Pope Benjamin of Alexandria
Encyclopedia
Pope Benjamin I of Alexandria (590 – January 3, 661) was the thirty-eighth Pope of the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria. He is regarded as one of the greatest patriarchs of the Coptic Church. During his tenure, he guided his followers through the Persian invasion of Egypt from 619 to 629, and the Byzantine-Arab Wars
, and led the church to a renewed beginning side-by-side with the then growing power of Islam
. His papacy witnessed three ruling systems in Egypt
, beginning with the Sassanid Empire
, followed by the Byzantines
, under whose rule Benjamin went into exile, and finally by the Arab
s upon their conquest. After the Arab conquest Pope Benjamin was allowed by the Arab rulers to come back to Alexandria
and resume his work, after a period he had to go into hiding from the Byzantines.
region of the western Nile Delta
region. Comparatively little is known about his early life, other than that he came from a Coptic family of comfortable means. The proximity of his home to the capital city of Alexandria
has led some to assume that he received some education there.
No details on his family life are known, other than that he had one brother, Mennas. Mennas is known for having been tortured with fire and, eventually, being drowned in the Nile by the Byzantine Patriarch Cyrus of Alexandria
for refusing to take the Chalcedonian
profession of faith and refusing to reveal the whereabouts of Benjamin, who was himself a fugitive at that time.
, which had avoided destruction by the Persians due to its comparatively isolated location. Benjamin further developed his asceticism in the cenobitic
communities which followed the rule of Pachomius
. It was at Canopus that Benjamin first met an older monk there named Theonas. It was Theonas who presented Benjamin with the schema or monastic garment, instructed Benjamin in the virtues of the monastic life, including holiness, patience, and self-control, and instructed him in the study of the Bible
. Theonas himself is said to have been particularly devoted to the Gospel of John
, which he went so far as to memorize.
. Andronicus appreciated Benjamin's piety and ability, and took him on as a servant. He later ordained Benjamin to the priesthood, and eventually appointed him as his assistant, making Benjamin the heir presumptive to the patriarchy. In his position as assistant to the patriarch, Benjamin became acquainted with the intricacies of church affairs and with several segments of the community. Benjamin became highly regarded for his work both within and without the church, with helped bring about his election to the patriarchate upon the death of Andronicus.
Comparatively few records exist regarding the early years of Benjamin's tenure. He is known to have issued encyclicals regarding when the observance of when Easter
would take place and instructing the clergy in doctrinal matters. He also worked to help his church through the end of Sassinid rule. Fifteen of his encyclicals from this time, all of which have been lost, were known to have been collected into a single volume, which has also been lost.
In 631, Cyrus, the Chalcedonian bishop of Phasis, was appointed by the Byzantine Emperor Heraclius
as both the Melkite patriarch of Egypt and as the prefect in command of the military forces of that province of the empire. His duties in the latter position included curbing religious separatism in the province, by persuasion if possible but by arms if necessary. Benjamin, who was Cyrus's rival the see of Alexandria, fled the area, going from one isolated desert monastery to another to avoid capture. When persuasion failed, Cyrus began to use force. It was during this time that Benjamin's brother Mennas joined the rebellion against the rule of Cyrus for which he was eventually executed. Cyrus also confiscated the property of all clerics who followed the fugitive Benjmain, and many churches in Egypt were turned over to the Melkites by force.
At this time, 'Amr ibn al-'As
arrived at the Egyptian border with a comparatively small force of men. On December 12, 639, he began his campaign to conquer Egypt, eventually invading Alexandria itself on September 17, 642. History does not record whether the members of the Coptic church assisted the Arabs in this campaign, although it is known that they did help the Melkites. 'Amr issued a safe conduct to Benjamin to return. Benjamin took some time in returning, eventually arriving at the end of 643 or the beginning of 644. Benjamin seems to have received funds from Sanutius, the duke of Thebaid
, for the rebuilding of the Church of St. Mark
. Benjamin worked diligently to bring back order to the affairs of the church, improve the morale of the Coptic population which had been devastated by the actions of Cyrus, and deal with the church properties which had been ruined during the recent turmoil. He then left Alexandria again, to meet with 'Amr.
In the historic meeting between these two individuals, 'Amr is quoted as having said that he had never seen such an impressive man of God as Benjamin. The exact details of the meeting between these two parties remain unknown. The meeting was however conducted with a dignity which was not witnessed during the Asian battles. At the end of the conference, 'Amr restored to Benjamin all the rights that he had been denied by the Byzantines, and recognized him as the sole representative of the Egyptian people. The Copts were however made to pay a higher tax (gezya). Benjamin for his part publicly prayed for 'Amr and addressed him with admiration.
Benjamin worked to restore the Coptic church by renewing some of the policies which had been put in place by his esteemed predecessor, Pope Damian of Alexandria
. He also established amicable relations with 'Amr and the conquerors of Egypt. There were difficulties, partially due to existing disunity among the Christian population in Egypt, as several Melkites and members of other groups had remained in Egypt after the Arab conquest. Benjamin did however eventually prove very successful in restoring a considerable degree of unity to his fragmented population. Several Copts who had fled to the Libyan Pentapolis
returned. Several of those who had under duress left the Coptic church for the Byzantine church during the occupation, including the bishops Cyrus of Nikiou and Victor of Phiom, were persuaded to return to the fold. He also exercised his new legal and judicial functions, even in accord with the Byzantine legal system, to the satisfaction of the new Islamic authorities.
Benjamin engaged in pontifical visitations to the dioceses and monasteries of the church, restoring properties wherever necessary. One of his more remarkable feats during this period was the recovery of the head of Saint Mark, which the Melkites had intended to try to smuggle back to Byzantium. The head was probably left in the sanctuary of the Monastery of Saint Macarius the Great
in 645 or 647. Benjamin at the time also issued his canons to the monks of Saint Macarius.
Benjamin also proved pivotal during the governorship of 'Amr's successor, 'Abdallah ibn Sa'd ibn Abī-al-Sarḥ ibn al-Ḥārith al-"Āmirī, whose desire for money could not be met by the Egyptian people, whose agricultural resources were depleted and whose people were impoverished. Benjamin's effort and intercession brought comfort to oppressed Copts.
Benjamin spent the last two years of his life encumbered by severe illness. After enduring a prolonged period of great sufferering, he died on January 3, 661.
by his church, and is commemorated in the Coptic Synaxarion on the 8th day of Tubah. He is widely celebrated for his role in saving the Coptic church during the period of great difficulty he guided it through. The regard of his contemporaries for him was so high that a legend was widely circulated after his death that Benjamin's soul was not only carried to heaven by angels, but also escorted by Athanasius of Alexandria
, Severus of Antioch
, and Theodosius I
.
Byzantine-Arab Wars
The Byzantine–Arab Wars were a series of wars between the Arab Caliphates and the East Roman or Byzantine Empire between the 7th and 12th centuries AD. These started during the initial Muslim conquests under the expansionist Rashidun and Umayyad caliphs and continued in the form of an enduring...
, and led the church to a renewed beginning side-by-side with the then growing power of Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
. His papacy witnessed three ruling systems 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...
, beginning with the Sassanid Empire
Sassanid Empire
The Sassanid Empire , known to its inhabitants as Ērānshahr and Ērān in Middle Persian and resulting in the New Persian terms Iranshahr and Iran , was the last pre-Islamic Persian Empire, ruled by the Sasanian Dynasty from 224 to 651...
, followed by the Byzantines
Byzantine Empire
The Byzantine Empire was the Eastern Roman Empire during the periods of Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages, centred on the capital of Constantinople. Known simply as the Roman Empire or Romania to its inhabitants and neighbours, the Empire was the direct continuation of the Ancient Roman State...
, under whose rule Benjamin went into exile, and finally by the Arab
Arab
Arab people, also known as Arabs , are a panethnicity primarily living in the Arab world, which is located in Western Asia and North Africa. They are identified as such on one or more of genealogical, linguistic, or cultural grounds, with tribal affiliations, and intra-tribal relationships playing...
s upon their conquest. After the Arab conquest Pope Benjamin was allowed by the Arab rulers to come back to 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 resume his work, after a period he had to go into hiding from the Byzantines.
Early life
He was born around 590 in Barshüt, in the BeheiraBeheira Governorate
Beheira Governorate is a coastal governorate in Egypt. Located in the northern part of the country in the Nile Delta, its capital is Damanhur.-Overview:Beheira governorate enjoys an important strategical place, west of the Rosetta branch of the Nile...
region of the western Nile Delta
Nile Delta
The Nile Delta is the delta formed in Northern Egypt where the Nile River spreads out and drains into the Mediterranean Sea. It is one of the world's largest river deltas—from Alexandria in the west to Port Said in the east, it covers some 240 km of Mediterranean coastline—and is a rich...
region. Comparatively little is known about his early life, other than that he came from a Coptic family of comfortable means. The proximity of his home to the capital city of 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...
has led some to assume that he received some education there.
No details on his family life are known, other than that he had one brother, Mennas. Mennas is known for having been tortured with fire and, eventually, being drowned in the Nile by the Byzantine Patriarch Cyrus of Alexandria
Cyrus of Alexandria
Cyrus of Alexandria was a Melchite patriarch of the Egyptian see of Alexandria in the seventh century, one of the authors of Monothelism and last Byzantine prefect of Egypt; died about 641.-Biography:...
for refusing to take the Chalcedonian
Council of Chalcedon
The Council of Chalcedon was a church council held from 8 October to 1 November, 451 AD, at Chalcedon , on the Asian side of the Bosporus. The council marked a significant turning point in the Christological debates that led to the separation of the church of the Eastern Roman Empire in the 5th...
profession of faith and refusing to reveal the whereabouts of Benjamin, who was himself a fugitive at that time.
Monastic years
Benjamin was noted for ascetic habits from an early age, and in 620, at the comparatively old age of thirty, he took monastic vows at the monastery of Canopus, EgyptCanopus, Egypt
Canopus was an Ancient Egyptian coastal town, located in the Nile Delta. Its site is in the eastern outskirts of modern-day Alexandria, around 25 kilometres from the centre of that city....
, which had avoided destruction by the Persians due to its comparatively isolated location. Benjamin further developed his asceticism in the cenobitic
Cenobitic
Cenobitic monasticism is a monastic tradition that stresses community life. Often in the West, the community belongs to a religious order and the life of the cenobitic monk is regulated by a religious rule, a collection of precepts...
communities which followed the rule of Pachomius
Pachomius
Saint Pakhom , also known as Pachome and Pakhomius , is generally recognized as the founder of Christian cenobitic monasticism. In the Coptic churches his feast day is celebrated on May 9...
. It was at Canopus that Benjamin first met an older monk there named Theonas. It was Theonas who presented Benjamin with the schema or monastic garment, instructed Benjamin in the virtues of the monastic life, including holiness, patience, and self-control, and instructed him in the study of the Bible
Bible
The Bible refers to any one of the collections of the primary religious texts of Judaism and Christianity. There is no common version of the Bible, as the individual books , their contents and their order vary among denominations...
. Theonas himself is said to have been particularly devoted to the Gospel of John
Gospel of John
The Gospel According to John , commonly referred to as the Gospel of John or simply John, and often referred to in New Testament scholarship as the Fourth Gospel, is an account of the public ministry of Jesus...
, which he went so far as to memorize.
Alexandria
Thenoas later brought Benjamin before the sitting Patriarch, AndronicusPope Andronicus of Alexandria
Pope Andronicus of Alexandria was the Coptic Pope of Alexandria . He is commemorated in the calendars of the Coptic churches on 20 Tubah, the day of his death....
. Andronicus appreciated Benjamin's piety and ability, and took him on as a servant. He later ordained Benjamin to the priesthood, and eventually appointed him as his assistant, making Benjamin the heir presumptive to the patriarchy. In his position as assistant to the patriarch, Benjamin became acquainted with the intricacies of church affairs and with several segments of the community. Benjamin became highly regarded for his work both within and without the church, with helped bring about his election to the patriarchate upon the death of Andronicus.
Comparatively few records exist regarding the early years of Benjamin's tenure. He is known to have issued encyclicals regarding when the observance of when Easter
Easter
Easter is the central feast in the Christian liturgical year. According to the Canonical gospels, Jesus rose from the dead on the third day after his crucifixion. His resurrection is celebrated on Easter Day or Easter Sunday...
would take place and instructing the clergy in doctrinal matters. He also worked to help his church through the end of Sassinid rule. Fifteen of his encyclicals from this time, all of which have been lost, were known to have been collected into a single volume, which has also been lost.
In 631, Cyrus, the Chalcedonian bishop of Phasis, was appointed by the Byzantine Emperor Heraclius
Heraclius
Heraclius was Byzantine Emperor from 610 to 641.He was responsible for introducing Greek as the empire's official language. His rise to power began in 608, when he and his father, Heraclius the Elder, the exarch of Africa, successfully led a revolt against the unpopular usurper Phocas.Heraclius'...
as both the Melkite patriarch of Egypt and as the prefect in command of the military forces of that province of the empire. His duties in the latter position included curbing religious separatism in the province, by persuasion if possible but by arms if necessary. Benjamin, who was Cyrus's rival the see of Alexandria, fled the area, going from one isolated desert monastery to another to avoid capture. When persuasion failed, Cyrus began to use force. It was during this time that Benjamin's brother Mennas joined the rebellion against the rule of Cyrus for which he was eventually executed. Cyrus also confiscated the property of all clerics who followed the fugitive Benjmain, and many churches in Egypt were turned over to the Melkites by force.
At this time, 'Amr ibn al-'As
'Amr ibn al-'As
`Amr ibn al-`As was an Arab military commander who is most noted for leading the Muslim conquest of Egypt in 640. A contemporary of Muhammad, and one of the Sahaba , who rose quickly through the Muslim hierarchy following his conversion to Islam in the year 8 AH...
arrived at the Egyptian border with a comparatively small force of men. On December 12, 639, he began his campaign to conquer Egypt, eventually invading Alexandria itself on September 17, 642. History does not record whether the members of the Coptic church assisted the Arabs in this campaign, although it is known that they did help the Melkites. 'Amr issued a safe conduct to Benjamin to return. Benjamin took some time in returning, eventually arriving at the end of 643 or the beginning of 644. Benjamin seems to have received funds from Sanutius, the duke of Thebaid
Thebaid
The Thebaid or Thebais is the region of ancient Egypt containing the thirteen southernmost nomes of Upper Egypt, from Abydos to Aswan. It acquired its name from its proximity to the ancient Egyptian capital of Thebes....
, for the rebuilding of the Church of St. Mark
Coptic Cathedral
St. Mark's Coptic Orthodox Cathedral is located in the Abbassia District in Cairo, Egypt. It is the current seat of the Coptic Orthodox Pope. It was built during the time when Pope Cyril VI of Alexandria was Pope of the Coptic Orthodox Church and inaugurated by Pope Cyril in 1968.-History of the...
. Benjamin worked diligently to bring back order to the affairs of the church, improve the morale of the Coptic population which had been devastated by the actions of Cyrus, and deal with the church properties which had been ruined during the recent turmoil. He then left Alexandria again, to meet with 'Amr.
In the historic meeting between these two individuals, 'Amr is quoted as having said that he had never seen such an impressive man of God as Benjamin. The exact details of the meeting between these two parties remain unknown. The meeting was however conducted with a dignity which was not witnessed during the Asian battles. At the end of the conference, 'Amr restored to Benjamin all the rights that he had been denied by the Byzantines, and recognized him as the sole representative of the Egyptian people. The Copts were however made to pay a higher tax (gezya). Benjamin for his part publicly prayed for 'Amr and addressed him with admiration.
Benjamin worked to restore the Coptic church by renewing some of the policies which had been put in place by his esteemed predecessor, Pope Damian of Alexandria
Pope Damian of Alexandria
Pope Damian of Alexandria was the 35th Coptic Orthodox Pope of Alexandria . He is regarded as a saint by the Coptic Orthodox Church, with a feast day of 18 Ba'unah, that is, 25 June....
. He also established amicable relations with 'Amr and the conquerors of Egypt. There were difficulties, partially due to existing disunity among the Christian population in Egypt, as several Melkites and members of other groups had remained in Egypt after the Arab conquest. Benjamin did however eventually prove very successful in restoring a considerable degree of unity to his fragmented population. Several Copts who had fled to the Libyan Pentapolis
Pentapolis
A pentapolis, from the Greek words , "five" and , "city" is a geographic and/or institutional grouping of five cities...
returned. Several of those who had under duress left the Coptic church for the Byzantine church during the occupation, including the bishops Cyrus of Nikiou and Victor of Phiom, were persuaded to return to the fold. He also exercised his new legal and judicial functions, even in accord with the Byzantine legal system, to the satisfaction of the new Islamic authorities.
Benjamin engaged in pontifical visitations to the dioceses and monasteries of the church, restoring properties wherever necessary. One of his more remarkable feats during this period was the recovery of the head of Saint Mark, which the Melkites had intended to try to smuggle back to Byzantium. The head was probably left in the sanctuary of the Monastery of Saint Macarius the Great
Monastery of Saint Macarius the Great
The Monastery of Saint Macarius is a Coptic Orthodox monastery located in Wadi El Natrun, Beheira Governorate, about 92 km north west of Cairo, and off the highway between Cairo and Alexandria.-Ancient History:...
in 645 or 647. Benjamin at the time also issued his canons to the monks of Saint Macarius.
Benjamin also proved pivotal during the governorship of 'Amr's successor, 'Abdallah ibn Sa'd ibn Abī-al-Sarḥ ibn al-Ḥārith al-"Āmirī, whose desire for money could not be met by the Egyptian people, whose agricultural resources were depleted and whose people were impoverished. Benjamin's effort and intercession brought comfort to oppressed Copts.
Benjamin spent the last two years of his life encumbered by severe illness. After enduring a prolonged period of great sufferering, he died on January 3, 661.
Veneration
He is regarded as a saintSaint
A saint is a holy person. In various religions, saints are people who are believed to have exceptional holiness.In Christian usage, "saint" refers to any believer who is "in Christ", and in whom Christ dwells, whether in heaven or in earth...
by his church, and is commemorated in the Coptic Synaxarion on the 8th day of Tubah. He is widely celebrated for his role in saving the Coptic church during the period of great difficulty he guided it through. The regard of his contemporaries for him was so high that a legend was widely circulated after his death that Benjamin's soul was not only carried to heaven by angels, but also escorted by Athanasius of Alexandria
Athanasius of Alexandria
Athanasius of Alexandria [b. ca. – d. 2 May 373] is also given the titles St. Athanasius the Great, St. Athanasius I of Alexandria, St Athanasius the Confessor and St Athanasius the Apostolic. He was the 20th bishop of Alexandria. His long episcopate lasted 45 years Athanasius of Alexandria [b....
, Severus of Antioch
Severus of Antioch
Severus, Patriarch of Antioch , born approximately 465 in Sozopolis in Pisidia, was by birth and education a pagan, who was baptized in the "precinct of the divine martyr Leontius" at Tripoli, Lebanon.- Life :...
, and Theodosius I
Theodosius I
Theodosius I , also known as Theodosius the Great, was Roman Emperor from 379 to 395. Theodosius was the last emperor to rule over both the eastern and the western halves of the Roman Empire. During his reign, the Goths secured control of Illyricum after the Gothic War, establishing their homeland...
.