Faced with January 2012's elections to a parliament dominated by the Muslim Brotherhood and conservative Islamists, many Copts suppmore effective orted the liberal, secular Muslim-Christian Egyptian Bloc, which achieved fourth place. His Holiness also served as one of the Presidents of the World Council of Churches and the Middle East Council of Churches. theWorld Council of Churches, Later, a criminal court in Sohag governorate released all 89 defendants charged in the New Year's massacre in Kosheh without bail. Under Bishop Shenouda's leadership, the number of students at the Coptic Orthodox Theological Seminary tripled. After receiving a bachelors degree in history from Cairo University (1947), he taught social studies and English in high school while studying theology at Coptic Orthodox Theological Seminary. Metropolitan Pachomious of Beheira and Pentapolis was appointed to take over papal duties until the election of a new Pope, being the second-most senior Metropolitan in the Holy Synod in age after Anba Mikhail, but due to his failing health and age delegated this duty to Metropolitan Pachomios during the first meeting of the Holy Synod after Shenouda's death. The Coptic and other Oriental churches (Ethiopian, Armenian, and Syriac) had rejected the councils statement on Christology (theological doctrine concerning the person and work of Jesus Christ) and were subsequently regarded in the West as heretical monophysites (believers in the doctrine that Jesus Christ had only a divine nature), though the Oriental churches vehemently denied the charge. Nazir's mother died shortly after his birth. Pope Shenouda III rejected the verdict openly, and told reporters, "We want to challenge this ruling. "[40] Social media was said to be abuzz with memorials as well as criticism of Shenouda. His Holiness is the author of 123 books on a variety of scriptural, doctrinal and spiritual topics and 28 poems. In 1971, after Cyrils death, Shenouda was elected pope. Under Shenouda the Coptic Orthodox Church increased its profile and activity in the World Council of Churches (WCC); the church had been one of the organizations founding members in 1948. Some of these poems have become popular Christian hymns sung in our churches. and ten bishops. On July 18, 1954, H. H. chose the solitude of the Egyptian desert and the angelic At the end of the Liturgy, His Eminence Metropolitan Antonyos, laid his hands on a young boy who was then blindfolded and told to choose one of the three pieces of paper from the box. [42] The body was taken out of the coffin and lay in a seated position on a ceremonial throne dressed in gold- and red-embroidered vestments, a golden mitre upon his head with a gold-tipped staff in his hand. His teacher was the charismatic Father Matta el-Meskin (Matthew the Poor), later to become an opponent. Vowing to be a turbulent priest no more, Shenouda told a welcoming party of 10,000 at St Mark's Cathedral: "We Christians and Muslims are like organs in one body, which is Egypt. When Egypt's revolution began later that month, the sight of Christians chanting alongside Muslims in Tahrir Square, Qur'ans and crosses held aloft, momentarily dispelled fears of sectarian carnage. When H. H. became pope in 1971, there were only four However, during his presidency, violent Islamic fundamentalist groups increased all over Egypt, especially in the Universities. Pope Shenouda may refer to: Pope Shenouda I of Alexandria (r. 859-880) Pope Shenouda II of Alexandria (r. 1032-1046) Pope Shenouda III of Alexandria (r. 1971-2012) This disambiguation page lists articles about people with the same name. On 18 July 1954, Nazir joined the monastic life at the Syrian Monastery of the Ever-Virgin Mary the Theotokos in Scetes in the Nitrian Desert (Western desert in Egypt). Pope Shenouda III of Alexandria - Simple English Wikipedia, the free There have also been dialogues with various Protestant churches ", Pope Shenouda III (Nazir Gayed), prelate, born 3 August 1923; died 17 March 2012, Egyptian spiritual leader of the Coptic Orthodox Church for more than 40 years, Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning, 2023 Guardian News & Media Limited or its affiliated companies. Also in 1976, Shenouda severed relations with a sister church in Ethiopia after the Marxist regime arrested and then executed the Orthodox patriarch. Funeral for Pope Shenouda III of Alexandria held in Cairo Coptic congregants, worshipping in a tradition that goes back to the earliest days of Christianity, held "Baba Shenouda" in high regard. Church of Cleveland, Ohio, Lord 1500 years. It was to become the first of many visits to that part of the world during his long Papacy. This extended the pastoral care to every city, village and family all over the See of St. Mark. We in our common faith in the one Lord Jesus Christ regard His mystery inexhaustible and ineffable and for the human mind never fully comprehensible or expressible." Pope Shenouda III of Alexandria, who has died aged 88 after suffering from prostate cancer, was for four decades the spiritual leader of the Coptic Orthodox Church, the largest Christian community in the Middle East. His episcopate lasted 40 years, four months, and 4 days from 14 November 1971 until his death on 17 March 2012. His Holiness became the first patriarch of Alexandria since the fifth century to have been Dean of the Theological Seminary. Because of his controversial beliefs, including his conviction that lay members of the church should be allowed to choose their priests and bishops, Shenouda was briefly suspended from his duties by Cyril in 1966 but was soon reinstated. [51], In 2000, Pope Shenouda III was awarded the UNESCO-Madanjeet Singh Prize for the Promotion of Tolerance and Non-Violence by UNESCO Director-General Koichiro Matsuura on the recommendation of an international jury. Words of Spiritual Benefit: Volume I*, 103. Pope Shenouda III smiling while giving a word.jpg 851 1,280; 210 KB Pope Shenouda I of Alexandria (r. 859-880) Pope Shenouda II of Alexandria (r. 1032-1046) Pope Shenouda III of Alexandria (r. 1971-2012) This page was last edited on 7 January 2022, at 01:18 (UTC). The agreed statement included the words: "We believe that our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, is God the Son incarnate; perfect in His divinity and perfect in His humanity. The ceremony was the first enthroning of a Coptic Pope to take place in the new Saint Mark's Coptic Orthodox Cathedral in Cairo. [40] It added that with the loss, the country should "consolidate with each other in order to pass with Egypt towards security and stability. Recalled from the hermit's life, Gayed became dean of the Coptic Seminary and bishop for religious education with the saintly name of Shenouda. The Spirituality of Fasting. Mikhail E. Mikhail of St. Mark's and upon graduation, joined the faculty of the seminary. He continues to lecture at the branches of the Seminary in Cairo, Alexandria, and abroad and at the Higher Institute of Coptic Studies. H. H. said, and I quote, "We felt a great need of the work of women and As the court sentence could not be appealed, Pope Shenouda III said: "We will appeal this sentence before God. As head of the oldest Church in Africa, His Holiness Pope Shenouda III has been very keen to extend the Apostolic mission of St. Mark across all of Africa. His Holiness Pope Shenouda III - CopticChurch.net various sister Orthodox churches and their patriarchs, such as those of Constantinople, Coptic Orthodox Church. However, the Christians of Egypt continued to view Pope Shenouda as their Pope and only leader, and he continued to conduct his duties from his desert monastery: ecclesiastically, Sadat's decision was ineffective. His official title was Pope of Alexandria and the Patriarch of All Africa on the Holy Apostolic Throne of Saint Mark the Evangelist, Father of fathers, Shepherd of shepherds, Successor of Saint Mark, thirteenth among the Apostles, Ecumenical Judge, Beloved of Christ. By the age of 16, H. H. was active in the Sunday School movement, which Many Years With the Questions of People: Part V*, 60. praying, meditating, praising and coming in communion with God. Yet he faced defiance from the Maspero Youth Union, Copts who condemned the governing SCAF, the Supreme Council of the Allied Forces. Pope Shenouda III of Alexandria, the leader of Egypt 's Coptic Christian church, has died at the age of 88. Angry protests back in Egypt showed the respect he still commanded. He obtained his Bachelor of Arts degree in History in 1947 from the University of Cairo. Our Lord and the Holy If an internal link led you here, you may wish to change the link to point directly to the intended . Shenouda III, original name Nazeer Gayed Roufail, (born August 3, 1923, Asy, Egyptdied March 17, 2012, Cairo), 117th pope of Alexandria and patriarch of the see of St. Mark. In the United States, the mayor of Jersey City hoisted the Coptic Church flag side by side with the American flag at City Hall during the Papal visit. Papst der Koptisch Orthodoxen Kirche. At the same time, he followed his post-graduate studies at the Seminary of Archeology. Moreover, he founded the first Coptic Orthodox Church in Africa currently has two bishops serving in missions in nine African Words of Spiritual Benefit: Volume II*, 104. H. H. has emphasized that Christian Unity must be found upon a unity of faith His Holiness, Pope Shenouda III, attended the opening meeting on 17 th December, 1976, in the great Cathedral of Alexandria. Shenouda began sacking dissenters with alarming frequency and secularists said he encouraged a dangerous culture of church-centred isolationism. During the early years of his enthronement, His Holiness Pope Shenouda had an amicable relationship with the late Egyptian President Anwar El-Sadat. Anthony M. Coniaris has been banned by the Holy Synod of the Coptic Church presided by Pope Shenouda III on May 26, 2007, as it discusses the Orthodox concept of theosis, which was considered to be against Pope Shenouda's teachings. Great. instance of. Tens of thousands of Egyptian Coptic Christians held an overnight vigil in Cairo to mourn his death. Bishop Shenouda was suspended in 1966 by Pope Kyrillos VI. But Sadat later damned Shenouda as a secessionist after Christians fought Muslims in Cairo and expatriate Copts barracked Sadat during an American visit. On September 30, 1962, Pope Kyrillos VI ordained Fr. we wanted women to have a certain order and service in the church, not only to have The Late Thrice Blessed Pope Shenouda III in Egypt. Pope Shenouda III Books | St-Takla.org Pope Shenouda III of Alexandria - Interesting stories about famous All donations are Shenouda also witnessed the establishment of significant Coptic communities abroad, particularly in North and South America and the United Kingdom. While Sadat attempted to broker peace with Israel in 197778, Shenouda renewed his sharp public criticism of Israel. 1 reference. Pope Shenouda III died on 17 March 2012 in Cairo, Egypt [2] from respiratory and kidney failure, aged 88. English: Pope Shenouda III, born Nazeer Gayed, is the 117th Pope of the Coptic Orthodox Church. In 1976 the Coptic Orthodox Church broke ties with the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church, a fellow Oriental Orthodox church, after the new Marxist government of Ethiopia deposed the Ethiopian patriarch and installed a replacement. They maintained and enforced Ottoman era Hamayouni Decree restrictions on building or repairing churches. Formal relations between the two churches resumed on 13 July 2007. Second, not thinking about the reaction of showing they found satisfaction in the incidents. Pope Shenouda III of Alexandria Media in category "Pope Shenouda III of Alexandria" The following 20 files are in this category, out of 20 total. Pope Tawadros II of Alexandria - Wikipedia On 10 May 1973, he celebrated the return by the Roman Catholic Church of part of the relics of Pope Athanasius of Alexandria. [27], Security agencies sporadically persecuted Muslim converts to Christianity. [10] Pope Shenouda III has since then fully recovered, and celebrated the 35th anniversary of His Holiness' enthronement as Pope of Alexandria on 14 November 2006 in Egypt, among thousands of faithful who flocked to congratulate His Holiness on this occasion (videos). Category:Pope Shenouda III shrine - Wikimedia Commons Shenouda was born Nazeer Gayed and raised in a Coptic (Egyptian Christian) family in northern Egypt. In 1973, H. H. was the first Coptic Orthodox pope to visit the Vatican in over There is a profound understanding of this love throughout his teaching and preaching. As a result, H. H. has paid many visits to the Many Years With the Questions of People: Part IX*, 64. One of the most remarkable things about the growth of the Coptic Orthodox Church Contemplations on Psalm 3, The Seven Words Despite his many responsibilities, His Holiness usually manages to spend three days a week in the monastery. The ordination of deaconesses was resumed after an interval of several centuries, and he brought women into theological colleges and communal councils, though he was against them becoming priests. tax deductible. Sadat was assassinated a month later, on 6 October 1981, by Islamic extremists, and in January 1985 Pope Shenouda III was fully reinstated by Sadat's successor, Hosni Mubarak. Matta was rejected see Page 6", "Page 6 of Arabic El-Keraza (dated 23 June 2006) Pope Shenouda III's explanation on why Fr. In September 1981, Sadat arrested Shenouda along with 1,500 other "opposition figures" including journalists and unionists, Muslim Brothers and Coptic clerics. On November 14, 1971, His Grace Bishop Shenouda was consecrated as His Holiness Australia and New Zealand. [43] The Muslim Brotherhood's Freedom and Justice Party's Speaker of Parliament Saad Katatni said of Shenouda's death that Egypt had lost "one of its national icons, a man who left a void in the political arena at a critical time. He is commemorated in the Coptic Synaxarion on the 1st day of Baramudah. His love of monasticism has led a monastic revival in the Shenoudas outspoken criticism of Israel, particularly for its treatment of Palestinians, was hailed by some Copts but rejected by others. Mr. Gayed was very active in his church and served as a Sunday School teacher, first at Saint Anthony's Church in Shoubra and then at Saint Mary's Church in Mahmasha. Angelesand the other for theSouthern Pope Shenouda III of Alexandria - Wikimedia Commons ", This month's visit by Muslim Brotherhood leaders to Shenouda echoed that sentiment, as did the Maspero Youth's slogan at cathedral prayers for the ailing pope: "Your people love you. Pope Shenouda III of Alexandria - Wikidata revival through the guidance of the Holy Spirit and the pastoral care of H. H. Pope and the Australian Council of Churches. More Than Just a Religious Leader: The Life of Pope Shenouda III Pope of the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria, his reign of more than 40 years saw a significant growth in his faith group. The conference proceeded with a discussion of the problems on the agenda, and took into consideration the work of the preparatory committee, which met on fifth and sixth July. Since coming to power, President Sadat had started encouraging the growth of Islamism in the country as a means to fight communist groups and solidify his own power. church unite. Nazeer and other servants labored for several years to establish a strong Sunday School and youth group at St. Anthony's Church in Shoubra. In 1953, he was appointed a lecturer at the Monastic College in Helwan. When thousands of Copts took to the streets in October to protest against the state's recent demolition of an "unlicensed" church in Aswan, the resulting military crackdown left 27 people dead. Was Turkish PM Erdogan the final recipient of the Qaddafi human rights prize? Christian properties were also burned. Following the death of Pope Cyril VI on 9 March 1971, the selection process resulted in Bishop Shenouda becoming the new Pope. Among the final three candidates was Bishop Shenouda. In 1989 an Egyptian Coptic monastery hosted a meeting between representatives of Eastern Orthodoxy and Oriental Orthodoxy at which the two groups signed a joint Christological statement. His Holiness Pope Shenouda III (Gayyid) was the 117th Coptic Orthodox Pope of Alexandria (1971-2012). the United States, one forLos In In 1952 he was elected member of the Egyptian Journal Syndicate. Sadat had also pushed forward a constitutional amendment that would have allowed him to stand for re-election as president more than twice. On On July 18, 1954, H. H. chose the solitude of the Egyptian desert and the angelic life of monasticism over everything else, taking the example of St. Anthony the Great. In spring 1981, Pope Shenouda refused to hold any public Church celebrations of Easter and didn't receive that year the President's delegates who are regularly sent to greet the Church and Coptic Christians on such occasions (this particular move by Pope Shenouda III was very embarrassing to President Sadat, both nationally and internationally). Nazir with others laboured for several years to establish a strong Sunday School and youth group at St Anthony's Church in Shubra. Persecution against Christians during Pope Shenouda III's reign was chiefly conducted by private individuals and organizations, especially radical Salafis, although the state continued to enforce long-standing discriminatory policies and engage in occasional Christian-baiting. In 1950 Nazir resigned from secular employment to take up a full-time lecturing position at the Seminary. Preceded by Zacharias Coptic Pope 1032-1046 Succeeded by Christodolos This article about an Oriental Orthodox clergyman is a stub. In a previous visit, His Holiness met with former US President Jimmy Carter. Orthodox Churches is very close. In April 2008, overzealous Heathrow security officials frisked Shenouda while on his way to consecrating St George's Coptic Cathedral, Shephalbury Manor, Stevenage. Shenouda III, original name Nazeer Gayed Roufail, (born August 3, 1923, Asy, Egyptdied March 17, 2012, Cairo), 117th pope of Alexandria and patriarch of the see of St. Mark. in religion and literature and an Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. Having long opposed demands to impose Islamic sharia law on Egypt, he befriended Sadat, who had been Egypt's president from 1970, and endorsed his peace initiative with Israel. Coptic church will pass this hard moment because of the great legacy of Pope Shenouda;" Amr Moussa said that Pope Shenouda III was "a great man who was working for the interests of the country. The US House of Representatives invited His Holiness to open a congressional session with prayer. In 1989 he signed a similar concordat with his Orthodox brothers, and in 2000 he welcomed Pope John Paul II to Egypt. 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 (Souryan). On March 9, 1971, His Holiness Pope Kyrillos (Cyril) VI departed in peace. The Spiritual Service and the Spiritual Servant Volume 2, 93. His funeral was held at a packed St Mark's Cathedral in Cairo today. [12], Hundreds of Christian Coptic girls have been kidnapped and forcibly converted to Islam, as well as being victims of rape and forced marriage to Muslim men. Sadat offered Matta the papacy in place of Shenouda in 1981. This conflict between Pope Cyril VI and Bishop Shenouda was later resolved. [11], In the light of the September 11 attacks, he said of suicide bombing as a tactic that:[10]. However, he was beset by problems in his final years. [30] In 1973, Pope Shenouda III became the first Coptic Orthodox Pope of Alexandria to meet the Bishop of Rome in over 1500 years. Upon graduation from the seminary in 1949, he was appointed to teach New Testament and Old Testament Studies at the Seminary. Search instead in Creative? [11] Wikipedia has further details about the subject. Antonios el-Syriani was among the candidates nominated for the papal throne in 1959, but Father Mina el-Baramosy became Pope Cyril VI. In 1976 he dismissed a rebellious deacon, Max Michel, who in 2005 was declared a bishop by an Orthodox organisation in Nebraska, and the following year crowned himself Archbishop Maximus I, head of a rival St Athanasius church. countries. Many Years With the Questions of People: Part VII*, 62. Contemplations on the Ten Commandments: Volume I, 16. The relationship between the two men deteriorated for several reasons.[8]. His Holiness continually holds meetings and seminars with the clergy to discuss any pastoral problems or needs. Under the leadership of H. H., the Coptic Orthodox Church is a full member of As the leader of the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria, an autocephalous (ecclesiastically independent) church of the Oriental Orthodox communion, Shenouda expanded the churchs membership both in Egypt and abroad while generally improving ecumenical relations, particularly with the Roman Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox churches. Matta El Meskeen, Shenouda got into theological disputes with Hany Mina Mikhail, George Habib Bebawiwhom he infamously excommunicatedand Henein Abd El Messih. Pope Shenouda III was well known for his commitment to ecumenism.