H.H. Pope Shenouda III wrote in El Keraza magazine issue 17 November 1978 about St. Bishoy Monastery:
“St. Bishoy Monastery was about to be lost. In 1961, Bishop and Abbot Basilius of St. Bishoy monastery declared that he was unable to manage the monastery.
The monks complained to H.H. Pope Cyril VI that they could not find the necessity of life, whom he appointed Bishop and Abbot Theophilos of Al Syrian Monastery to supervise its spending, and pay all its debts, however the monastic and architectural development needed the hands of God.
When H.H. Pope Shenouda III was enthroned 117th Patriarch, the monastery had only ten monks, four monks were living inside its walls while the other six served outside the monastery H.H. consecrated Bishop and Abbot Sarapamon for St. Bishoy Monastery.
The monastic and architectural renaissance began at H.H. Pope Shenouda III era. Today the number of monks reach Two hundred, Twenty five live as hermits in solidarity in their own cells inside and outside the monastery, and never come out except if needed, like Father Yostos Anba Bishoy and Father Pephnotious Anba Bishoy.
