Pope Cyril V of Alexandria
Encyclopedia
Pope Cyril of Alexandria (also called Kyrillos) V) (born Youhanna (John) in 1824 or 1830/1831 according to different accounts; died 7 August 1927) was the 112th Coptic
Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark for fifty-two years and nine months, from 1 November 1874 until his death.
He was the longest serving Pope in the history of the Coptic Orthodox Church
in the Nitrian Desert, where he served as abbot prior to his elevation to Pope.
(Elmagles Elmelly Ela'am) of the Coptic Orthodox Church, whose secretary at the time, Boutros pasha Ghali
بطرس غالي who went on later to become the Prime Minister of Egypt and that dispute ended up in favour of Pope Cyril.
This disagreement was despite the fact that General Congregation Council
members elected him to become the Coptic Pope and contrary to the expectations of the council, he spent the better part of his papacy at loggerheads with the council and objecting on its interference in the church's matters
In general, his papacy was an era of regeneration for the Coptic Orthodox Church and he continued the work begun by Pope Cyril IV
(1854–1861) in educational reform.
Notable men of the Coptic Church during his papacy included the great saint, Anba Abraam, Bishop of Fayoum
, and Habib Guirguis.
In 1881, the Ethiopia
n Emperor Yohannes IV
asked Pope Cyril V, to ordain a metropolitan and three Bishops for the Ethiopian Empire. Pope Cyril V chose the four monks who had left El-Muharraq Monastery with Anba Abraam: Abuna Petros, Abuna Marqos, Abuna Matewos, and Abuna Luqas.
The seat of the Pope during his papacey remained in the Saint Mark's Coptic Orthodox Cathedral
in Azbakeya in Cairo
.
Once news of his death reached Ethiopia
, Empress Zewditu and Ras Tafari ordered requiem masses be said throughout Ethiopia, and that government offices be closed for three days.
Coptic Christianity
The Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria is the official name for the largest Christian church in Egypt and the Middle East. The Church belongs to the Oriental Orthodox family of churches, which has been a distinct church body since the Council of Chalcedon in AD 451, when it took a different...
Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark for fifty-two years and nine months, from 1 November 1874 until his death.
He was the longest serving Pope in the history of the Coptic Orthodox Church
A Monk
He joined the Paromeos MonasteryParomeos Monastery
The Paromeos Monastery, also known as Baramos Monastery, is a Coptic Orthodox monastery located in Wadi El Natrun , Beheira Governorate, Egypt. It is the most northern monastery among the four current monasteries of Scetes, about 9 km northeast of the Monastery of Saint Pishoy...
in the Nitrian Desert, where he served as abbot prior to his elevation to Pope.
The Coptic Pope
In the beginning of his papacy there was a dispute between him and the members of the General Congregation CouncilGeneral Congregation Council
General Congregation Council is part of the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria and represents the laity of the Church, it is also known as the Coptic Orthodox Lay Council...
(Elmagles Elmelly Ela'am) of the Coptic Orthodox Church, whose secretary at the time, Boutros pasha Ghali
Boutros Ghali
Boutros Ghali was the Prime Minister of Egypt from 1908 to 1910. He was a Coptic Christian.Ghali was accused of favouring the British in the Denshawai incident and on February 20, 1910, was assassinated by Ibrahim Nassif al-Wardani, a young pharmacology graduate who had just returned from the...
بطرس غالي who went on later to become the Prime Minister of Egypt and that dispute ended up in favour of Pope Cyril.
This disagreement was despite the fact that General Congregation Council
General Congregation Council
General Congregation Council is part of the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria and represents the laity of the Church, it is also known as the Coptic Orthodox Lay Council...
members elected him to become the Coptic Pope and contrary to the expectations of the council, he spent the better part of his papacy at loggerheads with the council and objecting on its interference in the church's matters
In general, his papacy was an era of regeneration for the Coptic Orthodox Church and he continued the work begun by Pope Cyril IV
Pope Cyril IV of Alexandria
Pope Cyril IV of Alexandria , was the 110th Coptic Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark . He was born David in 1816. Despite his relatively short papacy, he is regarded as the "Father of Reform" of the Coptic Orthodox Church in modern times...
(1854–1861) in educational reform.
Notable men of the Coptic Church during his papacy included the great saint, Anba Abraam, Bishop of Fayoum
Abraam Bishop of Fayoum
Saint Abram was a contemporary Coptic Orthodox saint. He was the Bishop of Faiyum and Giza, and was also known as the Friend of the Poor.- Biography :...
, and Habib Guirguis.
In 1881, the Ethiopia
Ethiopia
Ethiopia , officially known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. It is the second-most populous nation in Africa, with over 82 million inhabitants, and the tenth-largest by area, occupying 1,100,000 km2...
n Emperor Yohannes IV
Yohannes IV of Ethiopia
Yohannes IV , born Lij Kassay Mercha Ge'ez, was Emperor of Ethiopia from 1872 until his death.-Early life:...
asked Pope Cyril V, to ordain a metropolitan and three Bishops for the Ethiopian Empire. Pope Cyril V chose the four monks who had left El-Muharraq Monastery with Anba Abraam: Abuna Petros, Abuna Marqos, Abuna Matewos, and Abuna Luqas.
The seat of the Pope during his papacey remained in the Saint Mark's Coptic Orthodox Cathedral
Saint Mark's Coptic Orthodox Cathedral (Azbakeya)
Saint Mark's Coptic Orthodox Cathedral in Azbakeya, Cairo was the seat of the Coptic Pope from 1800 to 1971.Due to Ibrahim El-Gohary's influential position in the government and his great favor to the Muslim rulers, he was able to issue fatwas that permitted the Copts to rebuild the destroyed...
in Azbakeya in Cairo
Cairo
Cairo , is the capital of Egypt and the largest city in the Arab world and Africa, and the 16th largest metropolitan area in the world. Nicknamed "The City of a Thousand Minarets" for its preponderance of Islamic architecture, Cairo has long been a centre of the region's political and cultural life...
.
Once news of his death reached Ethiopia
Ethiopia
Ethiopia , officially known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. It is the second-most populous nation in Africa, with over 82 million inhabitants, and the tenth-largest by area, occupying 1,100,000 km2...
, Empress Zewditu and Ras Tafari ordered requiem masses be said throughout Ethiopia, and that government offices be closed for three days.
See also
- List of Coptic Orthodox Popes
- Pope of the Coptic Orthodox Church
- Catechetical School of AlexandriaCatechetical School of AlexandriaThe Catechetical School of Alexandria was and is a place for the training of Christian theologians and priests in Alexandria. The teachers and students of the school were influential in many of the early theological controversies of the Christian church.The earliest recorded instructor at the...
- Prominent Copts
- Habib GirgisHabib GirgisArchdeacon Habib Kozman Girgis was a modern-day dean of the Catechetical School of Alexandria. Habib Girgis was born in Cairo in 1876....