List of Coptic Orthodox Popes of Alexandria

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 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. The dates below are according to the Gregorian Calendar. 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 between the Julian and Gregorian calendars 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.

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		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 – 22 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 310 – 26 June 311		St. Achillas ARCHELAUS		Egypt	6 months & 2 days.	He was the Dean of the Catechetical School of Alexandria, defending the teachings of Orthodoxy.
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 381		St. Peter II PETROS II Πετροϲ		Egypt	8 years.
22	14 March 378 – 2 August 384		St. Timothy I TIMOTHEOS		Egypt	6 years, 4 months, & 7 days.	Attended the 2nd Ecumenical Council at Constantinople.
23	384 – 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.
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. 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.

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.	During his Patriarchy the Coptic Orthodox Christians were indiscriminately persecuted by the Crusaders from 1154 to 1169.
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	50 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	2 +	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.[1]

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. 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

• 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