Nurtured in the Ways of the Lord

“Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.” [Proverbs 22:6]

Elia Ibrahim Azer was born on August 27th, 1951 (Mesore 21, 1667), in Sohag, Egypt, on the Feast of Saint Mary. He was the third child among seven siblings, born to loving parents Ibrahim Azer Abdelmessih and Enayat Halim Andrawis. The Azer family lived in a spacious seven-bedroom home with both grandmothers, parents, seven children, and a few live-in housekeepers.On their rooftop, they raised various species of birds, providing young Elia with a simple yet enjoyable pastime as he spent his days watching and exploring with his brothers.

His parents, devout Christians, instilled in him and his siblings a deep love for faith from an early age. Ibrahim, an English professor, was particularly committed to both education and religious devotion. Each morning, before their studies, he would wake the children at 4 a.m. to pray the Agpeya together, intoning an Arabic phrase (الصبح الصبح الصبيح … شق النور المليح … اتكالي واعتمادي عليك يا سيدي يسوع المسيح) loosely translated as “The morning, the bright morning… the beautiful light has dawned. … My reliance and dependence are upon You, O my Lord Jesus Christ.” This daily ritual laid the cornerstone for Elia’s affection for the Agpeya prayers. Subsequently, Ibrahim would sit with them and tutor them, taking great pride in Elia’s academic achievements, as he consistently ranked at the top of his class in school.

Forging His Identity: Entrusting his path to God

“Commit your way to the Lord, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass.” [Psalm 37:5]

As he grew, Elia encountered several role models who profoundly influenced his life. The first among them was a peer known for his exceptional work ethic and active involvement in the church. From a young age, Elia was driven by a strong desire to dedicate his life to serving the church. He was determined to find a balance between his life of service and the hard work he was already growing into.

Although his father had hopes for Elia to follow in his older brother’s footsteps and pursue a career in medicine, Elia was resolute in his desire to forge his own path in life. Inspired by the local pharmacist, another of his role models, he set his sights on a career in pharmacy, determined to chart his own course. Turning to prayer, he beseeched St. Mary to intercede on his behalf, imploring God to grant him the opportunity to study pharmacy. In time, his prayers were answered.

During his years in pharmacy school, Elia visited London for a few months on his own in his early 20s, and worked there. Impressed by his dedication and admirable character, his employer offered to sponsor his further education in London. However, Elia declined this generous offer and returned home to complete his studies. Following graduation, he was drafted into the army. Upon his discharge, he wasted no time in establishing his own pharmacy, El Se7a (Health), in El Nekhela.

During this time, he became engaged to Soheir Labib Kaldas. Later, he briefly rejoined the army for about a year. Upon his return, at around the age of 27 on August 1st, 1978, Elia married Soheir.