Pope Mark VII of Alexandria
Encyclopedia
Pope Mark VII of Alexandria was the 106th Coptic
Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark
(30 May 1745 – 18 May 1769).
HH Pope Mark VII was born in the city of Klosna, in the district of El Bahnasa
, and his lay name was Simeon. He joined the Monastery of Saint Anthony
at a young age, then moved to the Monastery of Saint Paul the Anchorite
, where he became a monk and was ordained a priest. When Pope John XVII
departed, he was chosen to succeed him. HH Mark VII was ordained Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria on Sunday, 24 Pashons
, 1461 A.M. (30 May 1745 AD) on the day of the feast of the entry of Christ to Egypt
.
HH Pope Mark VII was contemporary of the Ottoman
Sultans Mahmud I
, Osman III
, and Mustafa III
.
He ordained a general bishop over Upper Egypt
to shepherd its Christian
s. He also ordained HG Yoannis (John) the 14th as the 104th Metropolitan of Ethiopia
.
The Seat of the Pope
during his papacy remained in the Saint Mary Church (Haret Elroum)
in Cairo
.
HH Pope Mark VII occupied the Throne of Saint Mark for 23 years, 11 months, and 18 days. He departed on 12 Pashons
1485 A.M. (18 May 1769 AD), while he was residing in a monastery in Maadi
. He was buried in the tombs of the Patriarchs. The Papal Throne was vacant after his departure for 5 months and 5 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...
(30 May 1745 – 18 May 1769).
HH Pope Mark VII was born in the city of Klosna, in the district of El Bahnasa
Oxyrhynchus
Oxyrhynchus is a city in Upper Egypt, located about 160 km south-southwest of Cairo, in the governorate of Al Minya. It is also an archaeological site, considered one of the most important ever discovered...
, and his lay name was Simeon. He joined 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 a young age, then moved to the Monastery of Saint Paul the Anchorite
Monastery of Saint Paul the Anchorite
The Monastery of Saint Paul the Anchorite in Egypt is a Coptic Orthodox monastery located in the Eastern Desert, near the Red Sea mountains. It is about south east of Cairo. The monastery is also known as the Monastery of the Tigers....
, where he became a monk and was ordained a priest. When Pope John XVII
Pope John XVII of Alexandria
Pope John XVII of Alexandria was the Coptic Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark .Originally from Mallawy in Elmenya in upper Egypt , joined the Monastery of Saint Paul the Anchorite as a monk and was named Abd Elsayed...
departed, he was chosen to succeed him. HH Mark VII was ordained Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria on Sunday, 24 Pashons
Pashons
Pashons , also known as Bashans, is the ninth month of the Coptic calendar. It lies between May 9 and June 7 of the Gregorian calendar. The month of Pashons is also the first month of the Season of 'Shemu' in Ancient Egypt, where the Egyptians harvest their crops throughout the land of Egypt...
, 1461 A.M. (30 May 1745 AD) on the day of the feast of the entry of Christ to 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...
.
HH Pope Mark VII 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...
Sultans Mahmud I
Mahmud I
Mahmud I , called the Hunchback was the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire from 1730 to 1754.-Biography:...
, Osman III
Osman III
Osman III or Othman IIIText not available was the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire from 1754 to 1757.-Biography:...
, and Mustafa III
Mustafa III
Mustafa III was the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire from 1757 to 1774. He was a son of Sultan Ahmed III and was succeeded by his brother Abdul Hamid I . He was born in Edirne...
.
He ordained a general bishop over Upper Egypt
Upper Egypt
Upper Egypt is the strip of land, on both sides of the Nile valley, that extends from the cataract boundaries of modern-day Aswan north to the area between El-Ayait and Zawyet Dahshur . The northern section of Upper Egypt, between El-Ayait and Sohag is sometimes known as Middle Egypt...
to shepherd its Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
s. He also ordained HG Yoannis (John) the 14th as the 104th Metropolitan of 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...
.
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...
.
HH Pope Mark VII occupied the Throne of Saint Mark for 23 years, 11 months, and 18 days. He departed on 12 Pashons
Pashons 12 (Coptic Orthodox liturgics)
11 Pashons - Coptic calendar - 13 Pashons-Fixed commemorations:All fixed commemorations below are observed on 12 Pashons by the Coptic Orthodox Church-Saints:*Pope Mark VII of Alexandria , *Master Malati , -Incidents:...
1485 A.M. (18 May 1769 AD), while he was residing in a monastery in Maadi
Maadi
Maadi is a wealthy suburb south of Cairo, Egypt. The town is home to the Supreme Constitutional Court of Egypt, Cairo American College , Lycée Français du Caire , Misr American College , Maadi British International School , the Cairo Rugby Club, and the national Egyptian Geological Museum.-...
. He was buried in the tombs of the Patriarchs. The Papal Throne was vacant after his departure for 5 months and 5 days.