Discipleship

Discipleship by H.H. Pope Shenouda III, the 117th Pope of Alexandria, is a practical guide to following Christ as a daily, lived reality, for church servants, youth leaders and every Christian serious about growing in the spiritual life.

First given as lectures for the formation of Christian servants in 1972, the book has shaped generations of Coptic Orthodox Christians. Pope Shenouda shows that discipleship is not a course you complete or a stage you pass through. It is a way of life: abiding in Christ's teaching so fully that it shows in how you live and love. As Christ said, "By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another" (John 13:35).

The book covers the conditions of true discipleship, learning from the Desert Fathers, learning through the lives of others, lessons from nature and the animal world, formation through the Church's liturgical rites, learning from events in history and in our own lives, and the role of the father confessor in spiritual direction.

Frequently asked questions

Is this book suitable for non-Coptic readers?
Yes. While rooted in the Coptic Orthodox tradition, it draws mainly on Holy Scripture and the Desert Fathers. Pope Shenouda writes as a pastor speaking directly to his reader, not as an academic.

What does it say about the father confessor?
The final chapter explains why a good spiritual father is one of the most important helps in Christian formation, what to look for in one, how to receive guidance well, and the dangers of rejecting human teachers in favour of claimed direct guidance from God.

Is it part of a series?
Yes. It belongs to Pope Shenouda's Ministry Series, first designed as a curriculum for church servants, alongside The Holy Zeal and The Spirituality of Ministry.

About the author

H.H. Pope Shenouda III served as Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St Mark from 1971 until his death in 2012. A theologian, poet and monk who spent six years as a hermit before becoming a bishop, he wrote more than one hundred books on doctrine, spirituality, prayer and Christian living.

Book details

• Author: H.H. Pope Shenouda III
• Format: Printed book
• Published: 2026, St Shenouda Press
• ISBN: 9781764580595