Beautiful Egypt 199 – Phases – March 26, 2017

   In the previous article, we tackled the storms that troubled reposed Pope Shenouda III’s life. They started with the loss of his mother and his lonely childhood when books were his only friends. Yet, all these were God’s plans to prepare a profound, broad-minded character full of tenderness and kindness. He used to say, “Sympathize with people. Don’t misunderstand them. Everybody has his own circumstances. We have to understand the truth, instead of misjudging them.” Pope Shenouda’s profound character was estranged from the world, and yearned to God, which manifested itself in the poems he wrote at that time, among which was one he penned in 1946. It reads,

I left the world’s allure
and neglected its cohorts
Away I went on a journey
far from its delights
With a heart set free
from all mundane cravings
And ears purified
from the din of its inhabitants
Here, I roam alone 
and happy in the valleys
With my harp and flute
singing sweet hymnals
and alone with my Creator
spending such holy hours
I walk like a shadow 
which troubles its seers
I live a stranger
a visitor like my fathers

   During his last university year, he was preparing himself to dedicate his life to monasticism, which is why he joined the Theology Seminary. Thus, his readings included general culture and religion: for he was a prolific reader. Likewise, he learnt, memorized, and wrote poetry. He studied history and religious discourses. He excelled in his studies. Career-wise, he worked at the Theology Seminary after graduation as a chief-editor of the “Sunday School Magazine”. Then, he became a teacher at the Monks School, Helwan. Additionally, he used to hold sessions at various churches and undertake lots of ministries of which one was running an orphanage. He spoke about this, saying, “I took over the administration of an orphanage in Shoubra. The orphans called me, ‘dad’, though I was too young to be a father! I loved those orphans exceedingly, and treated them informally. So, they felt I was their friend, not the manager. I was quite careful about their feelings. I treated them as friends, helped them with their studies as well as social issues.”

   He published several articles about rearing orphans. They were entitled, “Treat Them Gently”. Indeed, the pains and tribulations that alighted on Pope Shenouda gave rise to great culture and abundant love for all people which manifested itself in such ministries. He tried to help everybody. At that time, Nazir Gayed wanted to acquire more virtues, which refined his character.

The Egyptian Officer

   Though university students at that time were entitled to an exemption from military service, young Nazir Gayed volunteered in the army when he was a university student! He spent three years at the army performing military exercise at Sidi Bishr, then al-Mandara to rank first among the graduates of the Infantry School. This training imparted lots of traits on him. He said, “I learnt lots of virtues at the army, namely, organization, seriousness, meticulousness, vitality, and self-reliance. We used to wake up early. Each would arrange his bed and go to work actively. That period was quite beneficial, both physically and psychologically: for there were athletic and practical exercises that required patience, obedience, and discipline.

The Secluded Monk

   His heart chose to live for and through God. He decided to delve deep into divine love, which is why he wrote, “I want nothing from the world: for there is nothing I desire from it… I want nothing from the world: for it is too poor to grant me anything. If the world had anything I want, earth would become heaven! Yet, as I can see, it is still earth… I want nothing from the world for I do not belong to the world: for all I desire is to get rid of the world; I want to depart from it…” Thus, young Nazir became monk Antonius of Syrian Monastery in 1954, for he took holy orders at St. Mary’s Monastery, also known as Syrian Monastery. Then, he secluded himself in a cave located three and a half kilometers away from the Monastery, after which he moved to another located twelve kilometers away from the Monastery.

The Bishop of Education

   The life of seclusion was not the end of monk Antonius of Syrian Monastery’s path. In fact, his life which God had taken care of and planned ever since his birth took a new path. All of God’s previous preparation was a progenitor of a great divine goal, namely, leading the Coptic Orthodox Church. The first step was choosing monk Antonius bishop of Education against his will and attempt to evade any position that tied him to the world! In 1959, he became Pope Kirollos VI’s private secretary. Yet, he preferred returning to the life of solitude and retreat.

   Monk Antonius was ordained bishop when Pope Kirollos VI summoned him for an urgent matter. At the end of the meeting, and as he was leaving, Pope Kirollos laid his hand on him suddenly, declaring him bishop of Education and giving him the name “Abba Shenouda”! He wrote about this saying, “There was no empty diocese at that time. So, I was the first general bishop to be ordained in this generation. Pope Kirollos VI told me, ‘You are not entitled to leave this place anymore! I found myself in an awkward situation. So, I remembered a phrase uttered by Prophet Jeremiah, “Lord, I know that people’s lives are not their own; it is not for them to direct their steps.” I had to succumb to the status quo. Then clerical rituals took place, and I was ordained bishop on September, 1962.”
Thus, his Grace Abba Shenouda undertook his role as General Bishop of Religious Institutes and Ecclesiastical Education and Upbringing. He had various activities, such as teaching at religious institutes, preaching, issuing al-Keraza magazine and so on. Then, he was chosen first president of the Middle East Association for Theological Education (MEATE). He also gave a lot of attention to university assemblies.

The Patriarch of St. Mark’s See

   After the departure of Pope Kirollos VI, his Grace Bishop Shenouda was chosen patriarch and enthroned on St. Mark’s See on November 14, 1971, only to embark on a journey of giving that lasted for more than four decades. His great character manifested itself to be admired by everybody. Incidents and tribulations granted him great experience and extensive wisdom, in addition to tenderness that made him treat everybody kindly and gently, though this was at the expense of his own comfort, preferring others to himself.

   Ahmed Bahgat wrote about him, saying, “How beautiful it is to listen to Pope Shenouda. He is broadly cultured, deep sighted, and lived through his era with a tender heart and open mind… May God bless you, sir! May God bless your kind heart, cultured mind, and great awareness of religions’ missions and the core of history and civilization!”

   Pope Shenouda’s life was full of difficulties and tribulations which are quite unbearable. Yet, God granted him lots of potential: brilliance and an ability to understand and recall. All these worked to create a personality cherished and appreciated by everybody, which is why he is one of Egypt’s history’s landmarks. Such stories never end in Beautiful Egypt.

General Bishop
Head of the Coptic Orthodox Cultural Center