Emphasis Preaching Journal

Pope Shenouda III is the patriarch of the Coptic Orthodox Church. As such, he is the 117th successor to the Apostle Mark in the succession of that church. The Coptic Church is centered in Egypt and subsequently, Shenouda leads the church in a constant tension with the Muslim world. There are many ways that the enforcement of the Sharia or Islamic law by the Egyptian authorities necessitates civil disobedience on his part. Regulations insist that churches provide the revenue of equal amount for improvements at a neighboring mosque prior to permits for work on their own site being granted.