توجهات الإصلاح الاجتماعي في كتابات البطريرك شنودة الثالث

Abstract

Not all the writings of Patriarch Shenouda III aimed at social reform, but some were religious and some were historical. The researcher scrutinized these writings and found that they are an integrated social approach due to their guidance, advice, orders, disciplinary rules, values, recommendations, opinions and answers to questions raised during his reign. The Patriarch derived his reformist ideas from the verses of the Bible that he relied on in documenting his books, the situations he experienced in his life, and the sayings of the previous patriarchs and saints. Despite his rather simple style of writing in presenting ideas, it was distinguished by its depth, comprehensiveness, realism, attention to the smallest details of Egyptian society in general and Coptic society in particular, as well as the abundance of preaching and advice in it. The Patriarch presented his ideas in small brochures, some of which the reader could read in one day. This sort of simplified presentation was highly accepted and appreciated by those who did not know how to read and write; especially those who depended on individuals from their families who could provide them with explaining summaries. He devoted some of his books to children and some to serve the church, bishops and monks, and most of them were for the rest of society and the different layers of community. His books carried educational reformist ideas, as well as presenting the problem and providing a solution to it.