Seat of the Coptic Orthodox Pope of Alexandria
Encyclopedia
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.
Ruling powers moved away from Alexandria
to Cairo
after the Arab
invasion of Egypt. During Pope Christodolos
's tenure, the official residence of the Coptic Pope moved to The Hanging Church
in Cairo.
The current Seat of the Coptic Orthodox Pope of Alexandria is in both Alexandria
and Cairo
, in the compound holding the Patriarchal palace, Coptic Orthodox Cathedral (known as St. Mark's Cathedral) and other Patriarchal Institutions in both Alexandria and Cairo.
There is also a major Patriarchal compound within the outer walls of the Monastery of Saint Pishoy
in the Scetes of the Nitrian Desert of Egypt (Wadi El Natrun), which is used when the Pope is in a spiritual retreat or when hosting major ecclesiastical conventions within the Oriental Orthodox Church communion or with Eastern Orthodox Church
or the Roman Catholic Church
and its Uniate Churches.
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...
, 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...
. It is commonly known as the Holy See of St. Mark, as the Coptic Pope is the successor of St. Mark.
Ruling powers moved away from 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...
to 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...
after 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...
invasion of Egypt. During Pope Christodolos
Pope Christodolos of Alexandria
Pope Christodolos of Alexandria was the Coptic Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark .He joined the Paromeos Monastery in the Nitrian Desert before becoming a Pope...
's tenure, the official residence of the Coptic Pope moved to The Hanging Church
The Hanging Church
Saint Virgin Mary's Coptic Orthodox Church also known as the Hanging Church is one of the oldest churches in Egypt and the history of a church on this site dates to the 3rd century AD....
in Cairo.
Current seats
- Saint Mark's Coptic Orthodox Cathedral, Cairo 1971–present
- Saint Mark's Coptic Orthodox Cathedral (Alexandria)Saint Mark's Coptic Orthodox Cathedral (Alexandria)Saint Mark's Coptic Orthodox Cathedral in Alexandria is the historical seat of the Pope of Alexandria, the head of the Coptic Orthodox Church.-Beginning:The cathedral is said to stand on the site of the church founded by St. Mark the Evangelist in 60 AD.St...
c. AD 60–present
The current Seat of the Coptic Orthodox Pope of Alexandria is in both 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 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...
, in the compound holding the Patriarchal palace, Coptic Orthodox Cathedral (known as St. Mark's Cathedral) and other Patriarchal Institutions in both Alexandria and Cairo.
There is also a major Patriarchal compound within the outer walls of 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 the Scetes of the Nitrian Desert of Egypt (Wadi El Natrun), which is used when the Pope is in a spiritual retreat or when hosting major ecclesiastical conventions within the Oriental Orthodox Church communion or with Eastern Orthodox Church
Eastern Orthodox Church
The Orthodox Church, officially called the Orthodox Catholic Church and commonly referred to as the Eastern Orthodox Church, is the second largest Christian denomination in the world, with an estimated 300 million adherents mainly in the countries of Belarus, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Georgia, Greece,...
or 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...
and its Uniate Churches.
Previous seats
- The Hanging ChurchThe Hanging ChurchSaint Virgin Mary's Coptic Orthodox Church also known as the Hanging Church is one of the oldest churches in Egypt and the history of a church on this site dates to the 3rd century AD....
in Coptic CairoCoptic CairoCoptic Cairo is a part of Old Cairo which encompasses the Babylon Fortress, the Coptic Museum, the Hanging Church, the Greek Church of St. George and many other Coptic churches and historical sites. It is believed that the Holy Family visited this area and stayed at the site of Saints Sergius and...
1047–c.1300 - Saint Mercurius Church (Coptic Cairo) 1300–c.1400
- Saint Mary Church (Harat Zewila) 1400–1600
- 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....
1660–1800 - Saint Mark's Coptic Orthodox Cathedral (Azbakeya)Saint Mark's Coptic Orthodox Cathedral (Azbakeya)Saint Mark's Coptic Orthodox Cathedral in Azbakeya, Cairo was the seat of the Coptic Pope from 1800 to 1971.Due to Ibrahim El-Gohary's influential position in the government and his great favor to the Muslim rulers, he was able to issue fatwas that permitted the Copts to rebuild the destroyed...
1800–1971