Early years and background: 

H.G. Bishop Biemen was born Gaballah which means “God’s gift,” on December 19, 1959, at El-Hawatka Island, Manfalut city, Assiut Governorate.  He received his bachelor’s degree in civil engineering in 1982 from Assiut University. 

His life has always revolved around church since his youth; and during his secondary school, he served the Lord in most of the surrounding villages of Manfalut (Manqabad, Sallam, Al-Adr, Nag Sabaa Bani Hussein, Elwan, Al-Bura).  At the same time, he regularly visited the Monastery of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Muharraq); as he wished to live a life of monasticism. 

On October 01, 1985, he joined Al Muharraq Monastery as a novice and was ordained a monk on October 15, 1986, by the name of Reweis El-Muharraqi.  During his monastic life, he used his talent in civil engineering on different construction projects at the monastery. 

He was very meek and kind, so all the monastery workers loved him. He took care of their spiritual needs as much as he cared for their physical demands, and continually increased in wisdom, stature, and grace. 

After the departure of the Thrice Blessed Bishop Makarios, Bishop of Qena, Naqada, Qus, Deshna, the Red Sea and the affiliated areas, H. H. Pope Shenouda III, in his wisdom, divided this huge diocese into the following four dioceses: – 

Diocese of Deshna 

Diocese of Qena 

Diocese of Naqada and Qus 

Diocese of the Red Sea 

Ordination as a Bishop: 

1991. H. Pope Shenouda III with the Holy Synod of the Coptic Orthodox Church consecrated him as the first Shepherd and Bishop of the newly formed Diocese of Naqada and Qus and he was given the name Biemen in formal ceremonies on May 26, 1991.

Immediately, he started to carefully study all the needs of his diocese.  He began with major constructions at the Blessed Virgin Mary and Archangel Michael churches north of Naqada, Holy Cross Monastery south of Naqada, the Monastery of the Archangel Michael west of Naqada, and St. Stephen the Martyr church at Qus.  This work extended to involve all the eight monasteries and nine churches of the diocese.  All these projects stood as a testament to the tremendous effort and love he has put into the well-being of his congregation and their future generations. 

More importantly, he initiated a direly needed spiritual movement that restored to Naqada its place in worship as the old saying (Naqada is the place of fasting and worship) described.  This spiritual movement focused on Sunday School Service for all age groups, from primary school children to college and university graduates.  Great attention has been given to Bible studies, learning the church chants, and Coptic Language as well as multiple cultural activities according to each educational level.  

Responsibilities in the Holy Synod: 

H.G. Biemen has been active in the following Holy Synod committees: 

Faith, Education and Legislation Committee 

Pastoral Care Committee 

Crisis management committee 

Public Relations Committee 

H.G. Bishop Biemen was appointed by H. H. Pope Tawadros II in 2013 to oversee the Coptic / Ethiopian Church relations.   

Within his role in the Crisis management committee, H.G. Bishop Biemen dealt with the conflict between the Coptic and the Ethiopian Churches regarding Al Soultan Monastery, and in addition, he was responsible for the burnt churches file following the dispersal of the sit-ins in Rabaa and Al-Nahda in 2013. 

We ask our Almighty God to keep H.G. Bishop Biemen for many peaceful years through th