St Shenouda the Archimandrite
St Shenouda, entrusted with sheep as a child, became a renowned monk known for his strict asceticism, leadership over two large monasteries, influence in monastic life, and participation in the Council of Ephesus, leaving a legacy of sermons and teachings before his peaceful departure.
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When Shenouda was growing up, his father entrusted him with the care of the sheep. He tended to the sheep, gave his food to the shepherd, and he spent his day fasting. His father took him to his uncle Anba Bgoul (Bigal) to bless him. Anba Bgoul laid the boy's hands on his own head and said,
You bless me, my child, for you will be a father for many peoples.
His father left him with hist uncle and returned home. One day he heard a voice from heaven saying,
Shenouda has become the Archimandrite.
Since that time, he exerted himself with much worship and intense asceticism. When Anba Bgoul (Bigal) departed, Shenouda replaced him. He followed the monastic communal rules that were formulated by St Pachomius, and he added to them a pledge the monk had to sign before joining the monastery.
The number of monks during his days reached 1,800 monks. That monastery, still standing west of the city of Souhag, has a church and is known as the monastery of Anba Bishoy.
Anba Shenouda had built another monastery, the number of its monks reached 2,200 monks, which is still standing and is known as the monastery of Anba Shenouda.
Once, an army commander asked Anba Shenouda to lend him his girdle to wear during the war so that God might make him victorious. The Saint gave it to him and the commander overcame his enemies.
Anba Shenouda became a shining light to all the world with his sermons, discourses, and canons that he put for the good of the monks, hierarchies, and laity, men and women. He attended the Council of Ephesus with the holy father St Cyril of Alexandria, and he admonished Nestorius the heretic. Before his departure, he asked his disciples to support him so that he might worship his Creator. He worshiped God and then commanded them to follow his footsteps and told them,
I commit you to God.
Then he departed in peace.
