Pope Gabriel VIII of Alexandria

Last updated
Pope

Gabriel VIII of Alexandria
Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark
Papacy began20 June 1587
Papacy ended14 May 1603
Predecessor John XIV
Successor Mark V
Personal details
Born
Shenouda

Meer, Egypt
Died14 May 1603
Egypt
Buried Syrian Monastery, Egypt
Nationality Egyptian
Denomination Coptic Orthodox Christian
Residence Church of the Virgin Mary (Haret Zuweila)

Pope Gabriel VIII of Alexandria was the 97th Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark.

Gabriel VIII was originally from Meer, Egypt and his lay name was Shenouda. He became a monk in the Monastery of Saint Pishoy in Scetes and was ordained on Sunday, 16 Paoni, 1303 A.M. (June 20, 1587 AD). Avva Zacharias, Bishop of Jerusalem, and Avva Kyrellos El-Khiami led Gabriel's consecration in the Church of Saint Mercurius in Old Cairo. At the time of his ordination the Copts were divided, and they chose for themselves four different patriarchs. Gabriel's papacy was later accepted by the Coptic community. He was contemporary of the Ottoman Sultan Ahmed I.

During his papacy, Gabriel VIII decreed that the Fast of the Apostles must start on 21 Paoni and end on 5 Epip, and that Advent must start on the first of Koiak. He also suppressed the Fast of Jonah, and allowed the Fast of the Dormition of the Virgin Mary to be optional. The Copts at the time accepted these decisions, but the fasts were reinstituted after his death.

Gabriel VIII died on 9 Pashons, 1319 A.M. (May 14, 1603 AD) in the Syrian Monastery. He occupied the Throne of Saint Mark for 15 years, 10 month, and 24 days.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Coptic Orthodox Church</span> Oriental Orthodox Christian church

The Coptic Orthodox Church, also known as the Coptic Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria, is an Oriental Orthodox Christian church based in Egypt, servicing Africa and the Middle East. The head of the church and the See of Alexandria is the Pope of Alexandria on the Holy Apostolic See of Saint Mark, who also carries the title of Father of fathers, Shepherd of Shepherds, Ecumenical Judge and the thirteenth among the Apostles. The See of Alexandria is titular, and today, the Coptic Pope presides from Saint Mark's Coptic Orthodox Cathedral in the Abbassia District in Cairo. The church follows the Coptic Rite for its liturgy, prayer and devotional patrimony. With approximately 25 million members worldwide, it is the country's largest Christian denomination.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pope Shenouda III of Alexandria</span> Head of the Coptic Church from 1971 to 2012

Pope Shenouda III was the 117th Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark. His papacy lasted 40 years, 4 months, and 4 days from 14 November 1971 until his death.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pope Cyril VI of Alexandria</span> Head of the Coptic Church from 1959 to 1971

This article uses dates and years written in the Coptic calendar, using the A.M. calendar era, in addition to the Gregorian calendar, using the A.D. calendar era.

Pope Justus was the 6th Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria.

Pope Cosmas I of Alexandria, 44th Pope of Alexandria & Patriarch of the See of St. Mark.

Pope Christodoulos of Alexandria was the 66th Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark.

Pope Matthew I of Alexandria was the Coptic Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark from 1378 to 1408. He is revered as a saint by the Coptic Church.

Cyril III, known as Cyril ibn Laqlaq, was the 75th Coptic Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pope Cyril V of Alexandria</span> Head of the Coptic Church from 1874 to 1927

Pope Cyril V of Alexandria , 112th Pope of Alexandria & Patriarch of the See of St. Mark for 52 years, 9 months and 6 days. He was the longest-serving Pope in the history of the Coptic Orthodox Church. He was born as Youhanna (John) in 1824 or 1830/1831 according to different accounts and he died on 7 August 1927.

Pope Peter V of Alexandria was the 83rd Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark.

Pope John V of Alexandria, 72nd Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark. He was initially a monk in the Monastery of Saint John the Dwarf in Scetes. He was enthroned as a Pope of Alexandria on the second day of Pi Kogi Enavot, 863 A.M..

Pope Benjamin II of Alexandria, 82nd Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark. His episcopate lasted for eleven years, seven months and 26 days from 10 May 1327 to 6 January 1339.

Pope Mark IV of Alexandria, 84th Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark.

Pope Benjamin I of Alexandria, 38th Pope of Alexandria & Patriarch of the See of St. Mark. He is regarded as one of the greatest patriarchs of the Coptic Church. Benjamin guided the Coptic church through a period of turmoil in Egyptian history that included the fall of Egypt to the Sassanid Empire, followed by Egypt's reconquest under the Byzantines, and finally the Arab Islamic Conquest in 642. After the Arab conquest Pope Benjamin, who was in exile, was allowed to return to Alexandria and resume the patriarchate.

Pope Athanasius III of Alexandria, 76th Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark.

Pope John XVIII of Alexandria , 107th Pope of Alexandria & Patriarch of the See of St. Mark. Pope John XVIII was born in Fayoum, Egypt. His lay name was Joseph. He became a monk in the Monastery of Saint Anthony. At the departure of Pope Mark VII, he was unanimously chosen to succeed him. He was ordained at the church of Saint Mercurius Church in Coptic Cairo, on Sunday, 15 Paopi, 1486 A.M.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pope Mark VIII of Alexandria</span> Head of the Coptic Church from 1796 to 1809

Pope Mark VIII of Alexandria , 108th Pope of Alexandria & Patriarch of the See of St. Mark.

John VIII ibn Qiddis was the 80th pope of the Coptic Orthodox Church from 14 February 1300 until his death.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Coptic history</span> Aspect of the history of Egypt focusing on the history of the Copts

Coptic history is the part of the history of Egypt that begins with the introduction of Christianity in Egypt in the 1st century AD during the Roman period, and covers the history of the Copts to the present day. Many of the historic items related to Coptic Christianity are on display in many museums around the world and a large number is in the Coptic Museum in Coptic Cairo.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pope Tawadros II of Alexandria</span> Head of the Coptic Church since 2012

Pope Tawadros II or Theodore II is the 118th and current pope of Alexandria and patriarch of the See of St. Mark, succeeding the late Pope Shenouda III as leader of the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria. He took office on 18 November 2012, two weeks after being selected.

References

Oriental Orthodox titles
Preceded by Coptic Pope
1587–1603
Succeeded by