Among the series of the Coptic Orthodox Cultural Center Book issues
Recently issued: A Fragrant Biography… A Journey of Unlimited Giving… A Milestone in History… His Holiness Pope Shenouda III, the 117th Patriarch of Alexandria and the See of St. Mark.
4th of Hatour 1688 – 8th of Baramhat 1728 AM
14th of November 1971 – 17th of March 2012 AD
April 2012
In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, One God. Amen
In the name of the Coptic Church and its Holy Synod, we bid farewell, with the hope of resurrection, our beloved father, the high pastor, the chief of our priests, our teacher and father, the thirteenth among the apostles, His Holiness Pope Shenouda III. Dears, it is hard for us to receive the departure of our father who has taught us since more than half a century, as he led the Church since the first half of the past century, leaving a great impact on the Church and the entire world. His Holiness our beloved father, whose fatherhood gives us much pride, we would never forget his work with us in our church, as he sailed the Church as a skillful wise shipman. He led the renovation thought through the work of the Holy Spirit and kept the Church during the renovation from deviation. He kept the Church during the renovation through the powerful prayer, the masses held in monasteries and churches were increased greatly and he did a great work with the Holy Spirit’s aid.
He led the renovation movement in the Church through spreading true Orthodox teaching, establishing several theological institutes, so the Orthodox thought emanating from His Holiness’ cherished thought spread across the entire world. He led the movement of devotion in the Coptic Church, many youth around the world were devoted on his hands. His strong pastoral work expanded through the churches and institutions with the act of the Holy Spirit within his heart. He is the man of the wilderness, the man of prayer, the man of education and the man of patronage, we shall never forget what Pope Shenouda has made regarding the life of the entire Church.
Dears, words are unable to describe our beloved one, our leader and our pastor on whom hands we are raised, he left us an example of leadership. He was like Prophet Moses, Joshua, Nehemiah, John the Baptist and Paul the Apostle. His leadership influenced the whole world, his wise leadership made his children believe in national unity as he was a pioneer of national unity in our age.
His mighty influence and leading work caused the churches of the world to be united, we may see our brethren from different churches all over the world gathering here; Catholic churches, Greek Orthodox churches, Ethiopian churches, Syriac churches, Lutheran churches and Anglican churches. This big gathering took place thanks to his wise leadership.
Our Christian brethren from all over the world, the Muslim ones from the Middle East, the Gulf, Egypt… are seen together. This is the fruit of his strong leadership of Pope Shenouda III, the symbol of leadership.
The great work done by Pope Shenouda III is the reason behind the devotion of the youth disciples of him, in order to be preachers and ministers of the Word, whose voices went forth, onto the face of the whole earth, and their words have reached the ends of the world.
Words are incapable of expressing the status of this beloved one… Words are incapable of explaining what Pope Shenouda did in his age, yet his works would last until the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ in His glory. The Lord utters today the words: “enter to the joy of your Master”.
We pray for his intercessions in order to have a portion with him in the heavenly glory. We bid farewell to him, with hope of resurrection, telling him, “go, father to the place of your comfort and remember us before the throne of Grace, pray for the Lord to fulfill our days peacefully as yours were fulfilled”
Glory and honor be to our Lord now and forever. Amen
Abba Bakhomius, Locom Tenes Patriarch, the Metropolitan of Beheira, Matrouh, North Coast, and the Five Western Cities
