Pope John VIII of Alexandria
Encyclopedia
Pope John VIII of Alexandria was the 80th Coptic
Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of Saint Mark
(14 February 1300 – 29 May 1320).
Pope John VIII was born in Meniat Bani-Khosaim. His real name was Yohanna Ben-Ebsal, but he was known as El Mo'ataman Ebn El-Kedees. He became monk
at the Monastery of Shahran and was ordained Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of Saint Mark
on 19 Meshir
, 1016 A.M. (14 February 1300 AD).
During the papacy of H.H. Pope John VIII, severe tribulations befell the Christians in Egypt
. They were forced to tinge their turbans with blue. Many churches were closed in Cairo
and in different parts of the country. Exceptions were the monasteries in Alexandria
and a few churches in other cities. An envoy from the king of Spain
came to intercede on behalf of the Christians. Two churches were subsequently opened, one of them was the Coptic Orthodox church of the Virgin Mary in Haret Zeewailah in Cairo
, and the other was the Melkite
church of Saint Nicholas
in El-Hamzawe.
H.H. Pope John VIII was a contemporary of Saint Parsoma, and presided over his funeral. He was the last to reside in the church of Saint Mercurius
in Cairo
. He was the first to relocate the patriarchal throne to the church of the Virgin Mary in Haret Zeewailah in Cairo
. He was residing there in the year 1303 AD. when a severe earthquake
destroyed a large part of Syria
and Egypt
. Ebn Kabre indicated that H.H. Pope John VIII had made some changes in the Liturgy. He departed on 4 Paoni
1036 A.M. (29 May 1320 AD) after 20 years, 3 months, and 15 days on the Patriarchal Throne. He was buried at the Monastery of Shahran.
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 Saint Mark
Patriarch of Alexandria
The Patriarch of Alexandria is the Archbishop of Alexandria and Cairo, Egypt. Historically, this office has included the designation of Pope , and did so earlier than that of the Bishop of Rome...
(14 February 1300 – 29 May 1320).
Pope John VIII was born in Meniat Bani-Khosaim. His real name was Yohanna Ben-Ebsal, but he was known as El Mo'ataman Ebn El-Kedees. He became monk
Monk
A monk is a person who practices religious asceticism, living either alone or with any number of monks, while always maintaining some degree of physical separation from those not sharing the same purpose...
at the Monastery of Shahran and was ordained Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of Saint Mark
Patriarch of Alexandria
The Patriarch of Alexandria is the Archbishop of Alexandria and Cairo, Egypt. Historically, this office has included the designation of Pope , and did so earlier than that of the Bishop of Rome...
on 19 Meshir
Meshir
Meshir , also known as Amshir, is the sixth month of the Coptic calendar. It lies between February 8 and March 9 of the Gregorian calendar...
, 1016 A.M. (14 February 1300 AD).
During the papacy of H.H. Pope John VIII, severe tribulations befell the Christians in Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
. They were forced to tinge their turbans with blue. Many churches were closed 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...
and in different parts of the country. Exceptions were the monasteries in Alexandria
Alexandria
Alexandria is the second-largest city of Egypt, with a population of 4.1 million, extending about along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea in the north central part of the country; it is also the largest city lying directly on the Mediterranean coast. It is Egypt's largest seaport, serving...
and a few churches in other cities. An envoy from the king of Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
came to intercede on behalf of the Christians. Two churches were subsequently opened, one of them was the Coptic Orthodox church of the Virgin Mary in Haret Zeewailah 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...
, and the other was the Melkite
Melkite
The term Melkite, also written Melchite, refers to various Byzantine Rite Christian churches and their members originating in the Middle East. The word comes from the Syriac word malkāyā , and the Arabic word Malakī...
church of Saint Nicholas
Saint Nicholas
Saint Nicholas , also called Nikolaos of Myra, was a historic 4th-century saint and Greek Bishop of Myra . Because of the many miracles attributed to his intercession, he is also known as Nikolaos the Wonderworker...
in El-Hamzawe.
H.H. Pope John VIII was a contemporary of Saint Parsoma, and presided over his funeral. He was the last to reside in the church of Saint Mercurius
Saint Mercurius
Great-martyr Mercurius was a Christian saint and martyr. Born Philopater in the city of Eskentos in Cappadocia, Eastern Asia Minor, his original name means "lover of the Father"...
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...
. He was the first to relocate the patriarchal throne to the church of the Virgin Mary in Haret Zeewailah 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...
. He was residing there in the year 1303 AD. when a severe earthquake
1303 Crete earthquake
The 1303 Crete earthquake occurred at about dawn on 8 August. It had an estimated magnitude of about 8 and triggered a major tsunami that caused severe damage and loss of life on Crete and at Alexandria.-Tectonic setting:...
destroyed a large part of Syria
Syria
Syria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest....
and Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
. Ebn Kabre indicated that H.H. Pope John VIII had made some changes in the Liturgy. He departed on 4 Paoni
Paoni 4 (Coptic Orthodox liturgics)
3 Paoni - Coptic calendar - 5 Paoni-Fixed commemorations:All fixed commemorations below are observed on 4 Paoni by the Coptic Orthodox Church-Saints:*Saint Sanusi*Saint Amun the Martyr and Saint Sophia*Saint John of Heraclea*Saint Hor...
1036 A.M. (29 May 1320 AD) after 20 years, 3 months, and 15 days on the Patriarchal Throne. He was buried at the Monastery of Shahran.