Pope Gabriel III of Alexandria explained

Type:Pope
Honorific-Prefix:Pope
Gabriel III
Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark
Enthroned:1268
Ended:1271
Predecessor:John VII
Successor:John VII
Birth Name:al-Rashīd Farajallāh
Birth Date:20 October 1208
Birth Place:Egypt
Death Date:5 July 1274
Death Place:Egypt
Buried:Church of St. Mercurius
Religion:Coptic Orthodox Christian
Residence:The Hanging Church

Pope Gabriel III of Alexandria (born al-Rashīd Farajallāh; 20 October 1208 – 5 July 1274) was the 78th Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark from 1268 to 1271.[1] [2]

He was originally one of the candidates for the Papal post when Pope John VII was elected. With support from some of the Bishops, Gabriel III replaced John VII and reigned for three years until his death, when John VII was reinstated. This is the only occasion in history when the Coptic Orthodox Church had two Popes at the same time.[3]

Gabriel III died on 5 July 1274 and was buried at the Church of St. Mercurius in Cairo.

Notes and References

  1. Book: Meinardus, Otto F.A. . Two Thousand Years of Coptic Christianity . . 1999 . 9774247574 . 273–279 . Otto Friedrich August Meinardus.
  2. Book: Swanson, Mark N. . Claremont Coptic Encyclopedia . Coptic Encyclopedia . 7 August 2017 . . Gabriel III, Patriarch . https://ccdl.libraries.claremont.edu/digital/collection/cce/id/2154/rec/1.
  3. History of Coptic Church by Menassa Youhanna