“He will be immortal to everyone who knew him!” Words sprang out spontaneously from the mouth of H.E. the Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem, Theophilos III about the character of the Thrice Beatified Pope Shenouda III whom we celebrated his8th commemoration yesterday. No doubt that his character left a deep impact thatcan’t be erased fromthe different souls who dealt with himsuch as: presidents, scientists, intellectuals, poets, thinkers, writers, politicians, religious leaders and regular people.
Catherine Ashton who was the high Representative of European Foreign Affairs said: “A respectful leader, who has a vision and call for tolerance and interfaith dialogue.”
In addition to his HighnessKhalifa Bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the Emir of Abu Dhabi, mentioned: “He was an example to a clergyman who believed in tolerance and co-existence between sects and religions.” Whilst Stephen Harper, the former Prime Minister of Canada, described him: “He was characterized by compassion and humanity towards his society and others from other religions…a character to whom youth and old people hold on to.”
However the late extraordinary scientist Dr. Ahmed Zewal said: “He was a great Egyptian and a symbol in our modern history.” Also Dr. Tarek Heggy the author and thinker wrote: “He was a unique human character, hard and rare to find these days.”
In a quick glimpse of his life, we find the traces of the Thrice Beatified Pope Shenouda III’s character was printed in allthe souls till the day of his departure from this world, even those who knew him since childhood. When he was in the 4th grade, he participated in a competition for studying the Holy Book of Psalms and he dazzled the arbitrators with his photographic memory when he was able to study by heart Psalm 19 that starts with: “The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament shows His handiwork.” Although it is a long Psalm in comparisonto his young age; thus he was worth the competition’s award: a golden bible.
The glow of his character was extended to his colleagues: as they kept asking for his guidance and opinion in their private matters, Pope Shenouda III himself narrated that phase of his life and said: “I remember that since the start of the secondary stage, my colleagues used to consult me in solving their problems even though I was very shy in my childhood.. For instance; one of the students in the athletic team at school told me his athletic problems and other problems that he faced, another student in the concerts team told me as well his problems.”
His relationship with his teachers was very unique: As in 2nd secondary stage he had a strong relationship with his Arabic teacher who was one of the chiefs of labor syndicate during the days of Sultan Abbas Helmy, who asked him to compose a song for laborers. Indeed he wrote a poem that was made a melody and accredited as a song for the laborers in 1940.
During his youth, he served in a lot of churches and a variety of social voluntary fields such as: his service and supervision on children at one of the orphanages; as they were influenced by him after they felt that he was too friendly, not as a manager who runs their facility; he used to aid them in their studies and solve their problems.
Pope Shenouda III was characterized by his smile and cheerfulness with everyone, which had a great impact during his meetings; he gained everyone’s love and affection with his great loving heart and cheerful face. He spread happiness here and there.
I remember the words of Dr. Mahmoud Hamdi Zakzouk, secretary general of the Egyptian Family House about the fun aspect of Pope Shenouda’s personality: “A fun character and open-minded to everyone; for all these reasons he gains all the respect and great appreciation from all Egyptians, Muslims and Copts.”
Pope Shenouda III always repeated: “The one who is full of peace could flow over to others, granting them comfort. And they rejoice, as he transfer them to the same feelings of joy…A joyful person loves all people to be like him. That’s why he always tries to make them forget their sorrows, and reassures them, searches for a solution to their problems, gives them comfort justifications to their hardships and brings them joy in matter what happens.”
This is how the smile of Pope Shenouda III granted weary hearts comfort and peace, gave the distressed souls a gleam of hope. No wonder why his Holiness himself during all his life trusted that God still works for his creation, caring for them, he expressed his deep faith through his three immortal sentences: “God is here”, “All is for the good”, and “This too will end soon.”
Stories about Beautiful Egypt never end!
General Bishop,
Head of the Coptic Orthodox Cultural Center
