Pope John XVIII of Alexandria
Encyclopedia
Pope John XVIII of Alexandria was the 107th Coptic
Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark
(23 October 1769 – 7 June 1796).
Pope John XVIII was born in Fayoum. His lay name was Joseph. He became a monk
in the Monastery of Saint Anthony
. At the departure of Pope Mark VII
, he was unanimously chosen to succeed him. He was ordained at the church of Saint Philopater Mercurius in Cairo
, on Sunday, 15 Paopi
, 1486 A.M. (23 October 1769 AD)
The Seat of the Pope
during his papacy remained in the Saint Mary Church (Haret Elroum)
in Cairo
.
attempted to attract the Eastern Churches to Roman Catholicism. Thus, he published the proceedings of the Council of Chalcedon
and distributed it in all the countries of the East. Pope Pius VI of Rome
even sent an envoy to Pope John XVIII of Alexandria asking him to unite with the Roman Catholic Church
. The famous scholar and theologian Joseph el-Abbah, Bishop
of Girga
responded to the message, refuting its claims and defending Orthodoxy
.
rulers. The Jizya
was increased to unprecedent amounts of money, and those who could not pay it had to convert to Islam
or be executed. The commander of the Ottoman army stationed in Egypt
seized the treasury of the Patriarchate and confiscated all its funds. Pope John XVIII had to go into hiding for some time.
. Together, they worked on restoring monasteries and churches. They also prepared the Holy Myron.
Pope John XVIII departed on 2 Paoni
, 1512 A.M. (7 June 1796 AD) He remained on the papal Throne of Saint Mark for 26 years, 7 months, and 16 days. He was buried in the tombs of the Patriarchs at the church of Saint Philopater Mercurius in Cairo
. The papal Throne remained vacant after his departure for 3 months and 26 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
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...
(23 October 1769 – 7 June 1796).
Pope John XVIII was born in Fayoum. His lay name was Joseph. He became a 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...
in the Monastery of Saint Anthony
Monastery of Saint Anthony
The Monastery of Saint Anthony is a Coptic Orthodox monastery standing in an oasis in the Eastern Desert of Egypt, in the southern part of the Suez Governorate. Hidden deep in the Red Sea mountains, it is located southeast of Cairo. It is one of the oldest monasteries in the world, together with...
. At the departure of Pope Mark VII
Pope Mark VII of Alexandria
Pope Mark VII of Alexandria was the 106th Coptic Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark .HH Pope Mark VII was born in the city of Klosna, in the district of El Bahnasa, and his lay name was Simeon...
, he was unanimously chosen to succeed him. He was ordained at the church of Saint Philopater Mercurius 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...
, on Sunday, 15 Paopi
Paopi
Paopi , also known as Baba, is the second month of the Coptic calendar. It lies between October 11 and November 9 of the Gregorian calendar...
, 1486 A.M. (23 October 1769 AD)
The Seat of the Pope
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 Saint Mary Church (Haret Elroum)
Saint Mary Church (Haret Elroum)
Saint Mary Church El-Adra-El Mughitha church is a Coptic Orthodox church in Haret Elroum in Elghoureya Cairo. near the st Theodore Nun's monastery....
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...
.
Relations with Rome
During his papacy, Pope Pius VI of RomePope Pius VI
Pope Pius VI , born Count Giovanni Angelo Braschi, was Pope from 1775 to 1799.-Early years:Braschi was born in Cesena...
attempted to attract the Eastern Churches to Roman Catholicism. Thus, he published the proceedings of the Council of Chalcedon
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...
and distributed it in all the countries of the East. Pope Pius VI of Rome
Pope Pius VI
Pope Pius VI , born Count Giovanni Angelo Braschi, was Pope from 1775 to 1799.-Early years:Braschi was born in Cesena...
even sent an envoy to Pope John XVIII of Alexandria asking him to unite with the Roman Catholic Church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
. The famous scholar and theologian Joseph el-Abbah, Bishop
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
of Girga
Girga
Girga is a city in the Sohag Governorate of Upper Egypt. It is located on the west bank of the Nile River.Girga was the capital of the Girga Governorate until 1960, when the capital was moved to Sohag and the name of the governorate changed accordingly....
responded to the message, refuting its claims and defending Orthodoxy
Orthodoxy
The word orthodox, from Greek orthos + doxa , is generally used to mean the adherence to accepted norms, more specifically to creeds, especially in religion...
.
Persecution
During the papacy of Pope John XVIII, the Copts were persecuted by the OttomanOttoman 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...
rulers. The Jizya
Jizya
Under Islamic law, jizya or jizyah is a per capita tax levied on a section of an Islamic state's non-Muslim citizens, who meet certain criteria...
was increased to unprecedent amounts of money, and those who could not pay it had to convert to Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
or be executed. The commander of the Ottoman army stationed 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...
seized the treasury of the Patriarchate and confiscated all its funds. Pope John XVIII had to go into hiding for some time.
Ibrahim El-Gohary
Pope John XVIII was a good friend of the famous Coptic layman Ibrahim El-GoharyIbrahim El-Gohary
Ibrahim El-Gohary is a famous Copt who was Egypt's prime minister during the second half of the 18th century.-Biography:Ibrahim El-Gohary was born to poor Coptic parents in Qalyub. His father, Youssef El-Gohary, made clothes for living. As a young child, Ibrahim excelled in writing and arithmetic...
. Together, they worked on restoring monasteries and churches. They also prepared the Holy Myron.
Pope John XVIII departed on 2 Paoni
Paoni 2 (Coptic Orthodox liturgics)
1 Paoni - Coptic calendar - 3 Paoni-Fixed commemorations:All fixed commemorations below are observed on 2 Paoni by the Coptic Orthodox Church-Commemorations:*Appearance of the Bodies of Saint John the Baptist and Prophet Elisha-References:...
, 1512 A.M. (7 June 1796 AD) He remained on the papal Throne of Saint Mark for 26 years, 7 months, and 16 days. He was buried in the tombs of the Patriarchs at the church of Saint Philopater Mercurius 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...
. The papal Throne remained vacant after his departure for 3 months and 26 days.