K M w` ewN Thine is the power, the glory,

eKS KU the blessings and the majesty forever,

_ M^G< U<
amen...
< eK cS< ITT <:: I
dU uS~ "K< dU G<K<
by H. H. Pope Shenouda III- Great Lent 1969
}K pe K<:: eK=IU u[~
}d J Sd c?~ Today, I would like to talk to you about the important subject
KTU eK dU~ T<^ }u= of the Passion Week. Passion Week is the holiest week of the
<:: year. And it's good that we talk about it right now (before the
ITT~ uT>`u u=I start of Passion Week), so we can have an opportunity to
dU u?}`e+ S<K< uS<K< enjoy this week spiritually.
U }<[< u`ee QTU L
<::K?KA `f G<K< } Hdv In this week, the church focuses completely on the
G<K< uS @KU en L w suffering of Christ. It doesn't become concerned with any
<::eK K?L ` ewU:: K?L< other subject, but the suffering of Christ. It doesn't desire to
k` KA k think about any other matter. The church wants to focus
}S`<' u=I dU
solemnly on His sufferings. All the readings of the church are
T>[< QTS< <:: G<K<U
about the sufferings of Christ. This subject circulates in the
u?}`e+ vw eK QTS<
church's mind the entire week. In its hymns and appearance
Sc^M:: udU~ uS<K< QTS<
which is clothed in darkness. The front chorus is empty and
L w }<^K:: T] G
the people remember that they are out of the camp. All this,
KA `c< } S^ ^M::
I G<K< T>J< Hdv dMM gives the idea that our minds shouldn't wander away from the

Yn ` <:: sufferings of Christ.

eK cS< ITT w< cU}M
You might have read or heard a lot about Passion
:: _ M}<` U< u
w L <:: u?}`e+ dU~ Week, but I would like to talk to you about only one point:

uS<K< eKU k`u< KA!! the prayer that the church has chosen to pray during the entire
u?}`e+ G<K< u w Passion Week. It turns out to be that the only thing the church
L }<^K::G<K<U ` u prays is the praise that says, "Thok teti gowm nem pi o-ou
Ue [} ` L }<^M:- nem pi esmo nem pi amahi sha eneh, amin... etc..." It means,
#... K M w` ewN "Thine is the power, the glory, the blessings and the
eKS KU...$ majesty forever, amen..."

Keep the Bible, the Bible

keeps you. H.H. Pope Shenouda -1- #... K M w` ewN eKS KU...$
 I nM k< S<K< u`ee We say these words to Christ the entire time. What
^K:: U TK J; [ does this mean? We walk, step by step, following
u[ }^S `ee }} Christ and in every step we say in His ears, "Thine is
a [c< =I LK:- #K the power, the glory, the blessings and the majesty
M w` ewN eKS KU...$
forever,amen..."
`ee u K} Jd \dK?U
Christ goes to Jerusalem on Palm Sunday,
c=H@ Qu< G<K< ue uT_ <Y
the people welcome Him as a king, and we rejoice in
u` }kuK<:: U Gc? ` #Jd
the kingdom of Christ, saying to Him, "Thine is the
U` } u< ...$ uTK
power, the glory, the blessings and the majesty
ScK:: ` I G<K< Ue
<c? ud< K=k"I~' forever, amen..." And the chief priests and elders

]d< T>K< w~ u`:: were displeased at the horde surrounding Christ, so

`c< V~ c=cLeK< w` @ they start to think of His death. And while they are
KSM c=K<~ ' KUe =I thinking of His death, we are behind Him saying,
uTK K:- #K M w` ewN "Thine is the power, the glory, the blessings and the
eKS KU...$ majesty forever, amen..." After that, Christ stays a
Jd Te Ua @ uu= while at Bethany and we are behind Him with these
dK G<U @ < dM T>c same words. Judas deals with the chief priests about
`c< ` c=c?` U T>c< His deliverance and we say to Him, the entire week,
c=^`' dU~ uS<K< #... K
"Thine is the power, the glory, the blessings and the
M w` ewN eKS KU...$
majesty forever, amen..." Christ is arrested and taken
M U^K:: UL" `ee
to be tried and we stand with Him in court and say to
u }' u?< u=Le' uH@ae'
Him, while He is being tried in front of Pontius
uk uG K=[u c=qU' U
Pilate, Herod, Annas and Caiaphas the high priest,
`c< ` qS G<U #... K M w`
ewN eKS KU...$ uTK "Thine is the power, the glory, the blessings and the

cK:: majesty forever, amen..." Christ is insulted, mocked,

cS< ITT @ w< ew jeered and crucified and we stand under the cross
}gSu' }u =U M and repeat the same hymn, "Thine is the power, the
}ckKu dU <:: U uSekK< Y` glory, the blessings and the majesty forever, amen..."
qS =I LK:- #... K M w` Throughout all the sufferings that Christ bears, the
ewN eKS KU...$ uUL" nails hammered in His hands and feet, we say,
S^ >? G<K<' a up "Thine is the power, the glory, the blessings and the
c=\ G<K<' u KUe } #... majesty forever, amen..." During the entire time, we
K M w` ewN eKS
are not occupied with anything else.
KU...$ LK:: unL u=I p =I
Ue nM S S cTK::

Keep the Bible, the Bible

keeps you. H.H. Pope Shenouda -2- #... K M w` ewN eKS KU...$
 . = =I Ue U U So what is the meaning of this prayer and how can
Ue< UkS< <; u=I < we benefit from it? This is what we are going to
L < =I U[<:: #... K M ...$ discuss. What's behind Thine is the power and the
T>K< Ue vh` K< u[ U <; glory? We want to fully understand it.
! lU\ uT>v M[< vM!
In this week, my brothers and sisters, the
u=I dU u`ee uG< S"M
last development occurred in the strange struggle
K< S[h [ L [cu p
between Christ and the Jews. In respect to suffering,
<:: eK ITS< e' @ uY
Passion Week is not the only painful week in the
u}Ku >? SL [cu u=I dU
life of Christ. His entire life on earth was full of
w KU:: unL u=I KU <a<
SL `fu M:: eK`c< }< `c< suffering. It was written about Him that He is a man

#QTU c< U T><p <::$ =d 53:-3 of suffering and will experience sorrow. A life full
"S< u dU w }c dJ uU` of pain, not just a week. But, this week, it has
K >?< uS^ dK:: I dU reached its limit. It is a struggle
u}K G<@ `c< Yn } [ L between light and darkness. In the beginning, the
[cu <:: darkness hated and rejected the light. People liked
I dU uw`H uKT S"M the darkness more than the light because their deeds
} M }"H@u >? <::uSS] were evil. Then it developed that the darkness tried
KT< w`H M <::c Y^< to destroy the light. It evolved to the point that the
u` w`H Mp KT :: =L
darkness accused the light of the being the darkness
KT w`H T>eu' w`HU
and that it was the light. It is a struggle between the
uw`H~ T>Lu c S:: unL
light and darkness. .
\ w`H KT M <::
This struggle was evident during the service
I M u@ uSK ew~U
of Christ. And it is strange that, during this struggle,
uM u`:: uU T>k< I
M UL" M}nS<U:: Christ was not in resistance. "Like a lamb that is led

#}k: }WnU: U M}U: to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its
KS [ T> x:- ugLU U shearer is dumb; He was oppressed, and he was
T>M u:- =G< M}U:: =d afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth" (Isaiah
53&-7 53:7). This is Passion Week! Christ said to them
@ u=I ucS< ITT K=< that this is your hour and the authority of darkness.
S< #I >?G< KT< YM Christ was given complete authority in heaven and
<$ L< (K<n!2:-$3):: `ee ucT on the earth, but He did not use His authority
uU`U G<K< YM K<' KT< against the reign of darkness. He left the darkness to
< =` kK:: KUU take its toll and violently work what it wants.
SLM! K UU SnU! G<K< KT[
Without defence. Without resistance. Without
HK= J K KT< k< =`
standing against it, while He was able to. He
uT>`U G<@ }<::
strangely let it go.

Keep the Bible, the Bible

keeps you. H.H. Pope Shenouda -3- #... K M w` ewN eKS KU...$
 o^ x' `ee As an obedient lamb even to the slaughter. And we
u`UV c= <:: = u=I p < look at Christ while He is being led to the
=I U U ` a slaughter. And we sing in His ears this hymn,
`e #... K M ...$ M "Thine is the power, the glory, the blessings and
UU[<::
the majesty forever, amen..." .
#@ J Y^ u`UV
Your submitance to the works of evil cause
}kwKI en [I:: cu<
You harm, anguish, insult, crucifixion and death.
uSekM K<I:: IU \U J< MI'
This doesn't prevent You from being strong,
w`I UeI KLKU ` U::
praised, blessed and beloved forever and ever,
} pe =wN?` J u}[ `
<nK:: eK=I =I M U^K... K amen. We know who You are - the Holy God.

M w` ewN eKS KU...$ . Christ submitted to the works of

KT< u `c< L =WK the darkness. Just like He gave Satan the freedom
kK:: M c uS qae to tempt Him as he wishes, He gave the freedom to
=< kK' SU sinful mankind to torture Him as they wish. Even
=`< =L~ kL<:: K?L< for Judas, "Jesus said to him, 'What you are going
k[ G< U `< KA wKI to do, do quickly'" (John 13:27). Do whatever you
` K<:: N13:-27 G<K< T>` M want. It might appear before the people that He
J K c< "T :: was weak. But if He was, it was not ordered of
K< eKU<p:-
Him. In His hands was all the power, and we know
# K M w` ewN eKS
that. And we sing to Him and say "Thine is the
KU...$ M ScK::
power, the glory, the blessings and the majesty
forever, amen..."

#... K M ...$ Thine is the Power .

`ee uT>cwu ucS< ITT When Christ was insulted in Passion Week, we say
v] =I LK:- # @ J to Him, "God, we know You, You're not a stranger
} <pHK:: } K KIU::
to us. These people think You were weak, and that
=I c } "T J u `c<
You fell in their hands. Never! We remember all
pI U~ JM:: uU!!
Your incredible power. We remember that You
T[< } M <nK:: }
have power in miracles. You have power over the
uui L M KI G<K< U<e I::
diseases that You healed. Power over the devils
u L YM KI Ue< I::
that You cast out. And power over nature. You are
u<^ L G<K< cK M @ I::
T uK< c' c< [I udg< He who walked on the water and calmed the storm

L }^S \U UL I:: G<K<U K} and waves of the sea. You broke most of the
K<:: natural laws.

Keep the Bible, the Bible

keeps you. H.H. Pope Shenouda -4- #... K M w` ewN eKS KU...$
 M KI G<K< UM We know that You have the power and are
[K:: capable."

S` M Power of Creation

=IU u } G<K< ` M Before this also, You had the power. The power
UL I:: u2d u5 ^ 5g= c of creation. You created a new substance in the
uL SuI 02 Vcw S<K< =}` [I miracle of the five loaves and two fishes. And
\U ] I:: } < < created a new substance when You changed the
K I:: < }a Na *e water to wine. Water consists of oxygen and
}vK< G<K [a S[ J K' } hydrogen, while wine contains alcohol and grape
=I U }K MM K< di juice. Where did all this come from? A new
eI:: =IU K?L SK Ua <` substance was created. In the miracle of the five
u[< e' u[p v` L ` loaves and the two fishes a new substance was
HK= UL I::
created. In healing the eyes of the born blind, a
I G<K< } M <:: u =I
new substance was created.
}U^ w dJ' } KkTI
K?KI G<K< eI UL I:: #G<K< u `c< You have the power of creation. Not just in these
J:: K `c< U U J KU::$ K<
days, but from the beginning, You created all
@L< Ne! ! @ J:- }
things. "All things were made by Him; and
SS]< u` G<K< ` I:: K?L<
without Him was not anything made that was
k` u} L u~ ckK<I `"<
made" (John 1:3). We know who You are. You
} I:: } u S~u <U G<
were from the beginning and You created
} cu<u ULd< G<K<U } Y^
<:: G<K<U } <:: } V everything. You created the people that crucified

Q S u I <:: G<K< T[ You, the hand that slapped You, the tongue that
UM JI K' } pI ^eI K c< insulted You. All things were made through You.
dMI cI:: M J <nK! In Your hand is the key to life and death. You are
able to do anything, but You don't wish to. Thy
pe M will be done. We know that You have the power.
@ J pe MIU \U <::
} c M [ Lp UL I:: Power in Holiness
#( =) K< w< <'
`eU K< w< <::$ We also know that You have the power in
holiness. You are the only one who defeated
Ud7-!6 } I J' = M
Satan.
[I g UL I::

Keep the Bible, the Bible

keeps you. H.H. Pope Shenouda -5- #... K M w` ewN eKS KU...$
 G<K<U uL M I:: "For she (sin) hath cast down many wounded: yea, many
#G<K< S<' uU [c<' strong men have been slain by her" (Proverbs 7:26). You
u ` T>c^ KU: U e were the only one left standing, because You have the
KU::$ S04-3::: =u=KAe G<K<U power.
Tdd KA u[ u=JU' }
u MI vu< ^e kk:: You are stronger than everybody, for "all have turned
aside: together they have become corrupted. There is none
e M who does good, not even one," (Psalm 14:3) and need the
glory of God. Satan was able to trick them all, but You are
=I G<K< uL eI
the only strong one who bruised the head of the serpent.
S Mp <:: G<K<U
M < }KI } Power of Endurance
uTS[S[< eI U
M"<:: `ee K i We know more than this, that You have the power of
T<; ! u `U uS c<U endurance. Notice that Christ was strong in His crucifixion.
K< }MDM:: w< ug< Strong because He bore the accusations of the wicked even
}ud}< u nLK<:: `ee though He had the power in His hands to wipe them out.
u=IU M <:: c =
Who is able to endure like the Christ? Truly, power is in
nM c<U:: T< M
endurance.
`|< }[<' cw<
upu } KukM K<:: There are people who are quickly shaken, angered and
`ee K< u e~ ~M::
weakened, but Christ was strong. There are people who
`c< <a v] =cu<
can't stand one word. Their blood boils, their nerves are
u =S~ kL<:: _
tense, their personality is shaken and they want to get
e J; u ` T>cu<
revenge. But, Christ was strong in endurance. He endured
}gU U "a :: SN:-
His servants to slap Him on the face, spit on Him and insult
# K J "V
"U gU ^d e c Him. Who of us is able to endure this? The person who's

vM::$ (aT@05-1) KM:: able to is truly strong. The Bible says, I ask of you "that are

= I S e u <e strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak" (Romans

K; `c< `c< M 15:1). But, who of us is able to bear? Not only this, but to
<a G<K< d<:: _ Y^ bear all of this from his servants, slaves and his own
e= U "U> _ creation. Can a manager or a president of a company bear
W^} U c^}< that one of his employees or janitors swear at him or say
u=cu< I ` dM; u~ L something rude in front of him? To bear that one slaps
u=}u U u u=S~ T> e him? Or to spit in his face? Who is able to bear all this?
Kn K; I G<K< ue
T>dM w`~ T>J T<;

Keep the Bible, the Bible

keeps you. H.H. Pope Shenouda -6- #... K M w` ewN eKS KU...$
 K`` `ce u i~U There is no doubt that Christ was strong in
K< d~M:: =I e~ UU endurance. His endurance was based on the power
p` u`:: ! dM:: M of His love. Because the person who loves is able
p SJ< e~U Mp <:: uK to bear and endure. He who doesn't love isn't able
T>`S< S c< w dJ T>c<
to endure. Christ was strong in endurance.
p` TK~ <:: <U p` =<
eK `c< =I c=M K:: # ..v J He didn't just bear the wicked and the accusations,
T>`< <pU p` uL<::... $ He also forgave them. He didn't just forgive them.,
K<n!3-"4 but interceded, prayed and defended them in front
of the Father. He said, "Father, forgive them; for
M Se]
they know not what they do" (Luke 23:34).
@ uSekK< =e M
Se] T> e}UaM:: =I u A New Measure of Power
"^ wK U<n<' K?KA M
`<' }< `< Christ gave us, in His crucifixion, a new measure
T>\ u`:: `c< K=e ` of power. Before, a strong man was able to insult,
w J' "^ TK K?KA T> e conquer and destroy another. But, Christ gave us a
<:: "_ TK K?KA Tep
new example: a strong person is he who is able to
KU:: = uK T "_e
tolerate others. Strength is not in shaking and
K?KA up` }vx T <::
stumbling others. The true power is in being able to
N`< pe ?ae `ee
love, gain and save others.
K< U L J M}[U u`:: _
w< T>eu< `ee SekM L
Peter, the disciple, didn't understand the power in
SM "U i UM J
Christ. He thought that crucifixion is a sign of
u`:: w< # `ee
weakness just like many people today. And they
SekM L <LM;$ LK<:: K `c<
ask, "how can Christ be crucified?" They think that
epL "T <:: u}n^><
`ee u=I K< MDM:: "e}M< crucifixion is weakness, but Christ was strong. We

`ce SckM L SM Lp K< observe that Christ reached the pinnacle of His
dM:: <U Mp J p` !! power when He was hanging on the cross! The
Lp J Me< e~ Mk!! highest level of love. The highest level of giving.
`c< K< p` IM T K=[< The highest level of endurance. No one has greater
LM; #c< eK T` Mp love than this: to lay down His life for His friends
=I T>uM p` KTU K<U... $ (John 15:13).
N 15:-13

Keep the Bible, the Bible

keeps you. H.H. Pope Shenouda -7- #... K M w` ewN eKS KU...$
 pe ?ae ekV I Peter didn't understand this. That is why, when Christ
M}[U:: eK=I @ }LM said He was going to be crucified, he said "you can't
T>c T>ckM c=^<:- #@ do that, O Lord!" Why did he say that? Because he
J G<wI... $ u` K<:: KU I didn't understand the meaning of power. He thought
K; K< M `<U eLM}[
that power was that Christ be a king and people
u`:: K `c< M SeK `ee Y
worship, bow and kneel to Him. Peter didn't think that
c u`G c=cK c=u[<K
power was that Christ shed his blood for us. Peter
T w u`:: `ee K S<
didn't understand power in another situation; when
Tcc< K< SK J M}[U::
Christ was being arrested, Peter drew his sword and
uK?L SM M T>K ?ae
M}uU:: eK=I `ee uT>cpK< cut off the ear of the servant. He thought that this was

uk c c S M a power and bravery. Christ told him no, concerning

q[:: u?ae M w` killing the servant, that's easy, it's easy to kill all these
TK I <:: K=IU < `ee I people, but power isn't that we kill them, but bear
uU kLM c G<K< SM }^ ` them. That is the true power.
J }[<:: M `c<
SM KU:: I KT[ pU K Just like John and James the sons of Zebedee, they
S c< M K `T@ thought that power was that fire come down and burn
dM:: the city of the Samaritans that shut it's doors in the
p we M qw face of Christ. Christ told them that that isn't power.
NeU }Sdd sU eKu^<' d The power is that I bear them, have patience on them
` dU^< c =uL `ee and wait until I save them. That is the true power. He
l:: = c S^< said "you do not know what manner of spirit you are
=v `ee eLM}kuK<' =I
of. For the Son of Man did not come to destroy men's
kSS<` I Ndw k[u<:: I
lives but to save them" (Luke 9:55,56).
M dU:: S e `c< S
Sh uK w` T>lU Christ gave is a live, practical example of power. He
^<:: #... U Se
didn't explain in detail the meaning of power, but
JLG< <lU: c<M c<
presented an example of it from a Christian point of
M K= K= MSU..$ (K<n
view. Power that ascended, accepted and bore the
9:-56)
cross for the sake of others. But the person that's
`ee M U w
shaken from one, small word is a weak person. That
uSJ up\ d:: M TK eK
K?KA p` SekM SgU <:: person can't bear the injustice of the wicked and

c=\ T e c< "T therefore becomes shaken quickly.

<::

Keep the Bible, the Bible

keeps you. H.H. Pope Shenouda -8- #... K M w` ewN eKS KU...$
 When we stand in the presence of the cross, my
_ uSekK< K UqS< eK brothers and sister, we don't stand to weep over
K< KSS` ' T>K< S<j Christ like Mary Magdalene and the daughters of
T>< =\dK?U M ` uku= }e Jerusalem did or to mourn and greet Him. We
KTv KU:: K<n 23:-27 uSekK< w stand near the cross to glorify the cross and He
qS SekK< u `c< L }ckK<
who is crucified upon it and to sing to Him the
ScK:: K `c<U =I M
lovely hymn, "Thine is the power, the glory, the
U^K:- #... K M w` ewN
blessings and the majesty forever, amen..."
eKS KU...$

We Boast in the Cross

SekM SS=
SekM SS= <:: YK=IU Therefore, we boast in the cross. "But God forbid
uSekM S"K:: #` KU K @ that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord
}ckKu' @U KKU }ckM<u @
Jesus Christ" (Galatians 6:14). If the cross was a
=c<e `ee SekM uk` K?L UI
sign of weakness, we wouldn't boast in it! If the
@ ^p:: ...$ L6-04
cross was a sign of weakness, we wouldn't hang
SekM "T UM u=J a
it in our churches, on top of our towers, around
SS= vMJ u`:: `c<U "U L
our necks, engraved it in our hands or took it as a
u=J uw} `e+ cpK' u
theme in all our occasions. To us, the cross is a
L MK U uc< L }pc
vM u`:: K SekK< L <:: I sign of power. In it appears the power of love,

p` M SK' ^e Sc S e self sacrifice and endurance. Indeed, this is the

UM <:: u ` SekM M <:: true power.
w< c } u < =wN?`
M J M J SekK< L <[ Many people said to Christ if you were the Son

u` K<:: e}<M!! `ee SekM of God, or if you were powerful come down from
u=` a c<M ~ uJ u`:: the cross. If Christ had come down from the
`c< u~ <c? U u}v M cross, humanity's salvation would have been lost.
SK SekK< M[U:: u ` M He was never overcome by this false glory or the
< c }dd} w` SK c wrong meaning of power because He was strong.
Pdw K `c< UU KU:: eK^c< dew Expressions of glorification did not matter to
eK }k:: `c< T>< u `c< L Him. Christ never thought of Himself, but of us.
T>`c< S^ dJ <:: He didn't care about saving Himself, but about
uSekK< u uvQ`< M<M
our salvation.
J< `ee' vQ` v~ w vQ`
Q~ Se pe ` }Sc G<!!

Keep the Bible, the Bible

keeps you. H.H. Pope Shenouda -9- #... K M w` ewN eKS KU...$