Departure of St. Shenoute the Archimandrite (July 14/Abib 7)
On this day, the ascetic father, St. Shenoute the Archimandrite, departed. As a child, he was entrusted with his father’s sheep. He spent his days tending the sheep and fasting. One day, his father took him to Abba Pigol, his uncle, for a blessing. A voice came from heaven saying, "Shenoute has become the Archimandrite."
From that time, he increased his ascetic life until he succeeded Abba Pigol as head of the White Monastery in Attribe.
Anba Shenouda became a shining light to all the world with his sermons, discourses, and canons that he put for the good of the monks, hierarchies, and laity, men and women. He attended the Council of the two hundred that gathered at Ephesus with the holy father St. Cyril of Alexandria, and he admonished Nestorius the heretic.
Before his departure, he asked his disciples to support him so that he might worship his creator. He worshiped God and then commanded them to follow his footsteps and told them, "I commit you to God" then he departed in peace.
May his prayers be with us. Amen.