothing can be overdone!
The actor Ehab Sobhy does an amazing job portraying the sorrow, irony, and inner thoughts of the monk. In every situation the monk encounters, Mr. Sobhy really puts forth a convincing character in playing St. Justus.
Although Abouna Yustus's childhood was simple and his entrance into monkhood littered with obstacles, the flashbacks to the inspiration of his parents in how one should behave in church and towards God really teach great lessons in the important role of the mother and father in forming an individual. For example, in the scene where he remembers his parents offering the first fruits of their labor, we see an ideal way of interacting and learning to reach for new spiritual heights together as a family.
And of course who can ever forget Abouna Yustus's infamous line "Es-sa3a Kam Delwa2ty?" What time is it now? We'll never forget to always look to our end, to our true goal and our real treasure: the Kingdom of Heaven.