shenouda iii, 117th patriarch of the See of Saint Mark (1971-). Born Nazir Jayyid, he graduated from Cairo University in 1947 and from the clerical college in 1949. He taught theology in a Coptic seminary in Hilwan while participating in many activities of the church. In 1952, he was elected member of the Egyptian Journalists' Syndicate, while editing the Sunday School Monthly Magazine.
In 1954, he took the monastic vow at dayr al-suryan in Wadi al-Natrun where, for a time, he retired to a cave in the western desert, and was ultimately ordained hegumenos by the name of Antuniyus al-Suryani. In 1962, Patriarch cyril vi elevated him to the rank of bishop in charge of theological education.
In 1971, he was selected for the patriarchate. Immediately afterward in the same year, he was consecrated patriarch of the Coptic Church.
gabriel abdelsayyed