Madeha For Pope Shenouda - In "The Release of the Spirit" :: مديحة لقداسة البابا شنودة الثالث - في إنطلاق الروح

In "The Release of the Spirit,"
A heart reveals love,
That cannot be explained,
Peniout Avva Shenouda.

He loved living in the abbey,
And desired to take the way,
Of the Great Anthony,
Peniout Avva Shenouda.

He lived in a cave,
Vigilant like the virgins,
And his heart like harp,
Peniout Avva Shenouda.

O symbol of God´s love,
In which you wrote poems,
And desired to see Him,
Peniout Avva Shenouda.

A monk, scholar and wise man,
Became the first to be,
Bishop to education,
Peniout Avva Shenouda.

A scholar in theology,
A master in spirituality,
An expert in asceticism,
Peniout Avva Shenouda.

He revived the Seminary,
And the spiritual service,
With apostolic power,
Peniout Avva Shenouda.

God saw your heart,
True towards Him,
And choose you to shepherd,
Peniout Avva Shenouda.

You have Abraham´s faith,
And Moses´ leadership,
And the Virgin´s meekness,
Peniout Avva Shenouda.

Like Solomon, you were wise,
You defended the faith,
Like John the Baptist,
Peniout Avva Shenouda.

O kind and loving father,
One with a rare heart,
Like that of King David,
Peniout Avva Shenouda.

Your heart, sensitive and gentle,
Was full of love,
You turned the enemy to a friend,
Peniout Avva Shenouda.

You spoke with a spiritual tongue,
Delighting everyone,
The second golden mouthed,
Peniout Avva Shenouda.

The minds were puzzled,
And we were amazed,
Of the wisdom in what he said,
Peniout Avva Shenouda.

O teacher of generations,
With sermons and sayings,
And books and articles,
Peniout Avva Shenouda.

Like a flowing fountain, he taught,
The crowds came to him,
For the sermon every week,
Peniout Avva Shenouda.

O tongue of great scent,
A mystery, clear and manifest,
Full of the Spirit´s fruit,
Peniout Avva Shenouda.

You brought the relic,
Of the virgin shepherd,
Athanasius the Apostolic,
Peniout Avva Shenouda.

He travelled and built,
With struggle, he produced,
In the diaspora,
Peniout Avva Shenouda.

A servant, strong and fiery,
As said in the Scriptures,
"His servants like fiery flames,"
Peniout Avva Shenouda.

Seven times it happened,
That he made the Myroun,
To sanctify the anointed,
Peniout Avva Shenouda.

A zealous shepherd of the Church,
Strong, resilient and bold,
A judge of the truth,
Peniout Avva Shenouda.

He resisted every threat,
So he was called unique,
The new Athanasius,
Peniout Avva Shenouda.

In evil, they exiled you,
A mountain, they found you,
Like the kings, they returned you,
Peniout Avva Shenouda.

Like the evangelist Mark,
You crowned the first to be,
To Eretria, a patriarch,
Peniout Avva Shenouda.

You have the lions´ reverence,
You´re amazing in responses,
You stand for your opinions,
Peniout Avva Shenouda.

He worked to establish,
Many seminaries,
In Egypt and all countries,
Peniout Avva Shenouda.

You attain scholarship,
And the majesty of leaders,
And the humility of the simple,
Peniout Avva Shenouda.

He put the ordination rites,
Of the convents´ abbess,
And the blessing the consecrated ones,
Peniout Avva Shenouda.

Through the ministry of charity,
He prayed to God, saying,
"Of Your own we have given,"
Peniout Avva Shenouda.

A helper and a father,
To all the Lord´s brothers,
With kind and open arms,
Peniout Avva Shenouda.

You taught us to stand firm,
With hope that is endless,
By saying, "God is present,"
Peniout Avva Shenouda.

In trouble, we saw him,
Standing in silence,
So that God may speak,
Peniout Avva Shenouda.

He defeated the Devil´s tricks,
With wisdom in leading,
As did Esther,
Peniout Avva Shenouda.

He broke our traps,
And we were freed like birds,
As the psalm said,
Peniout Avva Shenouda.

A face, smiling and cheerful,
Living always with hope,
Becoming a living Gospel,
Peniout Avva Shenouda.

Your works have great effect,
Therefore you were named,
The Thirteenth Apostle,
Peniout Avva Shenouda.

Our tongues fall short,
And our minds, puzzled,
In describing this man,
Peniout Avva Shenouda.

On your departure day,
You prayed to God,
To complete your struggle,
Peniout Avva Shenouda.

Intercede to those you taught,
And in your heart, loved,
And the many years, you spent,
Peniout Avva Shenouda.

Blessed, O dear father,
Of the exalted name,
Remember us in the highest,
Peniout Avva Shenouda.

Blessed, O our shepherd,
We ask for your prayer,
Before our Savior,
Peniout Avva Shenouda.

The explanation of your name,
Is in the mouth of the believers,
They all say, "O God of Pope Shenouda,
Help us all."