List of Coptic Orthodox Popes of Alexandria

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The following is a list of all the Coptic Orthodox Popes of Alexandria who have led the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria and have succeeded the Apostle Mark the Evangelist in the office of Bishop of Alexandria, who founded the Church in the 1st century, and therefore marked the beginning of Christianity in Africa.

The Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria is one of the Oriental Orthodox churches (not to be mistaken with the Byzantine Orthodox group of churches) and is presided over by the Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria who is the body's spiritual leader.

The Oriental Orthodox believe that they are the "One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic" Church of the ancient Christian creeds. This position is held since 2012 by Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of all Africa on the Holy See of St. Mark.

The title Pope

Historically, the title Pope was first adopted by Pope Heraclas, the 13th Alexandrine Archbishop (232–249 AD), three centuries before it was assumed by John I, the Roman Bishop (523- 526), who ratified the Alexandrian computation of the date of Easter. Bestowing the title on Rome's Pontiff did not strip it from Alexandria's, and the Roman Catholic Church recognizes this.

The full ecclesiastical title is Papa Abba, and the person bearing it stands for the devotion of all monastics, from Pentapolis in the West to Constantinople in the East, to his guidance. Within this denomination, it is the most powerful designation, for all monks in the East to voluntarily follow his spiritual authority, and it is said that it should be assumed that he is a bearer of Christ.

For the Patriarchs of Alexandria prior to the schism after the Council of Chalcedon, see List of Patriarchs of Alexandria. For the patriarchs of the Byzantine Orthodox church after the split with the Oriental Orthodox church, see List of Greek Orthodox Patriarchs of Alexandria.

Note: Not all of the dates given are certain. Some of these dates disagree with those given in Coptic publications such as The English Katameros. In some cases this is due to publications errors which have been corrected. In other cases, calendar differences may have caused some confusion.

Note: Dioscorus I served as Patriarch of Alexandria since 444 until being deposed and exiled by the Council of Chalcedon in 451 but was still recognized as the Coptic Pope until his death in 454.

Coptic Orthodox Popes of Alexandria

1. Mark the Evangelist (43–68)
2. Anianus (68–82)
3. Avilius (83–95)
4. Kedronus (96–106)
5. Primus (106–118)
6. Justus (118–129)
7. Eumenes (131–141)
8. Markianos (142–152)
9. Celadion (152–166)
10. Agrippinus (167–178)
11. Julian (178–189)
12. Demetrius I (189–232)
13. Heraclas (232–248)
14. Dionysius (248–264)
15. Maximus (265–282)
16. Theonas (282–300)
17. Peter I (300–311)
18. Achillas (312–313)
19. Alexander I (313–326) First ecumenical Council occurred

    vacant (326–328)

20. Athanasius I (328–339) Served as a Deacon for the First Council; became Pope of Alexandria

    Gregory of Cappadocia (339–346), Arian Patriarch; not accepted by the adherents of the Nicene creed (and thus not counted by Coptic Orthodox, Byzantine Orthodox or Catholic lineages).

    Athanasius I (346–373) (restored)

21. Peter II (373–380)

    Lucius of Alexandria (373–377), an Arian installed by the Emperor and not recognized by the adherents of the Nicene Creed

22. Timothy I (380–385) Second Ecumenical Council occurred
23. Theophilus I (385–412)
24. Cyril I (412–444) Third Ecumenical Council occurred
25. Dioscorus I (444–454) Fourth Ecumenical Council occurred/Schism between Oriental Orthodoxy and Eastern Orthodoxy Dioscorus was deposed by the Council of Chalcedon but was still recognized by the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria until his death in 454

    Proterius (in opposition) (451-457), (deposed by the Alexandrian Synod under Timothy II Aelurus)

    vacant (454–457)

26. Timothy II Aelurus (457–460)

    Timothy III Salophakiolos (in opposition) (460-475)

    Timothy II Aelurus (restored) (475-477)

27. Peter III Mongus (477)

    Timothy III Salophakiolos (restored in opposition) (477–481)

    Peter III Mongus (restored) (481–490)

    John I Talaia (in opposition) (481–482)

28. Athanasius II (490–496)
29. John I (496–505)
30. John II (505–516)
31. Dioscorus II (516–517)
32. Timothy III (517–535)
33. Theodosius I (535–567) (Last to serve as Patriarch of the Copts (Non-Chalcedonian) and the Greeks (Chalcedonian)

    Gainas (in opposition) (536)

34. Peter IV (567–569)
35. Damian (569–605)
36. Anastasius (605–616)
37. Andronicus (616–622)
38. Benjamin I (622–661) Islam entered Egypt
39. Agatho (661–677)
40. John III (677–688)
41. Isaac (688–689)
42. Simeon I (689–701)
43. Alexander II (702–729)
44. Cosmas I (729–730)
45. Theodoros I (aka Theodosius II) (730–742)
46. Michael I (743–767)
47. Mina I (767–775)
48. John IV (776–799)
49. Mark II (799–819)
50. Jacob (819–830)
51. Simeon II (830)
52. Joseph I (831–849)
53. Michael II (849–851)
54. Cosmas II (851–858)
55. Shenouda I (859–880)
56. Michael III (880–907)

    vacant (907–910)

57. Gabriel I (910–921)
58. Cosmas III (921–933)
59. Macarius I (933–953)
60. Theophilus II (953–956)
61. Mina II (956–974)
62. Abraham (975–978)
63. Philotheos (979–1003)
64. Zacharias (1004–1032)
65. Shenouda II (1032–1046)
66. Christodolos (1047–1077)
67. Cyril II (1078–1092)
68. Michael IV (1092–1102)
69. Macarius II (1102–1131)
70. Gabriel II (1131–1145)
71. Michael V (1145–1146)
72. John V (1147–1166)
73. Mark III (1166–1189)
74. John VI (1189–1216)

    vacant (1216–1235)

75. Cyril III (1235–1243)

    vacant (1243–1250)

76. Athanasius III (1250–1261)
77. John VII (1262–1268)
78. Gabriel III (1268–1270)

    John VII (restored) (1270–1293)

79. Theodosius III (1293–1300)
80. John VIII (1300–1320)
81. John IX (1320–1327)
82. Benjamin II (1327–1339)
83. Peter V (1340–1348)
84. Mark IV (1348–1363)
85. John X (1363–1369)
86. Gabriel IV (1370–1378)
87. Matthew I (1378–1408)
88. Gabriel V (1408–1427)
89. John XI (1427–1452)
90. Matthew II (1453–1466)
91. Gabriel VI (1466–1475)
92. Michael VI (1475–1477)
93. John XII (1480–1483)
94. John XIII (1483–1524)

    vacant (1524–1526)

95. Gabriel VII (1526–1569)

    vacant (1569–1573)

96. John XIV (1573–1589)
97. Gabriel VIII (1587–1603)

    vacant (1603–1610)

98. Mark V (1610–1621)
99. John XV (1621–1631)
100. Matthew III (1631–1645)
101. Mark VI (1645–1660)
102. Matthew IV (1660–1676)
103. John XVI (1676–1718)
104. Peter VI (1718–1726)
105. John XVII (1727–1745)
106. Mark VII (1745–1769)
107. John XVIII (1769–1796)
108. Mark VIII (1797–1810)
109. Peter VII (1810–1852)

     vacant (1852–1854)

110. Cyril IV (1854–1861)
111. Demetrius II (1862–1870)

     vacant (1870–1874)

112. Cyril V (1874–1927)
113. John XIX (1928–1942)

     vacant (1942–1944)

114. Macarius III (1944–1945)

     vacant (1945–1946)

115. Joseph II (1946–1956) (deposed)

     vacant (1956–1959) - Duties managed by a committee made up of Metropolitans Mikhail of Assiut, Agapius of Dairut and Qosqam and Benyamin of Menoufeya

116. Cyril VI (1959–1971)

     Metropolitan Antonios (March 1971–November 1971) (Locum tenens)

117. Shenouda III (1971–2012)

     Metropolitan Pachomios (March 2012–November 2012) (Locum tenens)

118. Pope Tawadros II (2012–present)

References

General

• Meinardus, Otto F.A. (2002). "Appendix B: The Patriarchs of the Coptic Church and the Rulers of Egypt". Two Thousand Years of Coptic Christianity. American University in Cairo Press. pp. 273–279. ISBN 978-977-424-757-6. 

Specific

External links

• The Official website of the Coptic Orthodox Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of All Africa on the Holy See of Saint Mark the Apostle
• Coptic Documents in French