Pope Shenouda III

OBJECTIVE

Contemplate and understand Pope Shenouda III's life and the great example of spirituality, humility, and love he gave to us.

INTRODUCTION & HOOK - 10 Minutes

Please review the previous week's lesson. (5 minutes)

The Story of Pope Shenouda and the Dying Woman (5 minutes)

Also can play an excerpt of sermon, QA, or footage of Pope Shenouda to engage students.

In his book Experiences in Life, Pope Shenouda shares many insights and stories from his life. Here's one beautiful example:

There was a devout woman who was ill with cancer. She turned to God with prayers; communion and fasts were held for her. Cancer entered a very critical stage and when her final hour approached, she called for me.

At that time, I was a bishop and was able to visit people more than I can now, so I went to her and stood beside her bed listening to her complaints.

She told me, "I am very sad because many doubts are going round in my thoughts about whether prayer, fasting, and communion are of any value, and where are God's mercy and response?

So often I have prayed for these thoughts to leave me but they persist and I get anxious and say, "Shall I lose my life now, and lose my chance of eternal life too, because of these doubts?"

So I said to her, "Do not be anxious, for they are not your thoughts. They are just doubts which the devil casts into your mind. Your prayers prove that you do not accept them and these thoughts are not from you. God will not allow a good woman like you to suffer here and in eternity as well. You are like Lazarus who received his full share of misfortunes on earth but was deemed worthy to go to the arms of Abraham on his way to a happy eternity with God. If God wants to take you to Him, this is not against His mercy nor against prayer, for eternity is a delight which the saints eagerly desire."

Then I read an absolution for her and she relaxed and departed, to the amazement of the devils who fight the saints even at the hour of death

HOLY SCRIPTURE - 5 Minutes

Pope Shenouda was famous for always reminding his sheep about what our focus should be: doing God's will. Let's read this passage from James 4:13-17:

"Come now, you who say, 'Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit'; whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. Instead, you ought to say, 'If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.' But now you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil.

Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin."

Memory Verse - "If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that." (James 4:15)

CONTENT (KEY POINTS) - 15 Minutes

From his youth until the day he died, Pope Shenouda was focused on doing God's will through serving in love.

The Thrice-Blessed H.H. Pope Shenouda III of Blessed Memory was the 117th Pope of Alexandria. He was born Nazeer Gayed on August 3, 1923, in the Upper Egyptian province of Assiut. He was the youngest of eight children. By the age of sixteen, Nazeer began service in the Sunday School of St. Anthony's Church in Shoubra, Cairo, where he also went to school.

In 1943, Nazeer entered the University of Cairo and completed a Bachelor of Arts in English and history while he spent his summer vacations at the Monastery of St. Mary (El-Souryan). Although at this time only graduate students were admitted to the evening classes at the Coptic Theological Seminary, Dean Archdeacon St. Habib Girgis admitted Nazeer while he was still in his final year of undergraduate study.

After graduation from the University of Cairo in 1947, Nazeer completed his military service and began work as a teacher of English and history. Meanwhile, he completed his Bachelor of Theology, and the Dean appointed him as a lecturer in the Old and New Testaments. In 1950, Nazeer resigned from his secular employment to take a full-time lecturing position. In 1953, he was appointed a lecturer at the Monastic College in Helwan.

The road to monasticism was a natural consequence of his desire to consecrate his life to Christ. He once said, "I found in monasticism a life of complete freedom and clarification." He joined El-Souryan Monastery in Wadi El-Natroun and, a year later, he was ordained a priest, taking the name Fr. Antonious (Anthony) El-Souryani. In 1959, St. Pope Kyrillos VI appointed Fr. Antonious as his personal secretary.

On September 30, 1962, St. Pope Kyrillos VI ordained him as Bishop Shenouda, the first bishop for Christian Education. He became the President and Dean of the Theological Seminary. Under his presidency, women were admitted to the College and several were appointed lecturers.

On March 9, 1971, St. Pope Kyrillos VI departed in peace. Bishop Shenouda was nominated and, on October 31, 1971, the altar ballot was conducted during the Divine Liturgy on the Feast of Saint Reweis. It was joyfully declared that God's chosen shepherd for His church was His Grace Bishop Shenouda, Bishop of Education.

On November 14, 1971, in Saint Mark's Cathedral in Cairo, Pope Shenouda III was enthroned as 117th Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of Saint Mark. He became the first patriarch of Alexandria since the fifth century to have been Dean of the Theological Seminary. He established other branches of the seminary in Egypt, as well as three graduate institutes: Biblical Studies, Hymnology, and Coptic Language.

An extraordinary lecturer, writer, and poet, Pope Shenouda had a way with words. His sermons uplifted the hearts of his children; he wrote more than eighty books on a variety of subjects that have been important for Copts and non-Copts.

During the early years of his papacy, Pope Shenouda had a friendly relationship with the late Egyptian President Anwar El-Sadat. However, during his presidency, violent Islamic fundamentalist groups increased all over Egypt, especially in the universities. They started to attack the Copts, vandalize their businesses, and burn their churches, which led Pope Shenouda to protest to the government against this repeated violence. Sadat reacted by issuing a presidential decree to exile His Holiness to the Monastery of St. Bishoy; imprison eight bishops, twenty-four priests, and leading Coptic lay figures; and ban "El-Keraza" magazine and "Watany" newspaper.

Despite having to spend forty months -- nearly four years -- away from his flock, His Holiness continued to care for his church. He saw the exile as an opportunity for spiritual retreat and wrote sixteen books during that time.

A month after his decree, Sadat was assassinated by the same fundamentalist groups. After much effort from His Holiness's children inside and outside the Coptic Orthodox Church, and after three and a half years, the succeeding Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, released Pope Shenouda from exile. Accompanied by many bishops, His Holiness returned to St. Mark's Cathedral in Cairo, where more than ten thousand people filled the Cathedral to receive the Pope.

His Holiness, after praying the Prayer of thanksgiving, greeted the flock with these words: "I have no residence except in your hearts, which are full of love. I have never been away from your hearts, not even for a twinkle of an eye." He went on to say "I would like to do my best to deepen love, peace, and reconciliation between the Church and the State, between the Church and our Muslim citizens. We are like organs in the one body, which is Egypt."

His Holiness Pope Shenouda was well known for his deep commitment to Christian unity. In May 1973, His Holiness paid a cordial visit to His Holiness, the late Pope Paul VI in Rome. This was the first meeting between an Alexandrian and Roman Pontiff since the time of the great schism of 451 AD. Both Popes signed a common Declaration, containing, amongst other things, a confession of a common faith in the mystery of the Word Incarnate.

Following this historic encounter, a joint Commission was established to explore the road to full intercommunion between the two Apostolic Churches.

When His Holiness Pope Shenouda III was enthroned, there were only seven Coptic churches outside of Egypt: two each in Canada, the United States of America, Australia, and one in England. Due mainly to the efforts and encouragement of His Holiness, at the time of his death, there were more than 150 churches outside of Egypt. In addition, His Holiness was the first Pope to ordain Bishops for the Dioceses of North America. Bishop Karas was ordained for the Monastery of St. Antony's in California; Bishop Serapion for the Diocese in Los Angeles, Southern California, and Hawaii; and Bishop Youssef for the Southern United States.

Pope Shenouda also paid special attention to the Ethiopian and Eritrean Orthodox Churches.

The Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church (EOTC) has had strong historical ties with the Coptic Orthodox Church; the two churches have been linked by very intimate relations since the early centuries of Christianity, as both are children of St. Mark the Apostle. In 1994, upon request of the EOTC, they gained autocephaly (independence) from the Coptic Church.

Eritrea, upon gaining independence from Ethiopia, received pastoral care from His Holiness Pope Shenouda by his ordination of Eritrean Bishops to form the Holy Synod for the Eritrean Orthodox Church.

His Holiness made nearly thirty pastoral visits outside of Egypt. When Pope Shenouda visited the United States, the mayor of Jersey City hoisted the Coptic Church flag side by side with the American flag at City Hall. The US House of Representatives invited His Holiness to open a congressional session with prayer. His Holiness also met with former President George Bush and requested that "he give a big push" to peace in the Middle East. In a previous visit, His Holiness met with former US President Jimmy Carter. Afterward, His Holiness and Carter became good friends.

If we were to recount all the extraordinary accomplishments and beautiful memories of Pope Shenouda, we would be here until next week. Pope Shenouda was an incomparable blessing for our church and our world.

He passed away on March 17, 2012 (Baramhat 8, 1728 AM) after a period of illness. May his prayers be with us all.

DISCUSSION (Challenge) - 5 Minutes

  • What qualities or traits did Pope Shenouda exhibit in his spiritual life and leadership of the Coptic Church that we can learn from?
  • Pope Shenouda was the first person to do many things. What are some examples?
  • What happened leading up to, during, and after Pope Shenouda's exile?
  • May even ask among parents/relatives of youth who had close relationship with Pope Shenouda, and share experiences. This may build link with students.

LIFE APPLICATION - 5 Minutes

Pope Shenouda's accomplishments and contributions to our church and our world are countless. Perhaps he will be known most for the example of spiritual love he showed to all. He famously said, in his book Have You Seen the One I Love?

"Ask yourself. What is the extent of your love for God? How deep is it? Are all the spiritual practices that you observe saturated with love for the Lord? Are your prayers filled with love? Do you fast out of love for the Lord? Does your reading of the Bible abound with love? Are your various spiritual practices permeating with love for the Lord? Are your prostrations and kneeling done with true love and submission for Him? Have you truly come to know God? Have you become His friend and spent time with Him? Have you lived with Him and experienced His existence in your life?"

Throughout this week, ask yourself these questions and contemplate how you can apply Pope Shenouda's amazing love for God in your life.

ACTIVITY - 5 Minutes

Pope Shenouda truly embodied showing love for God and all mankind. Take a moment to draw the people and things you love the most.

SERVANT RESOURCES

PARENTS CORNER/HOMEWORK

The miracles and stories about Pope Shenouda III are many. Have students ask their parents if they know of any. If not, have students do online research and share/discuss the miracles and stories with their families.