العربية
“Sow love in earth, and earth turns into heaven! Pluck love out of earth, and earth turns into grave”
The above words have been inscribed in memory of history, and engraved in the hearts of all who met and knew Pope Shenouda III, the 117th Patriarch, whose departure is celebrated on March 17th. Pope Shenouda’s life was distinguishedby overflowing love, as his heart was filled with the love of God and every human being.
The love of God captured the heart of the young NazirGayed, to the point that he renounced the world, and his heart was filled with an overwhelming desire to live a life dedicated to God, as he says in his poem “Stranger”:
I left the world´s charms, and did not accept its calling.
I began preparing for travel, far from its pleasures.
An empty heart I wish not, to fill with any of its inspirations.
A fair hearing I listen not, to the noise of its dwellers.
I roam here alone, happy in its valleys.
With harps and psalms, and hymns I sing.
And holy hours, contemplating about my Creator
I walk around like a ghost, who swims to eyeball the seer
As a stranger I lived in this world, a guest like my fathers
Thus, his heart was filled with the love of God, so he shone with love above everyone, saying: “I have decided to live with people, and make them happy as much as I can as long as I am among them”
Still a high school student, he was offering love to all his colleagues, helping them understand many things, and solving their problems.In his youth, he served in many churches and various social volunteer fields.He supervised children in an orphanage, and his expansive heart embraced them with love, care, and attention, until they were greatly affected by him, and they felt him a friend, not an official figure.The young NazirGayed cared about helping orphaned children with their studies and solving all their problems.
He has always cherished the love of Egyptin his heart,he was always occupied with it, ashe always repeated: “Egypt is not a homeland we live in, but a homeland that lives in us!”After graduating from university, he volunteered for the army. He recalls that period: “In our days, university students were exempt from conscription, and those who seek exemption were required to pay fee in-lieu, but I volunteered while I was still a university student.”
He loved everyone, exerting his utmost effort in serving everyone; He said: “I remember that during the training period, I was responsible for the meals during the Ramadan month, I used to pay great attention to the Suhoor and Iftar meals, and the students always nominated me for that because I was serious in this matter and very sincere doing it.”
The love of the homeland was continuously going through his veins, and he carried in his heart all the events that the country went through, participating in its issues. He was at the forefront of the military front, supporting the heroes of the nation in the Sixth of October War.His participation in many conferences that were concerned with and discussed what the Arab world was going through, especially the Palestinian cause would never be forgotten.
Then he became a father and a shepherd of the church, loving and serving every person, especially those in need. His Holiness placed their needs as his top priority.He personally chaired the work of the Charity Committee every Thursday in Cairo, and a week after anotherin Alexandria.I do not recall ever seeing him turn away someone in need, he rather was always concerned, especially with treating the medical cases that were sending to him in request. Rather, he would ask about each case and follow its developments wholeheartedly, just as he said: “Give from your heart before giving from your pocket.”He lived with a heart beating with love, He even urged others to spread love: “Let the love within you be stronger than anything that might offend you”, encouraging:“Let goodness be your natural disposition, something spontaneous and effortless, just like breathing”.
Thus, he was a heart beating with love among us, on its path toward God, just as he taught: “If you have attained love, you have attained God, because God is love.”
