List of Coptic Orthodox popes
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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. 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 Oriental Orthodox believe that they are the "One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic" Church of the ancient Christian creeds.
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. (no reference)
The full ecclesiastical title is Papa Abba, and the person who bears it stands for the devotion of all monastics, from Pentapolis in the west to Constantinople in the east, to his guidance. Within the 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 that not all of the dates given are certain. The dates below are according to the Gregorian calendar. Some of the dates disagree with those given in Coptic publications such as The English Katameros. In some cases, publications errors caused the difference and have been corrected. In other cases, calendar differences between the Julian and the Gregorian calendars have caused some confusion.
Dioscorus I served as Patriarch of Alexandria since 444 until he was deposed and exiled by the Council of Chalcedon in 451, but he was still recognized as the Coptic Pope until his death in 454.
Chronological list of Popes and Patriarchs
1st century
Numerical Order | Papacy | Portrait | Patriarchs of Alexandria English · Coptic |
Birth Name | Birth Place | Apostolic Throne | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 43 – 8 May 68 | File:St.Mark.jpg | St. Mark the Apostle & Evangelist MARCOS Μαρκοϲ |
John (Yoannis), son of Aristopolus | Cyrene, Pentapolis (North Africa) | 25 years. | The Evangelist of the Land of Egypt. He was martyred at Baucalis (East of Alexandria) during the persecution of Copts led by the Roman Emperor Nero. |
2 | 62 – 29 November 83 | St. Anianus INIANOS |
Anianus | Alexandria, Egypt | 22 years. | St. Anianus turned his house into a church, and it is said that it is the one known as the church of St. Mark which stands today in Alexandria. | |
3 | 83 – 11 September 95 | St. Avilius MELYOS |
Avilius | Egypt | 12 years. | He was elected Pope of Alexandria during the persecution against Copts by the Roman Emperor Domitian. | |
4 | 18 September 95 – 28 June 106 | St. Cerdo CEDRONUS |
Cerdo | Egypt | 10 years, 9 months, & 10 days. | He was martyred during the persecution of Copts led by the Roman Emperor Trajan. |
2nd century
Numerical Order | Papacy | Portrait | Patriarchs of Alexandria English · Coptic |
Birth Name | Birth Place | Apostolic Throne | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
5 | 29 June 109 – 9 August 118 | St. Primus ABRIAMUS |
Primus | Egypt | 9 years. | He was one of the three who were ordained priest by St. Mark the Apostle. | |
6 | 118 – 19 June 129 | St. Justus YUSTUS |
Justus | Egypt | 11 years. | He was the First Dean of the Catechetical School of Alexandria appointed by St. Mark the Apostle. He was elected Pope of Alexandria during the persecution against Copts by the Roman Emperor Hadrian. | |
7 | 129 – 19 October 141 | St. Eumenius OMENIUS |
Eumenius | Egypt | 13 years. | Second Dean of the Catechetical School of Alexandria. He was elected Pope of Alexandria during the persecution against Copts by the Roman Emperor Hadrian. | |
8 | 141 – 14 January 152 | St. Markianos MARCIANUS |
Markianos | Alexandria, Egypt | 9 years, 2 months, & 26 days. | Third Dean of the Catechetical School of Alexandria. During his Patriarch the Copts were persecuted by the Roman Emperor Antonius Pius. | |
9 | 29 January 152 – 16 July 166 | St. Celadion CLADIANUS |
Cladion | Egypt | 14 years & 6 months. | He was elected Pope of Alexandria during the persecution against Copts by the Roman Emperor Antonius Pius. | |
10 | 167 – 12 February 178 | St. Agrippinus AGHREPPINUS |
Agrippinus | Alexandria, Egypt | 12 years. | He was elected Pope of Alexandria during the persecution against Copts by the Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius. | |
11 | 18 March 178 – 17 March 188 | St. Julian YULIANUS |
Julian | Egypt | 10 years. | He was elected Pope of Alexandria during the persecution against Copts by the Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius. | |
12 | 17 March 188 – 9 October 230 | St. Demetrius I DEMETRIUS |
Demetrius | Alexandria, Egypt | 43 years. | During his Patriarchy the Copts were persecuted by the Roman Emperor Septimius Severus. |
3rd century
Numerical Order | Papacy | Portrait | Popes & Patriarchs of Alexandria English · Coptic |
Birth Name | Birth Place | Apostolic Throne | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
13 | 231 – 17 December 246 | St. Heraclas YAROKLAS |
Heraclas | Egypt | 13 years. | He is the first Patriarch to carry the hierarchy title "Pope". Which the Bishop of Rome did not use until the sixth century. During his Patriarchy the Copts were persecuted by the Roman Emperor Maximus the Tharacian. | |
14 | 28 December 247 – 22 March 264 | St. Dionysius DIONYSIUS |
Dionysius | Egypt | 17 years, 2 months, & 10 days. | He was the Dean of the Catechetical School of Alexandria. He was elected Pope of Alexandria during the great persecution against Copts by the Roman Emperor Decius. | |
15 | 9 November 265 – 22 April 282 | St. Maximus MAXIMUS |
Alexandria, Egypt | 16 years & 5 months. | He participated in the Synods of Antioch against the heresies of Paul of Samosata. During his Patriarchy the Copts were persecuted by the Roman Emperor Aurelian. | ||
16 | 282 – 10 January 300 | St. Theonas THEONAS |
Egypt | 18 years. | Eusebius the Historian calls him a “pillar of the Church”. |
4th century
Numerical Order | Papacy | Portrait | Popes & Patriarchs of Alexandria English · Coptic |
Birth Name | Birth Place | Apostolic Throne | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
17 | 300 – 8 December 310 | St. Peter “Seal of the Martyrs" PETROS Πετροϲ |
Peter (Petros) | Alexandria, Egypt | 11 years. | He was the last martyred during The Great Persecution led by the Roman Emperors Diocletian and Galerius. | |
18 | 24 December 312 – 26 June 313 | St. Achillas ARCHELAUS |
Egypt | 6 months & 2 days. | He was the Dean of the Catechetical School of Alexandria, defending the teachings of Orthodoxy. And was elected Pope of Alexandria during the reign of the Emperor Constantine the Great. | ||
19 | 313 – 30 April 328 | St Alexander I ALEXANDROS |
Alexandria, Egypt | 15 years. | On the 18th of November 325 AD, St. Alexandros, 19th Pope & Patriarch of Alexandria attended the 1st Ecumenical Council at Nicaea, and was accompanied by his Archdeacon, St. Athanasius the Apostolic. | ||
20 | 5 May 328 – 15 May 373 | St. Athanasius the Apostolic ATHANASIUS |
Alexandria, Egypt | 45 years. | Attended the 1st Ecumenical Council at Nicaea as a Deacon and wrote the Nicene Creed also known as the Orthodox Creed or Athanasius Creed. | ||
21 | 373 – 27 February 379 | St. Peter II PETROS II Πετροϲ |
Egypt | 8 years. | |||
22 | 14 March 379 – 2 August 385 | St. Timothy I TIMOTHEOS |
Egypt | 6 years, 4 months, & 7 days. | Attended the 2nd Ecumenical Council at Constantinople. | ||
23 | 385 – 28 October 412 | St. Theophilus THEOPHILUS |
Egypt | 30 years. | St. Theophilus fought against the pagans, the Arians and the Anthropomorphists, supported by Emperor Theodosius. St. Theophilus was succeeded on the Apostolic Throne by his nephew St. Cyril, 24th Pope of Alexandria. |
5th century
Numerical Order | Papacy | Portrait | Popes & Patriarchs of Alexandria English · Coptic |
Birth Name | Birth Place | Apostolic Throne | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
24 | 17 October 412 – 10 July 444 | St. Cyril "Pillar of Faith" KYRILLOS |
Alexandria, Egypt | 31 years, 8 months, & 11 days. | Known as the "Pillar of Faith" and "Lamp of the Orthodox Church". On the 22nd of September 431 AD, St. Cyril attended the 3rd Ecumenical Council at Ephesus, which he rebuked and excommunicated Nestorius, Patriarch of Constantinople who denied the Virgin as Theotokos ('God-bearer'). | ||
25 | 444 – 17 September 454 | St. Dioscorus DIOSCORUS |
Egypt | 11 years. | Known as the "Champion of Orthodoxy". Last Pope & Patriarch of Alexandria to attend a Western council, the 4th Ecumenical Council at Chalcedon. St. Dioscorus was exiled by the Emperor Marcianus and the Empress Pulcheria to the Island of Gangra, where he departed and was laid to rest. | ||
26 | October 457 – 13 August 477 | St. Timothy II TIMOTHEOS II |
Egypt | 21 years & 10 months. | |||
27 | 477 – 11 November 489 | St. Peter III PETROS III Πετροϲ |
Egypt | 8 years. | |||
28 | 489 – 30 September 496 | St. Athanasius II ATHANASIUS II |
Egypt | 3 years & 9 months. | |||
29 | 29 September 496 – 12 May 505 | St. John I YOANNIS Ιωαnnнϲ |
Alexandria, Egypt | 8 years, & 7 months. |
6th century
Numerical Order | Papacy | Portrait | Popes & Patriarchs of Alexandria English · Coptic |
Birth Name | Birth Place | Apostolic Throne | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
30 | 29 May 505 – 4 June 516 | St. John II YOANNIS II Ιωαnnнϲ |
Egypt | 10 years, 11 months, & 24 days. | |||
31 | 516 – 27 October 518 | St. Dioscorus II DIOSCORUS II |
Egypt | 2 years. | |||
32 | 518 – 20 February 536 | St. Timothy III TIMOTHEOS III |
Egypt | 17 years. | |||
33 | 536 – 5 July 567 | St. Theodosius I THEODOSIUS |
Egypt | 3 years. | |||
34 | 25 July 567 – 2 July 576 | St. Peter IV PETROS IV Πετροϲ |
Egypt | 8 years, 10 months, & 24 days. | |||
35 | 26 June 576 – 25 June 605 | St. Damian DAMIANOS |
Syria | 29 years. |
7th century
Numerical Order | Papacy | Portrait | Popes & Patriarchs of Alexandria English · Coptic |
Birth Name | Birth Place | Apostolic Throne | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
36 | 9 July 605 – 31 December 616 | St. Anastasius ANASTASIUS |
Alexandria, Egypt | 11 years, 6 months, & 10 days. | |||
37 | 616 – 16 January 623 | St. Andronicus ANDRONICUS |
Alexandria, Egypt | 6 years. | |||
38 | 623 – 16 January 662 | St. Benjamin I BENJAMIN |
Barshüt, Beheira Governorate, Egypt | 37 years. | During his Patriarchy there were 15 million Copts. In 639 an army of 4,000 Arabs led by Amr Ibn Al-Aas sent by the Caliph Umar, successor to Muhammad, invaded Egypt and defeated Byzantine Emperor Heraclius. Thus ended 200 years of Byzantine persecution of Coptic Orthodox Christians since the Council of Chalcedon. | ||
39 | 662 – 26 October 680 | St. Agathon AGATHON |
Egypt | 19 years. | |||
40 | 680 – 689 | St. John III YOANNIS III Ιωαnnнϲ |
Egypt | ||||
41 | June 689 – 18 November 692 | St. Isaac ISHAAQ |
El-Borolos, Egypt | 3 ½ years. | |||
42 | 19 December 692 – 31 July 699 | St. Simeon I SIM’AN |
Syria | 6 years, 7 months, & 13 days. |
8th century
Numerical Order | Papacy | Portrait | Popes & Patriarchs of Alexandria English · Coptic |
Birth Name | Birth Place | Apostolic Throne | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
43 | 704 – 14 February 729 | St. Alexander II ALEXANDROS II |
Bana, Egypt | 24 years 9 months. | The Umayyad Caliph Al-Walid I did not limit himself to taxing the Copts' finances; he also taxed their patience. He publicly reviled Jesus and once, during a procession, he even spat in the face of an image of the Virgin Mary. When the Copts protested to the Caliph about the level of taxation he responded with more seizure of property and higher taxes. Such behavior continued under Al-Walid's successors; Yazid II not only reinstated all the earlier taxes, he also ordered the destruction of all crosses and sacred images in churches. He also ordered all his subjects to wear a leaden identification badge around their necks, and required that all Copts who wished to engage in business activity have the mark of a lion branded on their hands. Anyone caught without the mark would have his hand cut off.[1] | ||
44 | 26 March 729 – 10 June 730 | St. Cosmas I COSMOS I |
Abu-Sair, Egypt | 1 year, 2 months & 2 days | |||
45 | 730 – 14 February 742 | St. Theodore I THEODORUS |
Egypt | 12 years. | |||
46 | 14 September 743 – 25 March 767 | St. Michael I MIKHAIL I Μıχαнλ |
Egypt | 23 ½ years. | He was imprisoned and tortured by the Governor Abd al-Malik ibn Marwan ibn Musa bin Nusayr. When King Kyriakos of Makuria heard the news, he was extremely enraged and prepared 100,000 soldiers which invaded Egypt and freed the Pope. The King and Makurian army slew all the Muslims that he met, until he surrounded the city al-Fustat (Cairo). When Abd al-Malik saw the army surrounding the city he became terrified, so he released the Pope from prison to mediate peace between him and the King. The Pope asked the King to accept the peace from Abd al-Malik which the King accepted and returned to Makuria. | ||
47 | 767– 776 | St. Mina I MENAS Μнnα |
Egypt | 8 years. | |||
48 | 24 January 777 – 24 January 799 | St. John IV YOANNIS IV Ιωαnnнϲ |
Egypt | 23 years. | |||
49 | 26 January 799 – 30 April 819 | St. Mark II MARCOS II Μαρκοϲ |
Alexandria, Egypt | 20 years, 2 months, 21days. | During his Patriarch the Copts were persecuted by the Mamluk Sultan, Harun al-Rashid |
9th century
Numerical Order | Papacy | Portrait | Popes & Patriarchs of Alexandria English · Coptic |
Birth Name | Birth Place | Apostolic Throne | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
50 | 819 – 21 February 830 | St. James YAKOVOS Ιακωвοϲ |
Egypt | 10 years, 9 months, 28 days. | In 829, the Copts of the entire Nile Delta rebelled against the Muslim authorities because of excessive taxation and religious persecution. The revolt spread to Upper Egypt. This was the greatest, the most widespread and the most broad based Egyptian rebellion in the history of Egypt under Islam. | ||
51 | May 830 – 13 October 830 | St. Simeon II SIM’AN II |
Alexandria, Egypt | 5 ½ Months. | |||
52 | 831 – 2 November 849 | St. Joseph YOUSAB |
Menouf. Egypt | 19 years. | In 831, Al-Ma'mun, Caliph of the Abbasid Caliphate asked the Pope to pacify the rebels. The Pope asked the people for calm and obedience to the oppressor. All heeded him except the Bashmurians in the northernmost part of the Nile Delta, who refused his advice. Al-Ma'mun finally had to bring a large army with elephants from Turkey to conquer the Bashmurians. Without the help of Upper Egypt the Bashmurians revolt ended up in defeat, a blood bath, and widespread destruction in the marshland of the lower delta. All the surviving population of that area was removed by force to Syria. | ||
53 | 20 November 849 – 30 April 851 | St. Michael II MIKHAIL II Μıχαнλ |
Egypt | 1 year, 4 months & 28 days. | |||
54 | 851 – 30 November 858 | St. Cosmas II COSMOS II |
Samanoud, Egypt | 7 ½ years. | |||
55 | 8 January 859 – 2 May 880 | St. Shenouda I SHENUTE I Ϣεnοɤϯ |
Samanoud, Egypt | 21 years, 4 months, 12 days. | |||
56 | 25 April 880 – 29 March 907 | St. Michael III MIKHAIL III Μıχαнλ |
Egypt | 26 years, 11 months, & 20 days. | In 882, the governor of Egypt, Ahmad ibn Tulun, forced the Pope to pay heavy contributions, forcing him to sell a church and some attached properties to the local Jewish community. This building was at one time believed to have later become the site of the Cairo Geniza. |
10th century
Numerical Order | Papacy | Portrait | Popes & Patriarchs of Alexandria English · Coptic |
Birth Name | Birth Place | Apostolic Throne | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
57 | 910 – 28 February 920 | St. Gabriel I GHABRI |
Egypt | 11 years. | |||
58 | 28 February 920 – 12 March 932 | St. Cosmas III COSMOS III |
Egypt | 11 year. | |||
59 | 932 – 2 April 952 | St. Macarius I MACARI Μακαρi |
Egypt | 20 years. | |||
60 | 952 – 19 December 956 | St. Theophilus THEOPHANES |
Egypt | 4 years. | |||
61 | 956 – 974 | St. Mina II MENAS II Μнnα |
Egypt | 18 years. | |||
62 | 28 November 975 – 16 December 978 | St. Abraham AVRAAM |
Ebn-Zaraa | Syria | 3 years & 6 days. | Al-Mu'iz, Caliph of the Fatimid Caliphate challenged Pope Abraham "if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move" (Matt 17:20 & Mark 11:23). After 3 days of prayers and fasting the Pope with St. Simon the Tanner moved the Mokattam Mountain east of Cairo. The story of this miracle can be found in the History of the Patriarchs of Alexandria written by the historian Severus Ibn al-Muqaffa. | |
63 | 979 – 1003 | St. Philotheos PHILOTHEOS |
Egypt | 24 years. |
11th century
Numerical Order | Papacy | Portrait | Popes & Patriarchs of Alexandria English · Coptic |
Birth Name | Birth Place | Apostolic Throne | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
64 | 1004 – 22 November 1032 | St. Zacharias ZACHARIAS |
Alexandria, Egypt | 28 years. | During his Patriarchy the Copts were persecuted for nine years by the Caliph Al-Hakim. More than 30,000 churches were demolished, including the burning of the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem. Al-Hakim had seized the Pope smeared his clothes with the blood of a slaughtered sheep and cast him to hungry lions, but they did not harm him. The Caliph marvelled and ordered that the Pope be allowed to rebuild churches and restore those that were destroyed. | ||
65 | 1032 – 1046 | St. Shenouda II SHENUTE II Ϣεnοɤϯ |
Egypt | 14 years. | |||
66 | 1047 – 23 December 1077 | St. Christoldoulos EKHRISTODOULOS |
Egypt | 30 years. | In the year 1047 the Seat of the Coptic Orthodox Pope of Alexandria was moved from Alexandria to Cairo. | ||
67 | 18 March 1078 – 19 June 1092 | St. Cyril II KYRILLOS II |
George (Guirguis) | Egypt | 14 years, 2 months, & 20 days. | ||
68 | 9 October 1092 – 7 June 1102 | St. Michael IV MIKHAIL IV Μıχαнλ |
Egypt | 9 years, 7 months, & 17 days. |
12th century
Numerical Order | Papacy | Portrait | Popes & Patriarchs of Alexandria English · Coptic |
Birth Name | Birth Place | Apostolic Throne | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
69 | 1102 – 14 September 1128 | St. Macarius II MACARI II Μακαρi |
Egypt | 27 years. | |||
70 | 3 February 1131 – 18 April 1145 | St. Gabriel II GHABRI II |
Cairo, Egypt | 14 years, 2 months, & 2 days. | |||
71 | 29 July 1145 – 11 April 1146 | St. Michael V MIKHAIL V Μıχαнλ |
Daqadus, Dakahlia Governorate, Egypt | 8 Months. | |||
72 | 25 August 1147 – 12 May 1166 | St. John V YOANNIS V Ιωαnnнϲ |
Egypt | 18 years, 8 months, & 4 days. | |||
73 | 1166 – 1189 | St. Mark III MARCOS III Μαρκοϲ |
Alexandria, Egypt | 23 years. | |||
74 | 1189 – 1216 | St. John VI YOANNIS VI Ιωαnnнϲ |
Egypt | 27 years. | After his departure, the Apostolic Throne remained vacant for nineteen years. This is the longest vacancy in the history of the Coptic Orthodox Church. |
13th century
Numerical Order | Papacy | Portrait | Popes & Patriarchs of Alexandria English Coptic |
Birth Name | Birth Place | Apostolic Throne | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
75 | 30 July 1235 – 23 March 1243 | St. Cyril III KYRILLOS "EBN-LOQLOQ" |
Ebn-Loqloq | Egypt | 7 years & 9 months. | After his departure, the Apostolic Throne remained vacant for seven years and seven months because of the intense persecution which did not allow the Copts to elect a successor. | |
76 | 15 October 1250 – 10 December 1261 | St. Athanasius III ATHANASIUS III |
Paul (Bolis) | Egypt | 11 years & 56 days. | ||
77 | 14 January 1262 – 1268 &
1271 – 24 July 1274 |
St. John VII YOANNIS VII Ιωαnnнϲ |
Ibn Sa`id as-Sukari | Cairo, Egypt | With support from some of the bishops, Pope John VII was replaced for three years by Pope Gabriel III, who was originally one of the candidates for pope. Pope John VII was restored as pope after the death of Pope Gabriel III. This is the only occasion in history when the Coptic Orthodox Church had two popes at the same time. | ||
78 | 3 November 1268 – 4 May 1271 | St. Gabriel III GHABRI III |
Egypt | 3 years. | With support from some of the Bishops, Pope Gabriel III replaced Pope John VII and reigned for three years until his death, when Pope John VII was reinstated. This is the only occasion in history when the Coptic Orthodox Church had two Popes at the same time. | ||
79 | 17 July 1274 – 13 January 1300 | St. Theodosius II THEODOSIUS II |
Christodulus (Abdel Masih) | Minyat Bani Khasim, Egypt | 26 years. |
14th century
Numerical Order | Papacy | Portrait | Popes & Patriarchs of Alexandria English · Coptic |
Birth Name | Birth Place | Apostolic Throne | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
80 | 26 February 1300 – 11 June 1320 | St. John VIII YOANNIS VII Ιωαnnнϲ |
Youhanna Ben-Ebsal | Bani-Khosaim, Egypt | 20 years, 3 months, & 15 days | During his Patriarch the Copts were persecuted by the Mamluk Sultan, Al-Nasir Muhammad ibn Qalawun. The Sultan decreed that whoever kills a Christian could have his possessions. | |
81 | 11 October 1320 – 10 April 1327 | St. John IX YOANNIS EL NAKADY |
Nephia-Monufia Governorate, Egypt | 6 years, 5 months and a half. | On the 8th of May 1321, fanatic Muslims destroyed and burned over 60 Coptic churches and monasteries throughout Egypt. | ||
82 | 23 May 1327 – 19 January 1339 | St. Benjamin II BENJAMIN II |
Ad-Dimikarat, Egypt | 11 years & 8 months. | |||
83 | 14 January 1340 – 21 July 1348 | St. Peter V PETROS V Πετροϲ |
Egypt | 8 years and a half. | |||
84 | 15 July 1349 – 13 February 1363 | St. Mark IV MARCOS IV Μαρκοϲ |
Farag | Kaliub, Egypt | 14 years & 3 months. | ||
85 | 20 May 1363 – 26 July 1369 | St. John X YOANNIS Ιωαnnнϲ |
Damascus, Syria | 6 years, 2 months. | He was the forth and last Syrian elected Pope of Alexandria. The other three popes elected from among the Syrians are as followed Pope Damian the 35th, Pope Simeon the 42nd, Pope Abraam the 62nd. | ||
86 | 19 January 1370 – 11 May 1378 | St. Gabriel IV GHABRI IV |
Egypt | 8 years & 4 months. | During his Patriarchy the Coptic Orthodox Christians were indiscriminately persecuted by Crusaders. | ||
87 | 1378 – 13 January 1409 | St. Matthew MATTHEOS Ματɵɪαϲ |
Bani Ruh, Al-Ashmunain, Egypt | 32 years. | Also known as El Meskin ("The Poor") for his charitable deeds to the poor. During his Patriarchy a great number of Coptic Orthodox Christians were indiscriminately persecuted by Crusaders. |
15th century
Numerical Order | Papacy | Portrait | Popes & Patriarchs of Alexandria English · Coptic |
Birth Name | Birth Place | Apostolic Throne | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
88 | 1409 – 1427 | St. Gabriel V GHABRI V |
Giza, Egypt | 18 years. | |||
89 | 11 May 1427 – 17 May 1452 | St. John XI YOANNIS XI Ιωαnnнϲ |
Farag | El-Maksa, Cairo, Egypt | 24 years, 11 months, & 23 days. | In 1441, the Ethiopian Emperor Zara Yaqob threatened the Burji Sultan Sayf ad-Din Jaqmaq to cut the flow of the Nile because of the destruction of monasteries and persecution against Copts led by the Sultan Jaqmaq. However, the Emperor refrained from doing so for the human suffering it would cause. | |
90 | 1452 – 23 September 1465 | St. Matthew II MATTHEOS II Ματɵɪαϲ |
Egypt | 13 years. | |||
91 | 1466 – 1474 | St. Gabriel VI GHABRI VI |
Egypt | 8 years. | |||
92 | 1477 – 1478 | St. Michael VI MIKHAIL VI |
Egypt | 1 year. | |||
93 | 1480 – 1483 | St. John XII YOANNIS XII Ιωαnnнϲ |
Egypt | 3 years. | |||
94 | 1484 – 1524 | St. John XIII YOANNIS XII Ιωαnnнϲ |
Egypt | 40 years. |
16th century
Numerical Order | Papacy | Portrait | Popes & Patriarchs of Alexandria English · Coptic |
Birth Name | Birth Place | Apostolic Throne | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
95 | 1525 – 17 July 1570 | St. Gabriel VII GHABRI VII |
Roufail | Near El-Mouharraq Monastery, Egypt | 45 years. | ||
96 | 17 April 1571 – 8 September 1586 | St. John XIV YOANNIS EL-MANFALOUTY Ιωαnnнϲ |
Manfalout, Egypt | 14 years, 4 months, & 21 days | |||
97 | 20 June 1587 – 17 May 1603 | St. Gabriel VIII GHABRI VII |
Shenouda | Meer, Egypt | 15 years, 10 months, & 24 days. |
17th century
Numerical Order | Papacy | Portrait | Popes & Patriarchs of Alexandria English · Coptic |
Birth Name | Birth Place | Apostolic Throne | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
98 | 1603 – 1619 | St. Mark V MARCOS Μαρκοϲ |
Egypt | 16 years. | Arabic becomes Egypt's official language. Islamic rulers threatened to cut the tongues of any Egyptian that was found speaking in the Coptic language. Despite the persecutions, the Coptic Popes are credited for preserving the Coptic language. | ||
99 | 18 September 1619 – 10 September 1629 | St. John XV YOANNIS EL-MALLAWANY Ιωαnnнϲ |
Mallawi, Egypt | 9 years, 11 months, & 22 days. | Buried at St.Anba Bishih Monastery in El-Bayadia, Egypt. | ||
100 | 7 September 1631 – 3 April 1646 | St. Matthew III MATTHEOS III Ματɵɪαϲ |
Tadros | Toukh El-Nasarah, El-Monufia, Egypt | 14 years, 6 months, & 23 days. | ||
101 | 20 April 1646 – 20 April 1656 | St. Mark VI MARCOS VI Μαρκοϲ |
Tadros | Bahgourah, Egypt | 10 years. | ||
102 | 6 December 1660 – 22 August 1675 | St. Matthew IV MATTHEOS IV Ματɵɪαϲ |
George (Guirguis) | Meer, Ashmonain District, Diocese of Qousqam (known as El-Muharaq), Egypt | 15 years, 8 months, 10 days. | ||
103 | 5 May 1676 – 17 June 1718 | St. John XVI YOANNIS EL NAKADY Ιωαnnнϲ |
Ibrahim | Takh El-Nasara the diocese of El-Menoufia, Egypt | 42 years, 1 month, & 11 days. |
18th century
Numerical Order | Papacy | Portrait | Popes & Patriarchs of Alexandria English · Coptic |
Birth Name | Birth Place | Apostolic Throne | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
104 | 21 August 1718 – 4 April 1726 | St. Peter VI PETROS VI Πετροϲ |
Morgan | Assiut, Egypt | 7 years, 7 months, & 11 days. | ||
105 | 12 January 1727 – 21 April 1745 | St. John XVII YOANNIS the 17th Ιωαnnнϲ |
Abdel Sayed | Mallawi, Egypt | 18 years, 3 months, & 8 days. | ||
106 | 30 May 1745 – 20 May 1769 | St. Mark VII MARCOS VIII Μαρκοϲ |
Simeon | Klosna, in the district of El Bahnasa, Egypt | 23 years, 11 months, & 20 days | ||
107 | 23 October 1769 – 9 June 1796 | St. John XVIII YOANNIS XVIII Ιωαnnнϲ |
Joseph | Fayoum, Egypt | 26 years, 7 months, & 16 days. | ||
108 | 1796 – 21 December 1809 | St. Mark VIII MARCOS VIII Μαρκοϲ |
John (Youhanna) | Sohag, Egypt | 13 years. | Napoleon and French Invasion of Egypt which had a population of 3 million Egyptians. |
19th century
Numerical Order | Papacy | Portrait | Popes & Patriarchs of Alexandria English · Coptic |
Birth Name | Birth Place | Apostolic Throne | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
109 | 24 December 1809 – 6 April 1852 | St. Peter VII BOUTROS "EL-GAWLY" Πετροϲ |
Mankarius | Gawli - Manfalout, Egypt | 42 years, 3 months, & 12 days. | A Russian ambassador offered the Patriarch Peter VII the protection from the Russian Emperor, Nicholas I, however the patriarch thanked the Emperor, saying no other protection was needed than God. | |
110 | 5 June 1854 – 31 January 1861 | St. Cyril IV KYRILLOS IV |
David (Daoud) | Sawamaa of the district of the city of Girga, Egypt | 6 years, 7 months, & 27 days. | He established a Coptic School in Haret El-Sakkayeen. As well as a printing house and printed many church books. | |
111 | 15 June 1861 – 18 January 1870 | St. Demetrius II DEMITRIUS II |
Michael (Mikhail) | Galda, Minya Governorate, Egypt | 7 years, 7 months & 7 days | ||
112 | 1 November 1874 – 7 August 1927 | St. Cyril V KYRILLOS V |
John (Youhanna) | Tezment, Beni Suef Governorate, Egypt | 52 years, 9 months, & 6 days. | Longest-serving Pope in the history of the Coptic Orthodox Church. In 1908, Marcus Simaika Pasha obtained the approval of the Pope to build the Coptic Museum which was inaugurated on the 14th of March 1910. |
20th century
Numerical Order | Papacy | Portrait | Popes & Patriarchs of Alexandria English · Coptic |
Birth Name | Birth Place | Apostolic Throne | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
113 | 16 December 1928 – 21 June 1942 | St. John XIX YOANNIS XIX Ιωαnnнϲ |
Dair Tasa, Assiut, Egypt | 13 years, 6 months, & 6 days. | First ever Bishop or Metropolitan ordained Pope. | ||
114 | 19 February 1944 – 31 August 1945 | St. Macarius III MACARI III Μακαρi |
El-Mahalla El-Kubra, Egypt | 1 year, 6 months, & 13 days. | Was ordained metropolitan for Assiut at 24 years old. | ||
115 | 1946 – 14 November 1956 | St. Joseph II YOUSAB II |
Damanhour, Egypt | 10 years. | Foundation of the Higher Institute of Coptic Studies. | ||
116 | 10 May 1959 – 9 March 1971 | St. Cyril VI KYRILLOS VI |
Azer Youssef Atta | Damanhour, Egypt | 11 years, 7 months, & 29 days. | ||
117 | 14 November 1971 – 17 March 2012 | Pope Shenouda III SHENOUDA III Ϣⲉⲛⲟⲩϯ ⲅ̅ |
Nazeer Gayed Roufail | Abnub, Asyut Governorate, Egypt | 40 years, 4 months, & 4 days. | First Pope to visit the Patriarchs of Rome and Constantinople since 451 AD. |
21st century
Numerical Order | Papacy | Portrait | Popes & Patriarchs of Alexandria English · Coptic |
Birth Name | Birth Place | Apostolic Throne | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
118 | 18 November 2012 – Present | Pope Theodore II TAWADROS II Өεοδωροϲ |
Wagih Subhi Baqi Sulayman | Mansoura, Egypt |
Since 2012 | In August 2013, Churches and monasteries in Upper Egypt (built in the 4th and 5th centuries) were forced to cancel Sunday Mass for the first time in 1,600 years due to the intense persecution led by the Muslim Brotherhood.[2] |
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
- ^ Atiya, Aziz S.. The Coptic Encyclopedia. New York:Macmillan Publishing Company, 1991. ISBN 0-02-897025-X.
- ^ Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights: List of attacks on churches, religious buildings and Christians’ private property from 14 August to 17 August 2013
External links
- Use dmy dates from August 2013
- Popes of the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria
- Christianity in Egypt
- Coptic Orthodox Church
- Coptic history
- Lists of Oriental Orthodox Christians
- Pope-related lists
- Lists of popes, primates, and patriarchs
- Christianity of the Middle Ages
- History of Oriental Orthodoxy
- Egypt religion-related lists
- Alexandria-related lists