This noisy, clamorous period in which mankind lives on the earth cannot be compared in any way with the peace which has existed since eternity and which will last forever . It is but a troubled drop in the ocean of that endless peace. Maybe the angels are looking at our world in astonishment and perhaps they are saying: What is all uproar on this planet?! And why do the people live in such a tumult?! When will they calm down? It is certain that they will not calm down unless they reach us, because calmness is the way of life in heaven.
HH Pope Shenouda III
THE SPIRITUALITY OF FASTING
BY
H.H. POPE SHENOUDA III
MANY YEARS WITH PEOPLE’S QUESTIONS
PART ONE Biblical Questions
By
H.H. POPE SHENOUDA III
Lord, How?
Contemplations on Psalm III
BY
H.H. Pope Shenouda III
DIABOLIC WARS
BY
H.H. POPE SHENOUDA III
THE VOICE OF MY LOVER WOOS ME!
Father tadros Y. Malaty
MANY YEARS WITH PEOPLE’S QUESTIONS
PART II Theological & Dogmatic Questions
By
H.H. POPE SHENOUDA III
Contemplations on the Ten Commandments
Volume 4 The Last Four Commandments
By
H. H. POPE SHENOUDA III
CONTEMPLATIONS ON THE BOOK OF
JONAH THE PROPHET
BY
H. H. POPE SHENOUDA III
MANY YEARS WITH PEOPLE’S QUESTIONS
PART III SPIRITUAL AND GENERAL QUESTIONS
By
H. H. POPE SHENOUDA III
The Spiritual Man - THE IMAGE OF GOD
Perhaps this question is addressed to every person: Who are you? What is man?
Some would answer:
Man is a body, soul and spirit.
Another would answer :
Man is a living, sensible, talking, free, wishful creature.
Others say - with a sense of humility - that Man is dust and ashes, as our father Abraham said about himself (Gen 18:27).
All this is said about any man, then what is the accurate answer? We say it is the definition of the Spiritual Man according to the Holy Bible:
HE IS THE IMAGE OF GOD
This is what God said in the History of Creation: “Let us make man in our image, according to our likeness. So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him.” (Gen 1:26,27).
✥✥✥
His Holiness Pope Shenouda III
TEARS IN SPIRITUAL LIFE
BY
H.H. POPE SHENOUDA III
“For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God” (Rom 8:14).
He leads them through certain means which if they follow, they will take part in the work of the Holy Spirit and be in the communion of the Holy Spirit (2Cor 13:14).
We call these means ‘The Spiritual Means’ or the means of grace, that is, the means through which the grace of God works or with which it works...
In this book, I shall speak to you about eleven of these spiritual means. They are:
Prayer, The Holy Bible, Reading the lives of the saints, Contemplation, Spiritual Practices, Giving account of oneself, Confession, Holy Commun- ion, Fasting, Alms Giving and Service...
These means are essential for every person.
No matter how high the spiritual level of a person may be, he could never survive without these means. They are his continual spiritual food. If he kept away from them or neglected practising them, the heat of his spirit will become lukewarm and he will expose himself to many dangerous com- bats...
The material of this book is the fruit of lectures that were given in the sixties, either in Cairo, Alexandria or Damanhour. Parts of these lectures were published in “El-Keraza” magazine and “Watany” newspaper. We have col- lected all these lectures in order to publish this book ...
There is no doubt that a separate book could be written on each chap- ter, but we wanted to present all these topics to you in a concentrated way.
Try to apply and practise these discussed topics in your life. May God be with you, guiding your steps towards Him.
November 1992
Pope Shenouda III
EXPERIENCES IN LIFE
BY
H. H. POPE SHENOUDA III
This is the first book I publish about The Resurrection.
But I have published many articles about the resurrection in the Preaching magazine and in the daily newspapers.
Moreover, every year, on Easter Eve, we used to deliver a sermon about that subject in the Great Cathedral.
It was necessary to collect all these articles and sermons for this book, So we could publish it.
This book is comprised of two principal elements:
1. General - theoretical theology -talks on the resurrection.
This is an ideological trend which falls under the limits of theoretical theology or the philosophy of the resurrection written in a good style which suits all denominations.
It, also, explains how resurrection was an essential necessity; how it was potential and the uses and benefits gained from it both spiritually and generally.
2. Topics concerning the resurrection of The Lord Jesus Christ; glory be to Him.
It comprises the events of the resurrection and explains its power and its effects; how Jesus' resurrection surpasses other resurrections; the blessedness of this resurrection and its effects on your life; the joys caused by it and the proofs and confirmation of its authenticity.
3. Questions related to the resurrection.
A question about the glorified body; a question about the words of the Lord to Mary Magdalene "Do not hold on to me. "; two other questions about Saint Peter, the apostle and a question about the circumstances of the resurrection and to what extent its events agree with each other.
This last question needs a separate and complete article which will be delivered on another occasion; God willing.
Now, it suffices to wish you a happy Easter and good returns.
April, 1990
Pope Shenouda III
LIFE OF FAITH
BY
H. H. POPE SHENOUDA III
CONTEMPLATIONS ON THE RESURRECTION
BY
H. H. POPE SHENOUDA III
It is a collection of articles entitled, "The Release of the Spirit" written for the Sunday School Magazine from the year 1951 . I was then the editor of that magazine before starting my monastic life. These articles were published in the form of a book in the year 1957 including some of my poems which were published in the magazine as well.. It was my first published book and it gained the approval of many and was reprinted many times. The fourth edition included some meditations and poems which I wrote while still a monk before my ordination as a bishop. It included also an introduction which is in fact another article on the release of the spirit. To the fifth edition, another introduction was added on the same topic. We hope-God willing-that we may add other articles to the coming editions on the same topic..
HH Pope Shenouda III
HH Pope Shenouda III
ORTHODOXY AND THE CONTEMPORARY BELIEVER
The Life of Repentance and Purity
BY
His Holiness Pope Shenouda III
Blessings
Upon Blessings
By
Maged Attia
Fr Matthew Attia
RETURN TO GOD
BY
H. H. POPE SHENOUDA III
HOLY ZEAL
BY
HIS HOLINESS POPE SHENOUDA III
TEN CONCEPTS
BY
HIS HOLINESS POPE SHENOUDA III
Contemplations on
THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT
BY
HIS HOLINESS POPE SHENOUDA III
CONTEMPLATIONS ON THE TEN COMMANDMENTS
VOLUME I - THE FIRST FOUR COMMANDMENTS
BY H. H. POPE SHENOUDA III
CONTEMPLATIONS ON THE TEN COMMANDMENTS
VOLUME 2 - THE FIFTH COMMANDMENT
(Honour Your Father and Your Mother)
BY H.H. POPE SHENOUDA III
Contemplations on the Ten Commandments Volume 3
THE SIXTH COMMANDMENT
BY
H. H. POPE SHENOUDA III
WORDS OF SPIRITUAL BENEFIT
1 - 50 ( Volume One)
BY H. H. POPE SHENOUDA III
WORDS OF SPIRITUAL BENEFIT
51-100 (Volume Two)
BY
H. H. POPE SHENOUDA III
WORDS OF SPIRITUAL BENEFIT
101 - 150 ( Volume Three )
BY
H. H. POPE SHENOUDA III
WORDS OF SPIRITUAL BENEFIT
Volume IV (151 - 200)
BY
H. H. POPE SHENOUDA III
MANY YEARS WITH PEOPLE’S QUESTIONS
PART IV Dogma and Ritual Questions
By
H.H. POPE SHENOUDA III
Born Crucified
By HG Bishop Moussa
Bishop of Youth
YOUTH AND FAMILY LIFE
H.G. Bishop Moussa
Mile Stones of the Kingdom
HG Bishop Moussa
Bishop of Youth
Youth Concerns - Questions and Answers
HG Bishop Moussa
Bishop of Youth
THE RELEASE OF THE SPIRIT
BY H. H. POPE SHENOUDA III
THINE IS THE POWER AND THE GLORY
BY H.H. POPE SHENOUDA III
THE SEVEN WORDS OF OUR LORD ON THE CROSS
BY
H. H. POPE SHENOUDA III
A Day with Lord Jesus
Father Bishoy Kamel
Translated by: Youth Affiliated with St Mark’s Coptic Orthodox Church Heliopolis | Cairo| Egypt
Mile Stones of the Kingdom Way
HG Bishop Moussa
DIVINE LOVE DIVINE LOVE
AND PROVIDENCE
Father Tadros Y. Malaty
Obedience & Sound Personality
Father Tadross Y. Malaty
You Are My Delightful Garden
Fr Tadross Y. Malaty
The Voice Of my Beloved Calls me: You are the subject Of my Love
Father Tadros Y. Malaty
Translated by: Youth Affiliated with St Mark’s Coptic Orthodox Church Heliopolis | Cairo| Egypt
The Gift Of Eternal Life
Father Tadross Y. Malaty
PASTORAL WORK IN THE LIFE OF FR. PISHOY KAMEL
Fr Tadros Y. Malaty
The Happiest Person in The World
Father Tadross Y. Malaty
Contemplations on Gideon’s Life
Father Daoud Lamie
St.George Coptic Orthodox Church Sporting, Alexandria
The Personal Memoirs of
Fr. Louka Sidarous
Women of the Bible
Daily ContemplationsFasting and Prayer Program
The Holy Great Fast
2025
This 25th anniversary edition of the Fasting and Prayer Program is dedicated to Sam Bassilious (1962-2024).
A true servant, dear friend and a wonderful role model for family life.
The Fasting and Prayer Program was first published in 2001 as a service for the youth of St Mary and St Mina’s Coptic
Orthodox Cathedral in Bexley (Sydney, Australia). The Program continued to be published for several years later at a
local level, until Sam Bassilious, a faithful servant of St Mary & St Mina’s Cathedral and co-founder of COPT (Coptic
Orthodox Publication and Translation), felt that many more people could benefit from a spiritual program during the
blessed days of the Holy Great Fast. The Fasting and Prayer Program then spread both nationally and internationally.
Our Lord gifted Sam with many talents and he dedicated his life to various aspects of Church Service, from youth
groups to publication endeavours, and the design of the Cathedral itself. He served wholeheartedly with a humble heart
and a heavenly wisdom, using his talents for the glory of God and the edification of others. No service was too big or
too small for him, he served faithfully in whatever he was called to do. Every year Sam diligently ensured that a Fasting
and Prayer Program was published and distributed, even in his very last days. Before Sam went to rest in the arms of
his Lord and Saviour during the Holy Great Fast last year, one of his final wishes was to continue with the publication
of the Program. He also specifically asked for the theme: ‘Women of the Bible’.
This is the Program that is in your hands today. Contributions have been made by family, friends and the community
that Sam served; in honour of him, his unwavering dedication to the Program and his desire to ensure that written
treasures, particularly those of the Coptic Orthodox Church, were made available to the Diaspora.
Sam - may your memory be eternal and may this Program be a small token of our love and appreciation for all you
have done for us. May your legacy of service, leadership and commitment continue to inspire generations to come.
* * * * * * * *
The Holy Great Fast, in the Coptic Orthodox tradition, is a 55-day spiritual journey to the foot of the Cross of our
Lord Jesus Christ. It is a time of fasting and prayer and spiritual struggle that culminates in Passion Week (Holy Pascha),
which is the most important week of the year, and the richest spiritually.
This Program is designed to enrich you on your spiritual journey by providing daily contemplations, Bible readings,
prayers and key references, expressing how our spiritual life can benefit from the examples set by ‘Women of the Bible’,
through their humility, faithfulness, steadfastness, forgiveness, and trust in God.
We conclude with the events and rites of the Holy Pascha week – as our late Pope Shenouda III wrote in his book,
‘Contemplations On the Prayer of the Holy Week: Thine is the Power and the Glory’, it is “a week full of holy memories
of the most crucial stage of salvation and the outstanding chapter in the story of redemption”.
We pray that this Fasting and Prayer Program will be of benefit to your spiritual life.