Teacher of Generations, the golden-mouthed pope and Pope of the Arabians, the words that may express the character of the reposed H.H Pope Shenouda , the 117th Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the Holy apostolic See of St. Mark. We commemorate his death on March 17.
No one would ever imagine that the child “Nazeer Gayed Roufail” who was born on August 3, 1923 in the village of Salaam, which belongs to the Governorate of Asyut in Upper Egypt, whose mother died soon after his birth, would be a Bishop of Christian Education then a Patriarch of the Holy apostolic See of St. Mark. He had a long journey from Salaam to Damanhour then to Banha with books his lifelong friends that opened doors of culture and poetry before him. However, he was fascinated with poetry that he mastered. He studied at Faculty of Arts, Department of History then at the Coptic Theological Seminary.Aftrwards,he joined the military service. He showed success in all his deeds. In the following years, he became enchanted by monasticism that attracted him to its deserts. So, he became a monk at El-Syrian monastery in 1954 and was known as Fr. Antonius El-Syriani, setting off a journey of freedom from the world’s ties to a love relationship with God. On 30/9/1962, he was chosen as a Bishop of Christian Education by the late Pope Cyril VI and known as Anba Shenouda then he was consecrated as a patriarch of the holy apostolic See of St. Mark on 14/11/1971 to serve his people for more than 40 years.
Principle in the life of Pope Shenouda the third:
Many principles were distinctive in his life. He applied them in his life then taught them to people. I will talk shortly today about his love and long-suffering.
Love:
“If you attain love, you will attain God as God is love“, this was the King’s way that he walked according to His traces. He loved God, people and our home country. God’s love filled his life and he wished to consecrate his life to Him, thus he abandoned the world with no desire whatsoever, but only a yearning to a solitary, peaceful and quiet life with God. Out of his consecrated love to God, his love for others was originated. He cared about people’s comfort and happiness even if it was at the expense of his own comfort. He constantly said that if you can’t share people’s sorrow, don’t be at least a reason to theirs. He didn’t hesitate to grant joy and comfort to all the worried and tired souls who resorted to him, thus he attracted all who know him. Love was the spring of his virtues like compassion, empathy, encouragement and deep care.
Egypt was the sun rising in the heart and mind of pope Shenouda. It was his home and wherever he went, he kept it in his heart. As he said” Egypt is our country, our motherland all what affects her, will affect us in return. Every cell in our bodies believes in Egypt and the Egyptian citizenship“. He lives his life with love and taught it to people as he said “Grow seeds of love on earth and it would turn into heaven. Remove love from earth and it would turn into a grave.”
Long suffering:
Life of Pope Shenouda was not easy; on the contrary he went through many difficult situations since he was young. He also showed steadfastness and long suffering, thus he achieved outstanding matters that exceeded his age. He came first at his class and he showed excellence during his military service. He chose to lead a solitary and ascetic life for his love for God. He also bore the pain of his illness in joy. Many times did he say that bearing a difficulty is a great virtue and bearing it joyfully is a greater one. His cheerful face that hides great pain no one knows about will amaze you and his funny words will make you happy and steal a smile on your face, thus he was an icon for true humanity during his life’s journey.
Anba Ermiah,
General Bishop& President of the Coptic Orthodox Cultural Center
