{"id":44692,"date":"2017-03-26T14:35:49","date_gmt":"2017-03-26T12:35:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/copticocc.org\/site\/?p=44692"},"modified":"2017-04-06T10:00:03","modified_gmt":"2017-04-06T08:00:03","slug":"%d9%85%d8%b5%d8%b1-%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%ad%d9%84%d9%88%d8%a9-199-%d9%85%d9%90%d9%8e%d8%ad%d8%b7%d8%a7%d8%aa-2632017","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/copticocc.org\/en\/%d9%85%d8%b5%d8%b1-%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%ad%d9%84%d9%88%d8%a9-199-%d9%85%d9%90%d9%8e%d8%ad%d8%b7%d8%a7%d8%aa-2632017\/","title":{"rendered":"Beautiful Egypt 199 \u2013 Phases \u2013 March 26, 2017"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0In the previous article, we tackled the storms that troubled reposed Pope Shenouda III\u2019s life. They started with the loss of his mother and his lonely childhood when books were his only friends. Yet, all these were God\u2019s plans to prepare a profound, broad-minded character full of tenderness and kindness. He used to say,<\/span>\u00a0\u201cSympathize with people. Don\u2019t misunderstand them. Everybody has his own circumstances. We have to understand the truth, instead of misjudging them.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0Pope Shenouda\u2019s 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,<\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n

I left the world\u2019s allure<\/span>
\nand neglected its cohorts<\/span>
\nAway I went on a journey<\/span>
\nfar from its delights<\/span>
\nWith a heart set free<\/span>
\nfrom all mundane cravings<\/span>
\nAnd ears purified<\/span>
\nfrom the din of its inhabitants<\/span>
\nHere, I roam alone\u00a0<\/span>
\nand happy in the valleys<\/span>
\nWith my harp and flute<\/span>
\nsinging sweet hymnals<\/span>
\nand alone with my Creator<\/span>
\nspending such holy hours<\/span>
\nI walk like a shadow\u00a0<\/span>
\nwhich troubles its seers<\/span>
\nI live a stranger<\/span>
\na visitor like my fathers<\/span><\/h2>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0During 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 \u201cSunday School Magazine\u201d. 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,<\/span>\u00a0\u201cI took over the administration of an orphanage in Shoubra. The orphans called me, \u2018dad\u2019, 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.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0He published several articles about rearing orphans. They were entitled, \u201cTreat Them Gently\u201d. 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.<\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n

The Egyptian Officer<\/span><\/h2>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0Though 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,<\/span>\u00a0\u201cI 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.<\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n

The Secluded Monk<\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0His heart chose to live for and through God. He decided to delve deep into divine love, which is why he wrote,<\/span>\u00a0\u201cI want nothing from the world: for there is nothing I desire from it\u2026 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\u2026 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\u2026\u201d<\/span>\u00a0Thus, young Nazir became monk Antonius of Syrian Monastery in 1954, for he took holy orders at St. Mary\u2019s 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.<\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n

The Bishop of Education<\/span><\/h2>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0The life of seclusion was not the end of monk Antonius of Syrian Monastery\u2019s path. In fact, his life which God had taken care of and planned ever since his birth took a new path. All of God\u2019s 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\u2019s private secretary. Yet, he preferred returning to the life of solitude and retreat.<\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0Monk 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 \u201cAbba Shenouda\u201d! He wrote about this saying, \u201cThere 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, \u2018You are not entitled to leave this place anymore! I found myself in an awkward situation. So, I remembered a phrase uttered by Prophet Jeremiah,<\/span>\u00a0\u201cLord, I know that people\u2019s lives are not their own; it is not for them to direct their steps.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0I had to succumb to the status quo. Then clerical rituals took place, and I was ordained bishop on September, 1962.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\nThus, 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.<\/span><\/h2>\n

The Patriarch of St. Mark\u2019s See<\/span><\/h2>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0After the departure of Pope Kirollos VI, his Grace Bishop Shenouda was chosen patriarch and enthroned on St. Mark\u2019s 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.<\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0Ahmed Bahgat wrote about him, saying, \u201cHow 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\u2026 May God bless you, sir! May God bless your kind heart, cultured mind, and great awareness of religions\u2019 missions and the core of history and civilization!\u201d<\/span><\/h2>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0Pope Shenouda\u2019s 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\u2019s history\u2019s landmarks. Such stories never end in Beautiful Egypt.<\/span><\/h2>\n

General Bishop<\/span>
\nHead of the Coptic Orthodox Cultural Center<\/span><\/h2>\n

<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0In the previous article, we tackled the storms that troubled reposed Pope Shenouda III\u2019s life. They started with the loss of his mother and his lonely childhood when books were his only friends. Yet, all these were God\u2019s plans to prepare a profound, broad-minded character full of tenderness and kindness. He used […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":58,"featured_media":19638,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[51],"tags":[6391,6389,8078,14114,682,7996],"class_list":["post-44692","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-articles","tag-almasry-alyoum","tag-beautiful-egypt","tag-phases","tag-14114","tag-682","tag-7996"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/copticocc.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44692"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/copticocc.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/copticocc.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/copticocc.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/58"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/copticocc.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=44692"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/copticocc.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44692\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":45289,"href":"https:\/\/copticocc.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44692\/revisions\/45289"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/copticocc.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/19638"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/copticocc.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=44692"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/copticocc.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=44692"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/copticocc.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=44692"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}