Saint Samaan the Tanner lived towards the end of the tenth century AD. He was a contemporary of the Saint Bishop Abram Ibn Zaraa the Syrian, who occupied the seat of St. Mark in 975 AD and rested in peace in 979 AD. A severe and overwhelming famine came upon all of Egypt under the reign of the Ikhshidid Empire, namely between AD 934 to AD 968, shortly before the Fatimid Empire was established, under which the miracle of moving the mountain took place.
The miracle took place circa AD 979, so Saint Samaan must have lived through this famine, which sent more than half a million people to their early graves..
These Ministry must have left an impression on the Saint's soul and made him renounce pleasure in worldly things- as we shall see....
