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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
  1. ^ Atiya, Aziz S.. The Coptic Encyclopedia. New York:Macmillan Publishing Company, 1991. ISBN 0-02-897025-X.
  2. ^ Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights: List of attacks on churches, religious buildings and Christians’ private property from 14 August to 17 August 2013