Clerical Questions — Part 2

His Holiness Pope Shenouda III answers multiple pastoral and theological matters ranging between local parish problems and organizational issues, theological education (Greek language), biblical discussions about the Jews’ positions with the Lord Christ, practical moral issues concerning modesty and conduct in summer, in addition to familial and spiritual matters about death, hope, and burial during Pascha. His Holiness gives practical and spiritual advice that reconcile strictness in organization with pastoral compassion.

Main points

• Parish and organizational issues: Complaints received about churches (Al-Omraniya and others) and the need to postpone discussion until after the feasts, and the necessity to appoint a full-time librarian to manage the clerical college library.
• Education and research: Guidance to present researches (such as a study about the Lord Christ in the five books of Moses) to specialized academics, and efforts to find a Greek teacher in a simplified (“Saidi”) style to facilitate students’ understanding.
• Biblical discussions with the Jews: He notes that there are many dialogues and debates between Christ and the Jews in the Gospels (notably the Gospel of John, Sabbath cases, and debates with scribes, Pharisees, and Sadducees).
• Modesty and conduct: He urges that modesty is not only in clothing but in the heart and behavior, and girls should be taught modesty inwardly, not only outwardly.
• Death, hope, and burial in Pascha: He clarifies a common misunderstanding that Hades is a place of eternal torment; rather it is a place of waiting until the day of judgment and resurrection. He explains that the righteous were in a state of hopeful waiting, not perpetual torment. He also explains procedures of commemoration and offering liturgies for the departed even during Pascha days while observing appropriate melodies.
• The miraculous conception and birth (the Virgin): He explains that determining the sex of the fetus depends on chromosomes and genes, but the birth of Christ from the Virgin is a divine miracle not subject to the same natural laws.
• Selection, parishes, and ordination: He stresses that any preparation for ordination must go through selection mechanisms and the public opinion of the flock, and the fear of preparing priests “by power” irregularly is unfounded.
• Poems and spiritual language: He explains the meaning of addressing the reader with the word “my friend” in spiritual poems as a general address to any person.
• Spiritual counsel for the struggler: He recommends reading books such as “Spiritual Vigilance” and books on repentance and returning to God for one who is almost despairing of returning from sin.

The spiritual and moral dimension from the Coptic Orthodox faith perspective

• Emphasis on balance between ecclesiastical order and pastoral mercy: complaints are not to be excluded but organized to be addressed after the feasts, and insistence that organization (appointing a librarian, mechanisms for selecting priests) serves the flock.
• The importance of teaching modesty as an inner spiritual educational value, not only a dress code, because the heart is the source of behavior.
• Christian hope after death is a living reality: not to confuse the temporary waiting period before redemption with the eternal punishment after the resurrection; a reminder that prayers and liturgies for the departed are continuous and legitimate at all times.
• A call to spiritual practice and Christian reading (books of repentance and vigilance) as the way to spiritual perseverance and overcoming despair.

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