That Egypt with the Mother land of the Monasticism – London
His Holiness Pope Shenouda III opens the lecture with a fraternal greeting and thanks to the inviting body, then presents the lecture topic about Coptic monasticism and its history and spiritual impact.
Origins of Coptic monasticism
He speaks that Egypt was the cradle of monasticism, and refers to some great fathers (such as Anba Anthony and Anba Paul and the like) and details dates and the place of the beginning of monastic life in the Egyptian desert and how it attracted people.
Nature of monastic life
He explains that monasticism began with solitude and seclusion then developed into monasteries; and distinguishes between the ascetic monks (who moved to live entirely in isolation) and monks who lived in communal monasteries, showing the value of silence, contemplation and continuous worship.
Virtues and spiritual practices
He affirms voluntary asceticism and poverty, purity of heart, chastity, and simplicity in food, clothing and dwelling, and that the aim of these rules is closeness to God and devotion to prayer and contemplation.
Relation with the Church and duties
He addresses the development of monks’ relation to the priesthood and church leadership: at first they were not ordained to the priesthood then there were cases of ordaining priests and monks, and that many bishops and patriarchs came out of monasticism.
Cultural and pastoral production
He points to the monks’ role in copying books and manuscripts and spreading monastic literature in texts like the History of the Fathers and the Life of Anba Anthony, and how that affected other churches in the West and East.
The general spiritual aim
The central message is that monasticism is a calling to devote oneself to God, to prepare the soul for eternal life through repentance, prayer, and austerity, and that monks offered a practical example of preparing for the hereafter instead of chasing worldly pleasures.
Practical conclusion
He concludes by stressing that monastic life holds spiritual lessons for every believer: it is not necessary that every believer become an ascetic, but one can imitate their virtues (prayer, silence, simplicity, service to the poor) in daily life from a Coptic Orthodox faith perspective.
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