When you attempt delving deep into the life of that person who had a heart full of love, a mind full of knowledge, and wisdom enough to handle numerous situations, you will find yourself still standing on the shore. The depth of this man’s psyche is directly proportional with his character. The deeper it is the less capable one becomes to describe it. All this refers to reposed Pope Shenouda III whose fifth commemoration we celebrated on March 17, 2017.
Late journalist Mustafa Amin writes, “Injustice strengthens the wronged person. It does not weaken him. Indeed, the blows which the Coptic Pope got did not demolish him. Rather, they made Copts cling more to him. As Muslims, we stood by the Pope. Steadfast as we are in our creed, we believe in freedom of creed. There is no compulsion in religion. Egypt’s true strength resides in the national unity between Copts and Muslims.”
Indeed, Pope Shenouda’s life was full of blows. Yet, God converted them to stones which made a staircase that he climbed to reach peaks of success. Likewise, they imparted a depth and broadness upon his character only to make him a unique personality.
This makes me recall the words uttered by Dr. Mohammed Hamdy Zaqzouq, ex Minister of Endowments and Secretary General of the Egyptian Family House: “His Holiness Pope Shenouda is a unique person. He enjoys several attributes which are rarely found in others. He is a great religious leader. He is brilliant, well-read, accomplished, and wise. So much so that he is revered by many. Additionally, he enjoys a sense of humor and an openness on everybody. That is why he is awed and respected by all Egyptians: be they Copts or Muslims.” Pope Shenouda’s character which was testified to by many people is an outcome of a hard, tumultuous life from which he learnt a great deal and his character was polished.
A Hard Beginning
According to his Holiness, Pope Shenouda’s life started at Sallam, Assuit on August 3. His mother passed away three days after his birth. Thus, he was an orphan whose relatives tried to indulge in order to compensate him his loss. However, he still missed motherly love and care. Deep down, he felt estranged, which brought him closer to God, though. He writes the following stanzas:
Did I really have a mother who died?
Or was I created motherless?
God thrust me a stranger in the world
to soar in a gloomy space
O life, I do wonder:
Does a sister or an uncle bring happiness?
I seek a friend I cannot find
as if I had no family or friends
Though the start was hard, it filled his soul with sensitiveness of others’ needs and pains. This was manifest in his treatment of the sick, needy, and troubled. Likewise, the love which was offered to him, as a child, by everybody, made him learn love at an early age. Many women in the village nursed him. In effect, he came to have many brothers who had different creeds and complexions!
Though he lost motherly special love, he won everybody’s affection: for God was preparing him to be a father of a great congregation who he offered great love. He said once, “Losing one’s mother is losing a spring gushing with love. Yet, my mother’s love was made up for by people’s overwhelming love and my love for them. I would overwhelm my friends with love and treat them warmly. Thus, I have had numerous friends during childhood, adolescence, and youth. People’s overwhelming love made up for the individual love offered by parents. Then motherly love was changed to one directed toward people, the church, and the society…” Pope Shenouda’s life was to and through everybody. He was close to everyone, yet far from everyone! He lived in the world, but was estranged from it: for he lived in deep love for God.
A Lonely Childhood
Pope Shenouda’s brothers were not close in age to him, which made him feel pretty lonely. This feeling increased after his moving among primary schools in Damanhur, Assuit, Benha, and Cairo. This loneliness led him to make books his intimate friends. He said, “I was fond of reading during my childhood, as there were no children of my age to play with. Reading became my favorite game. I read with great enjoyment.”
Thus, loneliness was the path toward the development of young Nazir’s personality. It opened his mind to the horizons of thought, literature, medicine, history, and sociology. Yet, he loved poetry most, which is why he started writing poems during the secondary stage. He spoke of his love for poetry, saying, “I loved poetry so much that I decided to join the literary, not the science, section.”
Pope Shenouda had an excellent memory. He would remember whatever he had read as well the situations he had gone through. He had trained himself on extensive reading, memorizing, as well as writing poems. How talented he was! In fact, he retained that talent until his departure.
Early Maturity
The broadness of Nazir Gayed’s mind made him trusted and respected by all his colleagues who used to look to him for advice whenever they had problems. Despite his youth, he was their advisor! He acquired a great deal of knowledge and experience in several fields. Likewise, he won the love and friendship of whoever met him.
An Active Youth
At that stage, his personality started to manifest itself through dealing with others. Nazir’s personality matured. Its traits started to appear through the conditions he went through and which God used to edify and prepare him to be a leader. At that time, he yearned for a new life broader than that of university or work. So, his mind was directed to monasticism and asceticism. Yet, this was not the outcome of introversion, or escape form failure. On the contrary, he was quite successful professionally and socially. He was outstanding, and loved by everybody. He was known for his humor, witty jokes and poems which we recall.
Yet, his heart was fond of God, “I decided to do my best to make people happy as long as I am with them. Yet, whenever I am on my own, I clear my soul and live for God until he sets me free from the worldly atmosphere to that of monasticism.” What a story! Stories never end in Beautiful Egypt.
General Bishop
Head of the Coptic Orthodox Cultural Center
