Pope Gabriel VIII of Alexandria was the 97th Coptic

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

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...

 (June 20, 1587 – May 14, 1603).

The Papal Seat

Seat of the Coptic Orthodox Pope of Alexandria

The Seat of the Coptic Orthodox Pope of Alexandria is historically based in Alexandria, Egypt. It is commonly known as the Holy See of St. Mark, as the Coptic Pope is the successor of St. Mark....

 during his papacy remained in the Church of the Virigin Mary (Haret Zuweila)

Church of the Virigin Mary (Haret Zuweila)

The Church of the Virgin Mary in Haret Zuweila is the oldest church in the district of Haret Zuweila, near the Fatamid section of Cairo. It was probably built around the AD 10th century, though it is first mentioned in writing in the early 12th century on the occasion of the consecration of the...

 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 originally from Meer and his lay name was Shenouda

Shenouda

Shenouda is an Egyptian male name, which is commonly used among Egyptian Christians . The name is a composite of the Egyptian words: she , en- and nouti/noude , thus meaning the son of God....

. He became monk in the Monastery of Saint Pishoy

Monastery of Saint Pishoy

The Monastery of Saint Pishoy in Wadi El Natrun , Beheira Governorate, Egypt, is the most famous Coptic Orthodox monastery named after Saint Pishoy. It is the easternmost monastery among the four current monasteries of the Nitrian Desert....

 in Scetes. He was ordained on Sunday, 16 Paoni

Paoni

Paoni , also known as Baona, is the tenth month of the Coptic calendar. It lies between June 8 and July 7 of the Gregorian calendar...

, 1303 A.M. (June 20, 1587 AD). The enthronement celebration was headed by Avva Zacharias, Bishop of Jerusalem, and Avva Kyrellos El-Khiami, in the Church of Saint Mercurius

Saint Mercurius Church in Coptic Cairo

Saint Mercurius Church in Coptic Cairo is one of the churches situated just to the north of the Babylon Fortress in Old Cairo among a group of important churches, and within the area known as the Abu Sayfayn Cloister is to be found three churches and a convent...

 in Old Cairo

Old Cairo

Old Cairo is a part of Cairo, Egypt, that contains the remnants of those cities which were capitals before Cairo, such as Fustat, as well as some other elements from the city's varied history. For example, it encompasses Coptic Cairo and its many old churches and ruins of Roman fortifications...

. At the time of his ordination, the Copts were divided, and they chose for themselves four different patriarchs. His papacy was later confirmed by everyone. He was contemporary of the Ottoman

Ottoman Empire

The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...

 Sultan

Sultan

Sultan is a title with several historical meanings. Originally, it was an Arabic language abstract noun meaning "strength", "authority", "rulership", and "dictatorship", derived from the masdar سلطة , meaning "authority" or "power". Later, it came to be used as the title of certain rulers who...

 Ahmed I

Ahmed I

Ahmed I or Ahmed Bakhti was the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire from 1603 until his death in 1617.-Biography:...

.

During his Papacy, Gabriel VIII decreed that the Fast of the Apostles must start on 21 Paoni

Paoni

Paoni , also known as Baona, is the tenth month of the Coptic calendar. It lies between June 8 and July 7 of the Gregorian calendar...

 and end on 5 Epip

Epip

Epip , also known as Abib, is the eleventh month of the Coptic calendar. It lies between July 8 and August 6 of the Gregorian calendar. The month of Epip is also the third month of the Season of 'Shemu' in Ancient Egypt, where the Egyptians harvest their crops throughout the land of Egypt....

, and that Advent must start on the first of Koiak

Koiak

Koiak , also known as Kiahk, is the fourth month of the Coptic calendar. It lies between December 10 and January 8 of the Gregorian calendar...

. He also cancelled the Fast of Jonah, and left the Fast of the Dormition of the Virgin Mary optional. All the Copts at that time approved of these decisions, but reverted to the old tradition of fasting after his departure.

Gabriel VIII departed on 9 Pashons

Pashons 9 (Coptic Orthodox liturgics)

8 Pashons - Coptic calendar - 10 Pashons-Fixed commemorations:All fixed commemorations below are observed on 9 Pashons by the Coptic Orthodox Church-Saints:*Saint Helena *Pope John XI of Alexandria ,...

, 1319 A.M. (May 14, 1603 AD) in the Syrian Monastery

Syrian Monastery

The Syrian Monastery, also known as Suryan Monastery, is a Coptic Orthodox monastery located in Wadi El Natrun , Beheira Governorate, Egypt. It is located about 500 meters northwest of the Monastery of Saint Pishoy. Ecclesiastically, the monastery is dedicated to the Virgin Mary and carries her name...

. He occupied the Throne of Saint Mark for 15 years, 10 month, and 24 days.