The following is a list of all of the Coptic Orthodox popes who have led the Coptic Orthodox Church and have succeeded the Apostle Mark the Evangelist in the office of Bishop of Alexandria, who founded the Church in the 1st century, and marked the beginning of Christianity in Africa.
The Coptic Orthodox Church is one of the Oriental Orthodox churches (not to be confused 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, the 118th 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. To this date 92 of the Coptic Popes have been glorified, i.e., canonized as saints, in the Coptic Orthodox Church.
The title "pope" (in Greek, Papás) originally was a form of address meaning 'Father' used by several bishops. The first known record of this designation was Heraclas, the 13th Archbishop of Alexandria (232–249). The Alexandrian usage of the honorific does not conflict with the usage in reference to the bishop of Rome.
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.
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, publication 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.
| Apostolic Throne | Portrait | Popes and Patriarchs of Alexandria English • Coptic • Arabic | Name before Patriarchate | Place of Birth | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30 or 33 AD. (Apostle of Christ) 60 or 61 AD. (Evangelist of Egypt) 8 May 68 (Martyr) | St. Mark the Apostle, Evangelist and Martyr Marcos • Ⲙⲁⲣⲕⲟⲥ • مرقس | Yohanan (Hebrew) Marcos (Greek) | Cyrene, Pentapolis (North Africa) | One of the Seventy Apostles and traditionally viewed as the author of the Gospel of Mark. The Evangelist of the Land of Egypt. He was martyred at Baucalis (east of Alexandria) during the persecution of Christians led by the Roman Emperor Nero. | |
| 62 – 29 November 83 (21 years) | St. Anianus Anianos • Ⲁⲛⲓⲁⲛⲟⲥ • إنيانوس | Anianos | Alexandria, Egypt | 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. | |
| 13 December 83 – 11 September 95 (11 years, 9 months) | St. Avilius Milieos • Ⲙⲓⲗⲓⲟⲥ • ميليوس | Milieos | Alexandria, Egypt | He was elected Pope of Alexandria during the reign of the Roman Emperor Domitian. | |
| 18 September 95 – 8 June 106 (10 years, 9 months, 10 days) | St. Kedron Kerdonou • Ⲕⲉⲣⲇⲱⲛⲟⲩ • كردونوس | Kerdonou | Alexandria, Egypt | He was martyred during the persecution of Christians by the Roman Emperor Trajan. | |
| Apostolic Throne | Portrait | Popes & Patriarchs of Alexandria English • Coptic • Arabic | Name before Patriarchate | Place of Birth | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 29 June 106 – 9 August 118 (13 years, 1 month, 12 days) | St. Primus Epriemou • Ⲡⲣⲓⲙⲟⲩ • إبريموس | Epriemou | Alexandria, Egypt | He was one of the three who were ordained priest by St. Mark the Apostle. | |
| 23 September 118 – 19 June 129 (10 years, 10 months) | St. Justus Iostos • Ⲓⲟⲥⲧⲟⲥ • يسطس | Iostos | Alexandria, Egypt | 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 Christians by the Roman Emperor Hadrian. | |
| 18 July 129 – 19 October 141 (12 years, 3 months) | St. Eumenius Oumenios • Ⲉⲩⲙⲉⲛⲓⲟⲥ • أومانيوس | Oumenios | Alexandria, Egypt | Second Dean of the Catechetical School of Alexandria. He was elected Pope of Alexandria during the persecution against Christians by the Roman Emperor Hadrian. | |
| 17 November 141 – 14 January 152 (10 years, 2 months) | St. Markianos Markianos • Ⲙⲁⲣⲕⲓⲁⲛⲟⲥ • مرقيانوس | Markianos | Alexandria, Egypt | Third Dean of the Catechetical School of Alexandria. During his Patriarchy, the Christians were persecuted by the Roman Emperor Antoninus Pius. | |
| 29 January 152 – 16 July 166 (14 years, 6 months) | St. Celadion Kalavtianos • Ⲕⲁⲗⲗⲁⲩⲑⲓⲁⲛⲟⲥ • كلادنيوس | Kalavtianos | Alexandria, Egypt | He was elected Pope of Alexandria during the persecution against Christians by the Roman Emperor Antoninus Pius. | |
| 1 August 166 – 12 February 178 (11 years, 6 months, 5 days) | St. Agrippinus Aghreppinios • Ⲁⲅⲣⲓⲡⲡⲓⲛⲟⲥ • آغربينوس | Aghreppinios | Alexandria, Egypt | He was elected Pope of Alexandria during the persecution against Christians by the Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius. | |
| 18 March 178 – 17 March 188 (10 years) | St. Julian Yulianos • Ⲓⲟⲩⲗⲓⲁⲛⲟⲥ • يوليانوس | Yulianos | Alexandria, Egypt | He was elected Pope of Alexandria during the persecution against Christians by the Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius. | |
| 17 March 188 – 22 October 230 (42 years, 7 months, 5 days). | St. Demetrius the Vinedresser Demetrios • Ⲇⲏⲙⲏⲧⲣⲓⲟⲥ • ديمتريوس | Demetrios | Alexandria, Egypt | During his Patriarchy, the Christians were persecuted by the Roman Emperor Septimius Severus. | |
| Apostolic Throne | Portrait | Popes & Patriarchs of Alexandria English • Coptic • Arabic | Name before Patriarchate | Place of Birth | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18 November 230 – 17 December 246 (16 years, 1 month) | St. Heraclas Yaraklas • Ⲓⲉⲣⲁⲕⲗⲁⲥ • ياراكلاس | Yaraklas | Alexandria, Egypt | 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 Christians were persecuted by the Roman Emperor Maximus the Tharacian. | |
| 28 December 246 – 22 March 264 (17 years, 2 months, 10 days) | St. Dionysius the Great Dionysios • Ⲇⲓⲟⲛⲩⲥⲓⲟⲩ • ديونيسيوس | Dionysios | Alexandria, Egypt | He was the Dean of the Catechetical School of Alexandria. He was elected Pope of Alexandria during the great persecution against Christians by the Roman Emperor Decius. | |
| 9 November 264 – 22 April 282 (17 years, 5 months) | St. Maximus Maximos • Ⲙⲁⲝⲓⲙⲟⲩ • مكسيموس | Maximos | Alexandria, Egypt | He participated in the Synods of Antioch against the heresies of Paul of Samosata. During his Patriarchy, the Christians were persecuted by the Roman Emperor Aurelian. | |
| 11 December 282 – 10 January 301 (19 years, 1 month) | St. Theonas Theona • Ⲑⲉⲱⲛⲁ • ثاؤنا | Theona | Alexandria, Egypt | Eusebius the Historian calls him a "pillar of the Church". | |
| Apostolic Throne | Portrait | Popes & Patriarchs of Alexandria English • Coptic • Arabic | Name before Patriarchate | Place of Birth | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 February 302 – 8 December 311 (9 years, 10 months) | St. Peter the Seal of the Martyrs Petros • Ⲡⲉⲧⲣⲟⲥ • بطرس | Petros | Alexandria, Egypt | He was the last martyred during The Great Persecution led by the Roman Emperors Diocletian and Galerius. | |
| 24 December 311 – 26 June 312 (6 months) | St. Achillas the Great Archelaos • Ⲁⲣⲭⲉⲗⲁⲟⲥ • أرشيلاوس | Archelaos | Alexandria, Egypt | 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. | |
| 10 July 312 – 30 April 328 (15 years, 9 months, 20 days) | St. Alexander I Alexanderos • Ⲁⲗⲉⲝⲁⲛⲇⲣⲟⲥ • آلِكسندر | Alexanderos | Alexandria, Egypt | On 18 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. | |
| 5 May 328 – 15 May 373 (45 years) | St. Athanasius the Apostolic Athanasios • Ⲁⲑⲁⲛⲁⲥⲓⲟⲩ • أثناسيوس | Athanasios | Alexandria, Egypt | One of the Church Fathers. Attended the 1st Ecumenical Council at Nicaea as a Deacon and wrote the Nicene Creed also known as the Orthodox Creed or Athanasius Creed. He is regarded by majority Western Protestants, scholars, and theologians as the greatest leader of Christianity. | |
| 27 May 373 – 27 February 379 (5 years, 9 months) | St. Peter II Petros • Ⲡⲉⲧⲣⲟⲥ • بطرس | Petros | Alexandria, Egypt | ||
| 14 March 379 – 2 August 385 (6 years, 4 months, 6 days) | St. Timothy I Timotheos • Ⲧⲓⲙⲟⲑⲉⲟⲥ • تيموثاوس | Timotheos | Alexandria, Egypt | Attended the 2nd Ecumenical Council at Constantinople. | |
| 28 August 385 – 28 October 412 (27 years, 2 months) | St. Theophilus Theophilos • Ⲑⲉⲟ́ⲫⲓⲗⲟⲩ • ثاوفيلس | Theophilos | Alexandria, Egypt | 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. | |
| Apostolic Throne | Portrait | Popes & Patriarchs of Alexandria English • Coptic • Arabic | Name before Patriarchate | Place of Birth | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17 October 412 – 10 July 444 (31 years, 8 months, 10 days) | St. Cyril the Pillar of Faith Kyrillos • Ⲕⲩⲣⲓⲗⲗⲟⲩ • كيرلس | Kyrillos | Alexandria, Egypt | Known as the "Pillar of Faith" and "Lamp of the Orthodox Church". On 22 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'). | |
| 8 August 444 – 17 September 454 (10 years, 1 month, 9 days) | St. Dioscorus the Champion of Orthodoxy Dioscoros • Ⲇⲓⲟⲥⲕⲟⲣⲟⲩ • ديسقورس | Dioscoros | Alexandria, Egypt | Known as the "Champion of Orthodoxy". Last Pope & Patriarch of Alexandria to attend a Western council, the 4th Ecumenical Council at Chalcedon and was accompanied by St. Marcarius, Bishop of Edkow. They were exiled by Emperor Marcianus and the Empress Pulcheria to the Island of Gangra, where St. Dioscorus departed and was laid to rest. | |
| 13 October 455 – 13 August 477 (21 years, 10 months) | St. Timothy II Timotheos • Ⲧⲓⲙⲟⲑⲉⲟⲥ • تيموثاوس | Timotheos | Alexandria, Egypt | ||
| 14 September 477 – 11 November 489 (13 years, 1 month, 29 days) | St. Peter III Petros • Ⲡⲉⲧⲣⲟⲥ • بطرس | Petros | Alexandria, Egypt | ||
| 11 December 489 – 30 September 496 (6 years, 9 months, 20 days) | St. Athanasius II Athanasios • Ⲁⲑⲁⲛⲁⲥⲓⲟⲩ • أثناسيوس | Athanasios | Alexandria, Egypt | ||
| 29 September 496 – 12 May 505 (8 years, 7 months) | St. John I Yoannis • Ⲓⲱⲁⲛⲛⲏⲥ • يوأنس | Yoannis | Alexandria, Egypt | ||
| Apostolic Throne | Portrait | Popes & Patriarchs of Alexandria English • Coptic • Arabic | Name before Patriarchate | Place of Birth | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 29 May 505 – 4 June 516 (10 years, 11 months, 23 days) | St. John II Yoannis • Ⲓⲱⲁⲛⲛⲏⲥ • يوأنس | Yoannis | Alexandria, Egypt | ||
| 10 June 516 – 27 October 518 (2 years, 4 months, 15 days) | St. Dioscorus II Dioscoros • Ⲇⲓⲟⲥⲕⲟⲣⲟⲩ • ديسقورس | Dioscoros | Alexandria, Egypt | ||
| 10 November 518 – 20 February 536 (17 years, 3 months) | St. Timothy III Timotheos • Ⲧⲓⲙⲟⲑⲉⲟⲥ • تيموثاوس | Timotheos | Alexandria, Egypt | ||
| 22 February 536 – 5 July 567 (31 years, 4 months, 15 days) | St. Theodosius I Theodosios • Ⲑⲉⲟ́ⲇⲟⲥⲓⲟⲥ • ثيئودوسيوس | Theodosios | Alexandria, Egypt | ||
| 25 July 567 – 2 July 569 (1 year, 10 months, 25 days) | St. Peter IV Petros • Ⲡⲉⲧⲣⲟⲥ • بطرس | Petros | Alexandria, Egypt | ||
| 26 June 569 – 25 June 605 (35 years, 11 months, 16 days) | St. Damian Damianos • Ⲇⲁⲙⲓⲁⲛⲟⲥ • داميانوس | Damianos | Syria | ||
| Apostolic Throne | Portrait | Popes & Patriarchs of Alexandria English • Coptic • Arabic | Name before Patriarchate | Place of Birth | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 July 605 – 31 December 616 (11 years, 6 months) | St. Anastasius Anastasios • Ⲁⲛⲁⲥⲧⲁⲥⲓⲟⲥ • انسطاسيوس | Anastasios | Alexandria, Egypt | ||
| 2 January 617 – 16 January 623 (6 years, 14 months) | St. Andronicus Andronikos • Ⲁⲛⲇⲣⲟⲛⲓⲕⲟⲥ • أندرونيقوس | Andronikos | Alexandria, Egypt | ||
| 17 September 623 – 16 January 662 (39 years) | St. Benjamin I Binyamin • Ⲃⲉⲛⲓⲁⲙⲓⲛ • بنيامين | Binyamin | Barshüt, Beheira Governorate, Egypt | During his Patriarchy 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. | |
| 22 September 662 – 26 October 680 (18 years, 9 months, 3 days) | St. Agathon Aghathon • Ⲁⲅⲁⲑⲟⲩ • أغاثون | Agathon | Mariout, Alexandria, Egypt | ||
| 10 December 680 – 10 December 689 (9 years) | Pope John III Yoannis • Ⲓⲱⲁⲛⲛⲏⲥ • يوأنس | Hanna | Samanoud, Gharbia Governorate, Egypt | ||
| 16 January 690 – 18 November 692 (2 years, 10 months, 2 days) | St. Isaac Ishaac • Ⲓⲥⲁⲁⲕ • إسحق | Ishaac | El-Borolos, Kafr El Sheikh Governorate, Egypt | ||
| 19 December 692 – 31 July 700 (7 years, 7 months) | St. Simeon I Simeon • Ⲥⲩⲙⲉⲱⲛ • سيماؤن | Simon | Syria | ||
| Apostolic Throne | Portrait | Popes & Patriarchs of Alexandria English • Coptic • Arabic | Name before Patriarchate | Place of Birth | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 May 704 – 14 February 729 (25 years, 9 months, 7 days) | St. Alexander II Alexanderos • Ⲁⲗⲉⲝⲁⲛⲇⲣⲟⲥ • آلِكسندر | Alexanderos | Banna Abu Sir, Gharbia Governorate, Egypt | 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] | |
| 26 March 729 – 10 June 730 (1 year, 3 months) | St. Cosmas I Kosma • Ⲕⲟⲥⲙⲁ • قسما | Kosma | Banna Abu Sir, Gharbia Governorate, Egypt | ||
| 8 July 730 – 14 February 742 (11 years, 7 months, 7 days) | St. Theodore I Tawadros • Ⲑⲉⲟ́ⲇⲱⲣⲟⲥ • ثاؤدروس | Tadros | Egypt | ||
| 14 September 743 – 25 March 767 (23 years, 6 months) | St. Michael I Khail • Ⲭⲁⲏⲗ • خائيل | Khail | Egypt | He was thrown into prison by Abd al-Malik ibn Marwan ibn Musa bin Nusayr. Hence, King Kyriakos of Makuria marched north into Egypt at the head of an army said to number 100,000 men to free the Pope. However, once the Makurian army reached Egypt, the Pope was released from prison.[2] | |
| 9 April 767 – 7 February 776 (8 years, 10 months) | Pope Mina I Mina • Ⲙнⲛⲁ • مينا | Mena | Samanoud, Gharbia Governorate, Egypt | ||
| 24 January 777 – 24 January 799 (22 years) | St. John IV Yoannis • Ⲓⲱⲁⲛⲛⲏⲥ • يوأنس | Yoannis | Banna Abu Sir, Gharbia Governorate, Egypt | ||
| 26 January 799 – 30 April 819 (20 years, 2 months, 21 days) | St. Mark II Marcos • Ⲙⲁⲣⲕⲟⲥ • مرقس | Marcos | Alexandria, Egypt | During his Patriarchy, the Copts were persecuted by the Abbasid Sultan, Harun al-Rashid | |
| Apostolic Throne | Portrait | Popes & Patriarchs of Alexandria English • Coptic • Arabic | Name before Patriarchate | Place of Birth | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 May 819 – 21 February 830 (10 years, 9 months, 9 days) | St. James Yakobos • Ⲓⲁⲕⲱⲃⲟⲥ • يعقوب | Yakobos | Nabaroh, Dakahlia Governorate, Egypt | 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. | |
| 28 February 830 – 13 October 830 (5 months, 17 days) | St. Simeon II Simeon • Ⲥⲩⲙⲉⲱⲛ • سيماؤن | Simon | Alexandria, Egypt | ||
| 30 November 831 – 2 November 849 (17 years, 11 months, 2 days) | St. Joseph Yousab • Ⲓⲱⲥⲏⲫ • يوساب | Youssef | Menouf, Monufia Governorate, Egypt | 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. | |
| 20 November 849 – 30 April 851 (1 year, 4 months, 28 days) | St. Michael II Khail • Ⲭⲁⲏⲗ • خائيل | Egypt | |||
| 21 July 851 – 30 November 858 (7 years, 4 months, 9 days) | St. Cosmas II Kosma • Ⲕⲟⲥⲙⲁ • قسما | Samanoud, Gharbia Governorate, Egypt | |||
| 8 January 859 – 2 May 880 (21 years, 3 months, 11 days) | St. Shenouda I Shenoute • Ϣⲉⲛⲟⲩϯ • سانوتيوس | Shenouda | Samanoud, Gharbia Governorate, Egypt | ||
| 25 April 880 – 29 March 907 (27 years, 1 month, 9 days) | St. Michael III Khail • Ⲭⲁⲏⲗ • خائيل | Khail | Egypt | 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. | |
| Apostolic Throne | Portrait | Popes & Patriarchs of Alexandria English • Coptic • Arabic | Name before Patriarchate | Place of Birth | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 29 May 909 – 28 February 920 (10 years, 9 months) | St. Gabriel I Gabriel • Ⲅⲁⲃⲣⲓⲏⲗ • غبريال | Gabriel | Shibin El Kom, Monufia Governorate, Egypt | ||
| 28 February 920 – 12 March 932 (12 years) | St. Cosmas III Kosma • Ⲕⲟⲥⲙⲁ • قسما | Kosma | Egypt | ||
| 9 April 932 – 2 April 952 (19 years, 11 months, 23 days) | St. Macarius I Macarius • Ⲙⲁⲕⲁⲣⲓⲟⲥ • مكاريوس | Alexandria, Egypt | |||
| 1 August 952 – 19 December 956 (4 years, 4 months, 11 days) | St. Theophilus Theophilos • Ⲑⲉⲟ́ⲫⲁnⲓⲟⲥ • ثاؤفانيوس | Theophilos | Alexandria, Egypt | ||
| 20 December 956 – 25 November 974 (17 years, 11 months, 6 days) | Pope Mina II Mina • Ⲙнnⲁ • مينا | Mena | Sandela, Kafr El Sheikh Governorate, Egypt | ||
| 28 November 975 – 16 December 978 (3 years, 11 months) | St. Abraham Avraam • Ⲁⲃⲣⲁⲁⲙ • أبرآم بن زرعة | Abraam ibn Zeraa | Syria | 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. | |
| 10 April 979 –21 November 1003 (24 years, 7 months, 10 days) | Pope Philotheos Philotheos • Ⲫⲓⲗⲟⲑⲉⲟⲥ • فيلوثاوس | Philotheos | Egypt | ||
| Apostolic Throne | Portrait | Popes & Patriarchs of Alexandria English • Coptic • Arabic | Name before Patriarchate | Place of Birth | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28 September 1004 – 22 November 1032 (27 years, 11 months, 12 days) | St. Zacharias Zacharias • Ⲍⲁⲭⲁⲣⲓⲁⲥ • زخارياس | Zacharias | Alexandria, Egypt | 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. | |
| 13 December 1032 – 29 October 1046 (14 years, 7 months, 11 days) | Pope Shenouda II Shenoute • Ϣⲉⲛⲟⲩϯ • شنودة | Shenouda | Minya El Qamh, Sharqia Governorate, Egypt | ||
| 24 December 1046 – 23 December 1077 (31 years) | St. Christodoulos Khristodoulos • Ⲭⲣⲓⲥⲧⲟⲇⲟⲗⲟⲥ • خرستوذولس | Khristodoulos | Manzala, Port Said Governorate, Egypt | In the year 1047 the Seat of the Coptic Orthodox Pope of Alexandria was moved from Alexandria to Cairo. | |
| 18 March 1078 – 19 June 1092 (14 years, 2 months, 20 days) | St. Cyril II Kyrillos • Ⲕⲩⲣⲓⲗⲗⲟⲩ • كيرلس | Guirguis | Egypt | ||
| 9 October 1092 – 7 June 1102 (9 years, 7 months, 17 days) | St. Michael IV Mikhail • Ⲙⲓχⲁⲏⲗ • ميخائيل | Mikhail | Sakha, Kafr El Sheikh Governorate, Egypt | ||
| Apostolic Throne | Portrait | Popes & Patriarchs of Alexandria English • Coptic • Arabic | Name before Patriarchate | Place of Birth | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 22 November 1102 – 14 September 1128 (26 years, 1 month, 11 days) | St. Macarius II Macarios • Ⲙⲁⲕⲁⲣⲓⲟⲥ • مكاريوس | Egypt | |||
| 3 February 1131 – 18 April 1145 (14 years, 2 months, 2 days) | St. Gabriel II Gabriel • Ⲅⲁⲃⲣⲓⲏⲗ • غبريال | Ela ibn Turaik | Fustat, Egypt | ||
| 29 July 1145 – 11 April 1146 (8 months) | St. Michael V Mikhail • Ⲙⲓχⲁⲏⲗ • ميخائيل | Mikhail | Daqadus, Dakahlia Governorate, Egypt | ||
| 25 August 1147 – 12 May 1166 (18 years, 8 months, 4 days) | St. John V Yoannis • Ⲓⲱⲁⲛⲛⲏⲥ • يوأنس | Yoannis | Egypt | Crusaders invaded Egypt (1163–1169) and indiscriminately persecuted Coptic Orthodox Christians. | |
| 25 June 1166 –14 January 1189 (22 years, 6 months, 19 days) | Pope Mark III Marcos • Ⲙⲁⲣⲕⲟⲥ • مرقس | Farag ibn Abu al-Saad ibn Zarah | Alexandria, Egypt | ||
| 21 February 1189 – 22 January 1216 (26 years, 11 months, 8 days) | Pope John VI Yoannis • Ⲓⲱⲁⲛⲛⲏⲥ • يوأنس | Yoannis | Egypt | After his departure, the Apostolic Throne remained vacant for nineteen years. This is the longest vacancy in the history of the Coptic Orthodox Church. | |
| Apostolic Throne | Portrait | Popes & Patriarchs of Alexandria English • Coptic • Arabic | Name before Patriarchate | Place of Birth | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30 July 1235 – 23 March 1243 (7 years, 8 months, 23 days) | St. Cyril III Kyrillos • Ⲕⲩⲣⲓⲗⲗⲟⲩ • كيرلس | Daoud ibn Laqlaq | Faiyum, Faiyum Governorate, Egypt | 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. | |
| 15 October 1250 – 10 December 1261 (11 years, 1 month, 18 days) | Pope Athanasius III Athanasios • Ⲁⲑⲁⲛⲁⲥⲓⲟⲩ • أثناسيوس | Bolis | Egypt | ||
| 3 November 1268 – 14 January 1271 (2 years, 2 months, 10 days) | St. Gabriel III Gabriel • Ⲅⲁⲃⲣⲓⲏⲗ • غبريال | Gabriel ibn Fakhry | Egypt | 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. | |
| 14 January 1262 – 2 November 1269 15 January 1271 – 21 April 1293 (29 years, 1 month, 8 days) | St. John VII Yoannis • Ⲓⲱⲁⲛⲛⲏⲥ • يوأنس | Youhanna ibn Said 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. | |
| 17 July 1294 – 13 January 1300 (5 years, 5 months, 28 days) | Pope Theodosius III Theodosios • Ⲑⲉⲟ́ⲇⲟⲥⲓⲟⲥ • ثيئودوسيوس | Abdelmasih ibn Ruwail | Bani-Khosaim, Minya Governorate, Egypt | ||
| Apostolic Throne | Portrait | Popes & Patriarchs of Alexandria English • Coptic • Arabic | Name before Patriarchate | Place of Birth | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26 February 1300 – 11 June 1320 (20 years, 3 months, 15 days) | St. John VIII Yoannis • Ⲓⲱⲁⲛⲛⲏⲥ • يوأنس | Youhanna ibn Absal Binyamin | Bani-Khosaim, Minya Governorate, Egypt | During his Patriarchy, 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. | |
| 11 October 1320 – 10 April 1327 (6 years, 6 months, 1 day) | St. John IX Yoannis • Ⲓⲱⲁⲛⲛⲏⲥ • يوأنس | Yoannis | Nephia, Monufia Governorate, Egypt | On 8 May 1321, Muslims destroyed and burned over 60 Coptic churches and monasteries throughout Egypt. | |
| 23 May 1327 – 19 January 1339 (11 years, 7 months, 26 days) | Pope Benjamin II Binyamin • Ⲃⲉⲛⲓⲁⲙⲓⲛ • بنيامين | Binyamin | Dimikarat, Luxor Governorate, Egypt | ||
| 14 January 1340 – 21 July 1348 (8 years, 6 months, 6 days) | St. Peter V Petros • Ⲡⲉⲧⲣⲟⲥ • بطرس | Boutros Daoud | Egypt | ||
| 15 July 1348 – 13 February 1363 (14 years, 4 months, 26 days) | Pope Mark IV Marcos • Ⲙⲁⲣⲕⲟⲥ • مرقس | Farag Allah | Qalyub, Qalyubia Governorate, Egypt | ||
| 20 May 1363 – 26 July 1369 (6 years, 2 months, 7 days) | St. John X Yoannis • Ⲓⲱⲁⲛⲛⲏⲥ • يوأنس | Youhanna | Damascus, Syria | He was the fourth and last Syrian elected Pope of Alexandria. The other three popes elected from among the Syrians were Pope Damian the 35th, Pope Simeon the 42nd and Pope Abraam the 62nd. | |
| 19 January 1370 – 11 May 1378 (8 years, 3 months, 22 days) | St. Gabriel IV Gabriel • Ⲅⲁⲃⲣⲓⲏⲗ • غبريال | Egypt | During his Patriarchy, the Coptic Orthodox Christians were indiscriminately persecuted by Crusaders. | ||
| 7 August 1378 – 13 January 1408 (30 years, 5 months, 6 days) | St. Matthew Matheos • Ⲙⲁⲑⲉⲟⲥ • متاؤس | Matta | Bani Ruh, Ashmunein, Minya Governorate, Egypt | 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 the Crusaders. | |
| Apostolic Throne | Portrait | Popes & Patriarchs of Alexandria English • Coptic • Arabic | Name before Patriarchate | Place of Birth | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 May 1409 – 16 January 1427 (17 years, 8 months, 12 days) | Pope Gabriel V Gabriel • Ⲅⲁⲃⲣⲓⲏⲗ • غبريال | Giza, Giza Governorate, Egypt | |||
| 11 May 1427 – 17 May 1452 (24 years, 11 months, 23 days) | St. John XI Yoannis • Ⲓⲱⲁⲛⲛⲏⲥ • يوأنس | Farag | El-Maksa, Cairo, Egypt | 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. | |
| 23 September 1452 – 23 September 1465 (13 years) | St. Matthew II Matheos • Ⲙⲁⲑⲉⲟⲥ • متاؤس | Sulayman | Upper Egypt | ||
| 1466 –28 December 1474 (8 years, 10 months, 6 days) | Pope Gabriel VI Gabriel • Ⲅⲁⲃⲣⲓⲏⲗ • غبريال | Egypt | |||
| 2 March 1477 – 23 February 1478 (1 year, 3 days) | Pope Michael VI Mikhail • Ⲙⲓχⲁⲏⲗ • ميخائيل | Samalut, Minya Governorate, Egypt | |||
| 1 May 1480 – 17 September 1483 (3 years, 4 months, 17 days) | Pope John XII Yoannis • Ⲓⲱⲁⲛⲛⲏⲥ • يوأنس | Naqada, Qena Governorate, Egypt | |||
| 22 February 1484 – 18 February 1524 (39 years, 11 months, 26 days) | Pope John XIII Yoannis • Ⲓⲱⲁⲛⲛⲏⲥ • يوأنس | Sodfa, Asyut Governorate, Egypt | |||
| Apostolic Throne | Portrait | Popes & Patriarchs of Alexandria English • Coptic • Arabic | Name before Patriarchate | Place of Birth | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14 October 1525 – 17 July 1568 (43 years, 25 days) | St. Gabriel VII Gabriel • Ⲅⲁⲃⲣⲓⲏⲗ • غبريال | Roufail | El-Qusiya, Asyut Governorate, Egypt | ||
| 17 April 1571 – 8 September 1586 (15 years, 4 months, 19 days) | St. John XIV Yoannis • Ⲓⲱⲁⲛⲛⲏⲥ • يوأنس | Manfalut, Asyut Governorate, Egypt | |||
| 20 June 1587 – 17 May 1603 (15 years, 10 months, 24 days) | St. Gabriel VIII Gabriel • Ⲅⲁⲃⲣⲓⲏⲗ • غبريال | Shenouda | Meir, Asyut Governorate, Egypt | ||
| Apostolic Throne | Portrait | Popes & Patriarchs of Alexandria English • Coptic • Arabic | Name before Patriarchate | Place of Birth | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 July 1603 – 11 September 1619 (16 years, 2 months, 9 days) | Pope Mark V Marcos • Ⲙⲁⲣⲕⲟⲥ • مرقس | El Bayadeya, Asyut Governorate, Egypt | 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. | ||
| 18 September 1619 – 10 September 1629 (9 years, 11 months, 22 days) | St. John XV Yoannis • Ⲓⲱⲁⲛⲛⲏⲥ • يوأنس | Mallawi, Minya Governorate, Egypt | Buried at St.Anba Bishih Monastery in El-Bayadia, Egypt. | ||
| 7 September 1631 – 3 April 1646 (14 years, 6 months, 23 days) | St. Matthew III Matheos • Ⲙⲁⲑⲉⲟⲥ • متاؤس | Tadros | Toukh El-Nasarah, Monufia Governorate, Egypt | ||
| 20 April 1646 – 20 April 1656 (10 years) | St. Mark VI Marcos • Ⲙⲁⲣⲕⲟⲥ • مرقس | Tadros | Bahgourah, Qena Governorate, Egypt | ||
| 6 December 1660 – 22 August 1675 (14 years, 8 months, 9 days) | St. Matthew IV Matheos • Ⲙⲁⲑⲉⲟⲥ • متاؤس | Guirguis | Meir, Asyut Governorate, Egypt | ||
| 5 May 1676 – 17 June 1718 (42 years, 3 months) | St. John XVI Yoannis • Ⲓⲱⲁⲛⲛⲏⲥ • يوأنس | Ibrahim | Toukh El-Nasarah, Monufia Governorate, Egypt | ||
| Apostolic Throne | Portrait | Popes & Patriarchs of Alexandria English • Coptic • Arabic | Name before Patriarchate | Place of Birth | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21 August 1718 – 4 April 1726 (7 years, 7 months, 11 days) | St. Peter VI Petros • Ⲡⲉⲧⲣⲟⲥ • بطرس | Morgan | Asyut Asyut Governorate, Egypt | ||
| 12 January 1727 – 21 April 1745 (18 years, 3 months, 8 days) | St. John XVII Yoannis • Ⲓⲱⲁⲛⲛⲏⲥ • يوأنس | Abdelsayed | Mallawi, Minya Governorate, Egypt | ||
| 30 May 1745 – 18 May 1769 (23 years, 11 months, 18 days) | St. Mark VII Marcos • Ⲙⲁⲣⲕⲟⲥ • مرقس | Simeon | Klosna, El Bahnasa, Minya Governorate, Egypt | During his Patriarchy, there was an attempt from the Catholic Church to take over the Coptic Church. They ordained a monk from Jerusalem to be a Catholic Bishop in Egypt, but he was unable to come to Egypt and stayed in Jerusalem. They also ordained Raphael Al Tokhi as their bishop for Upper Egypt, but he was unable to stay there, so the Pope of Rome called him to Rome to stay there. Pope Mark VII wrote many books about the Coptic Church. | |
| 23 October 1769 – 9 June 1796 (26 years, 7 months, 14 days) | St. John XVIII Yoannis • Ⲓⲱⲁⲛⲛⲏⲥ • يوأنس | Youssef | Faiyum, Faiyum Governorate, Egypt | During his Patriarchy, Pope Pius VI of Rome sent an envoy to Pope John XVIII of Alexandria asking him to unite the Church of Alexandria with the Roman Catholic Church under the proceedings of the Council of Chalcedon. Pope John XVIII and all the Bishops in Egypt unanimously refuted the Tome of Leo and defended "One Nature-the Logos Incarnate," of the full humanity and full divinity. The famous scholar and theologian Joseph el-Abbah, Bishop of Girga responded to Pope Pius VI message and rejected the proceedings of the Council of Chalcedon in which Leo, the Archbishop of Rome preached Christ "in two natures". | |
| 4 October 1796 – 21 December 1809 (13 years, 2 months, 19 days) | St. Mark VIII Marcos • Ⲙⲁⲣⲕⲟⲥ • مرقس | Youhanna | Tima, Sohag Governorate, Egypt | During his Patriarchy, the French invaded Egypt. His seat at Haret Al Rum was transferred to Saint Mark's Coptic Orthodox Cathedral, Azbakeya in the year 1800. | |
| Apostolic Throne | Portrait | Popes & Patriarchs of Alexandria English • Coptic • Arabic | Name before Patriarchate | Place of Birth | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24 December 1809 – __ ________ 1852 (42–43 years) | St. Peter VII Petros • Ⲡⲉⲧⲣⲟⲥ • بطرس | Mankarius | Gawli, Manfalut, Asyut Governorate, Egypt | A Russian ambassador offered the Patriarch Peter VII the protection from the Emperor of Russia, Nicholas I, however the patriarch thanked the Emperor, saying no other protection was needed than God. | |
| 5 June 1853 – 31 January 1862 (6 years, 7 months, 13 days) | Pope Cyril IV Kyrillos • Ⲕⲩⲣⲓⲗⲗⲟⲩ • كيرلس | Daoud | Sawamaa, Girga, Sohag Governorate, Egypt | He established a Coptic School in Haret El-Sakkayeen. As well as a printing house and printed many church books. | |
| 17 June 1862 – 18 January 1870 (7 years, 7 months, 3 days) | Pope Demetrius II Demetrios • Ⲇⲏⲙⲏⲧⲣⲓⲟⲥ • ديمتريوس | Mikhail | Galda, Minya Governorate, Egypt | ||
| 1 November 1874 – 7 August 1927 (52 years, 9 months, 6 days) | Pope Cyril V Kyrillos • Ⲕⲩⲣⲓⲗⲗⲟⲩ • كيرلس | Youhanna | Tezment, Beni Suef Governorate, Egypt | Longest-serving pope 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 14 March 1910. | |
| Apostolic Throne | Portrait | Popes & Patriarchs of Alexandria English • Coptic • Arabic | Name before Patriarchate | Place of Birth | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 December 1928 – 21 June 1942 (13 years, 6 months, 5 days) | Pope John XIX Yoannis • Ⲓⲱⲁⲛⲛⲏⲥ • يوأنس | Dair Tasa, Asyut Governorate, Egypt | First ever Bishop or Metropolitan ordained Pope. | ||
| 19 February 1944 – 31 August 1945 (1 year, 6 months, 19 days) | Pope Macarius III Macarius • Ⲙⲁⲕⲁⲣⲓⲟⲥ • مكاريوس | El-Mahalla El-Kubra, Gharbia Governorat, Egypt | Was ordained metropolitan for Assiut at 24 years old. | ||
| 26 May 1946 – 14 November 1956 (10 years, 5 months, 17 days) | Pope Joseph II Yousab • Ⲓⲱⲥⲏⲫ • يوساب | Naghamish, Sohag Governorate, Egypt | Foundation of the Higher Institute of Coptic Studies. | ||
| 10 May 1959 – 9 March 1971 (11 years, 9 months, 29 days) | St. Cyril VI Kyrillos • Ⲕⲩⲣⲓⲗⲗⲟⲩ • كيرلس | Azer Youssef Atta | Damanhur, Beheira Governorate, Egypt | Pope Cyril VI (also known in Arabic as "the man of prayer") gave a humble, public image for the Coptic church. One of the more recent popes to become involved in politics, Pope Cyril VI had good relations with Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser. In the tenth year of his papacy, the holy church celebrates the inauguration of the new St. Mark Cathedral in Dair El-Anba Rowais, which was known also as Dair El-Khandaq. For this occasion and for the return of the relics of St. Mark the Apostle from Rome, after being in the city of Venice in Italy for eleven centuries, a great religious celebration was organized. The celebration was headed by Pope Kyrillos the Sixth and was attended by President Gamal Abdel Naser, President of the Arab Republic of Egypt, Emperor Haile Selassie the First, Emperor of Ethiopia, and many of the heads of different religions and representatives of churches from all around the world. Among those religious leaders was Mar Ignatius Yacoub the Third, the Antiochian Patriarch for the Syrian Orthodox. | |
| 14 November 1971 – 17 March 2012 (40 years, 4 months, 3 days) | Pope Shenouda III Shenouda • Ϣⲉⲛⲟⲩϯ • شنودة | Nazeer Gayed Roufail | Abnub, Asyut Governorate, Egypt | First Pope to visit the Patriarchs of Rome and Constantinople since 451 AD. Most notably, Pope Shenouda III's reign also saw the rapid diaspora of Coptic people throughout the world for the first time in centuries (including the establishment of hundreds of churches in the United States, Australia, Canada and Switzerland.) Pope Shenouda III had the greatest impact on the Coptic Church's canon, modernizing several regulations to fit not only the needs of the Coptic people, but the traditions of the Church as well. He is formally known as "the man of ministry". From 2000 onward, violent persecution and massacres of Copts by Egyptian Muslims took place: Kosheh massacres, 2005 Alexandria riot, Nag Hammadi massacre, 2011 Alexandria bombing, 2011 Imbaba church attacks and the massacre at the 2011 Maspero demonstrations. | |
The most frequently used papal name is John, with 19 popes taking this name. There have also been 25 papal names that have only been used once. The number of all popes to the present is 118.
| scope=col | Rank | scope=col | Name | scope=col | scope=col class="unsortable" | Popes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | John | 19 | I II III IV V VI VII VIII IX X XI XII XIII XIV XVXVI XVII XVIII XIX | ||||
| 2 tie | Gabriel | 8 | I II III IV V VI VII VIII | ||||
| Mark | 8 | I II III IV V VI VII VIII | |||||
| 4 | Peter | 7 | I II III IV V VI VII | ||||
| 5 tie | Michael | 6 | I II III IV V VI | ||||
| Cyril | 6 | I II III IV V VI | |||||
| 7 | Matthew | 4 | I II III IV | ||||
| 8 tie | Timothy | 3 | I II III | ||||
| Cosmas | 3 | I II III | |||||
| Athanasius | 3 | I II III | |||||
| Theodosius | 3 | I II III | |||||
| Macarius | 3 | I II III | |||||
| Shenouda | 3 | I II III | |||||
| 14 tie | Dioscorus | 2 | I II | ||||
| Alexander | 2 | I II | |||||
| Simeon | 2 | I II | |||||
| Mina | 2 | I II | |||||
| Benjamin | 2 | I II | |||||
| Demetrius | 2 | I II | |||||
| Joseph | 2 | I II | |||||
| Tawadros | 2 | I II (Incumbent) | |||||
| 22 tie | Anianus | 1 | |||||
| Avilius | 1 | ||||||
| Kedron | 1 | ||||||
| Primus | 1 | ||||||
| Justus | 1 | ||||||
| Eumenius | 1 | ||||||
| Markianos | 1 | ||||||
| Celadion | 1 | ||||||
| Agrippinus | 1 | ||||||
| Julian | 1 | ||||||
| Heraclas | 1 | ||||||
| Dionysius | 1 | ||||||
| Maximus | 1 | ||||||
| Theonas | 1 | ||||||
| Achillas | 1 | ||||||
| Damian | 1 | ||||||
| Anastasius | 1 | ||||||
| Andronicus | 1 | ||||||
| Agathon | 1 | ||||||
| Isaac | 1 | ||||||
| James | 1 | ||||||
| Abraham | 1 | ||||||
| Philotheos | 1 | ||||||
| Zacharias | 1 | ||||||
| Christodoulos | 1 | ||||||