Among his siblings were Raphael (Rouphael) and Shawki (Fr. Botros Gayed, 1918–1996).
Roufail's mother died shortly after his birth.
He was raised by his older brother, Raphael, in Damanhur in lower Egypt, where he attended a Coptic Elementary School.
Soon after, he studied at the American Middle School in Banha.
He then moved to Shubra, a suburb of Cairo, where he enrolled at the Faith Senior Secondary.
1923
Pope Shenouda III (Ⲡⲁⲡⲁ Ⲁⲃⲃⲁ Ϣⲉⲛⲟⲩϯ ⲅ̅ '; بابا الإسكندرية شنودة الثالث '; 3 August 1923 – 17 March 2012 ) was the 117th Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark.
1943
In 1943, Roufail enrolled in Cairo University (then called the University of King Fouad I) studying towards a Bachelor of Arts degree, majoring in English and history.
Meanwhile, he spent his summer vacations at the monastery of Saint Mary El-Sourian, also called the Syrian Monastery, in Wadi El-Natrun.
While a university student, he was a trainee in the Egyptian Military Reserve Corps.
1946
From the age of 14, Roufail began reading poetry and he wrote many poems himself, especially between 1946 and 1962.
By the age of 16, he was active in the Coptic Sunday School movement.
He served as a Sunday school teacher, first at Saint Anthony's Church in Shoubra and then at Saint Mary's Church in Mahmasha.
In 1946, while still in his final year of undergraduate studies, he was allowed to enroll in the evening classes at the Coptic Theological Seminary.
The seminary was usually open only to university graduates, but the dean of the Seminary, Archdeacon Habib Girgis, made an exception in the case of Roufail.
The personality of Habib Girgis was instrumental in shaping that of the future pope, and Pope Shenouda always spoke highly of Habib Girgis.
1947
Roufail graduated from Cairo University with a BA in History in 1947.
After graduation, he completed his military service, and began work as a teacher of English, history, and social sciences in a high school in Cairo.
Meanwhile, he attended graduate courses in archaeology and classics at Cairo University, specializing in the History of Ancient Egypt and Islamic Egypt.
He worked as a high school teacher by day, and attended classes at the Coptic Theological Seminary by night.
1949
Upon graduation from the seminary in 1949, he was appointed to teach New Testament and Old Testament Studies at the Seminary..
In the same year, he became the editor-in-chief of the Sunday School Monthly Magazine.
1954
He became a monk in 1954 under the name Father Antonios after joining the Syrian Monastery in Wadi El-Natrun.
1958
In 1958, he was elevated to the priesthood.
1962
In 1962, Pope Cyril VI summoned Fr. Antonios and consecrated him General Bishop for Christian Education and as Dean of the Coptic Orthodox Theological Seminary, whereupon he assumed the papal name Shenouda, which was the name of the Coptic saint Shenoute the Archimandrite, as well as two previous popes: Shenouda I and Shenouda II.
1971
His papacy lasted 40 years, 4 months, and 4 days, from 14 November 1971 until his death.
His official title was Pope of Alexandria and the Patriarch of All Africa on the Holy Apostolic Throne of Saint Mark the Evangelist, Father of fathers, Shepherd of shepherds, Successor of Saint Mark, thirteenth among the Apostles, Ecumenical Judge, Beloved of Christ.
He was also the head of the Holy Synod of the Coptic Orthodox Church.
He was known as a conservative figure within the church, and was respected within the Muslim community.
Following the death of Pope Cyril VI on 9 March 1971, the selection process resulted in Bishop Shenouda becoming the new Pope.
He was consecrated on 14 November 1971.
During his papacy, the Coptic church grew significantly outside of Egypt.
He appointed the first bishops for North American dioceses, which now contain more than 250 parishes, up from four in 1971.
He also appointed the first Coptic bishops in Europe, Australia and South America.
Within Egypt, he struggled for the welfare of his people and the church.
Pope Shenouda III was known for his commitment to ecumenism and advocated inter-denominational Christian dialogue.
He devoted his writings, teachings, and actions to propagating understanding, peace, dialogue, and forgiveness.
At the time of his death, Pope Shenouda III was viewed as one of the Great Patriarchs of the ancient Church of Alexandria, a well-known church father and teacher, a chief defender of the faith, and a noted Egyptian leader of the 20th and 21st centuries.
He was given the title ‘Teacher of Generations’ for his great talent at relaying complicated theological and other religious concepts in a simple, understandable and deeply spiritual manner.
Shenouda III was born as Nazir Gayed Roufail (نظير جيد روفائيل, ) in the village of Salaam, which administratively belongs to the Governorate of Asyut in Upper Egypt but ecclesiastically belongs to the Diocese of Manfalut.
He was the youngest of a family of eight children, five girls and three boys.
