With grieving hearts, the Coptic Church has laid to rest our beloved shepherd and faithful father H.H. Pope Shenouda III on Tuesday, March 17th, 2012. SMSV held a special memorial service following the Divine Liturgy on Sunday, March 18th to remember and acknowledge the support and contribution of His Holiness in establishing and praying for our church and congregation. A special presentation of our memories with His Holiness was shared which portrayed several video clips, pictures, and voice recording. Many speakers representing the congregation shared words of love and admiration of our beloved father. On the same evening, Fr. Pishoy travelled to Egypt where he attended the funeral of His Holiness at St. Mark`s Cathedral in Cairo. It was amazing to witness clergy, dignitaries, and elected officials from every corner of the earth attend the funeral and share with genuine affections love and respect to His Holiness and to his legacy. We can honestly say that Pope Shenouda`s departure has united everyone in the love of God, respect for one another, and established a united front for the future of Egypt. May our Lord repose the soul of our honoured father and may he continue to mention us before the throne of God in the heavenly kingdom. Dear Sayedna, we will all miss you and miss your joyful smile and encouragement … but we know that you are in a much better place now seeing the Lord face to face … and your prayers for us now are perpetual … Pray for SMSV and her congregation … the church that you loved and cherished … we will forever be indebted to your paternal love.
Fr. Pishoy’s Poem entitled: My Pope