Saint Cyril V of Alexandria | |
|---|---|
| Pope of Alexandria & Patriarch of the See of St. Mark | |
 | |
| Native name |
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| Papacy began | 1 November 1874 |
| Papacy ended | 7 August 1927 |
| Predecessor | Demetrius II |
| Successor | John XIX |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | 1851 |
| Personal details | |
| Born | John (Youhanna) c.1831 Tezment,Beni Suef Governorate,Egypt |
| Died | 7 August 1927(1927-08-07) (aged 95–96) |
| Buried | Saint Mark's Coptic Orthodox Cathedral (Azbakeya) |
| Nationality | Egyptian |
| Denomination | Coptic Orthodox Christian |
| Residence | Saint Mark's Coptic Orthodox Cathedral (Azbakeya) |
| Sainthood | |
| Feast day | 7 August (1Mesori in theCoptic calendar) |
| Papal styles of Saint Cyril V | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Reference style | His Holiness |
| Spoken style | Your Holiness |
| Religious style | Pope andPatriarch |
| Posthumous style | Saint |
Pope Cyril V of Alexandria (Abba Kyrillos V) was the112th Pope of Alexandria & Patriarch of the See of St. Mark, reigning for 52 years, 9 months and 6 days. He was the longest-serving Pope in the history of theCoptic Orthodox Church.[1] He was born as Youhanna (John) in 1824 or 1830/1831 according to different accounts and he died on 7 August 1927.
He joined the Al Baramous Monastery in theNitrian Desert, where he served as abbot prior to his elevation to Pope.
TheGeneral Congregation Council (Elmagles Elmelly Ela'am) elected him Pope, with seat in theSaint Mark's Coptic Orthodox Cathedral in Azbakeya inCairo throughout his papacy. The secretary of the council wasBoutros pasha Ghali بطرس غالي, later Prime Minister of Egypt. Cyril spent most of his papacy at loggerheads with the council and objecting to its interference in church matters.[2] At the beginning of his papacy there was a dispute with the council, which Cyril won.
In general, his papacy was an era of regeneration for the Coptic Orthodox Church and he continued the work begun by PopeCyril IV (1854–1861) in educational reform.[2]
Notable men of the Coptic Church during his papacy included saintAnba Abraam, Bishop of Fayoum, Labib Ekladius, andHabib Girgis.
In 1881 theEthiopian EmperorYohannes IV asked Pope Cyril V to ordain a metropolitan and three Bishops for the Ethiopian Empire. Cyril chose the four monks who had left El-Muharraq Monastery with Anba Abraam: Abouna Petros, Abouna Marqos, Abouna Matewos and Abouna Luqas.[3]
When news of his death reached Ethiopia, EmpressZewditu andRasTafari ordered requiem masses to be said throughout Ethiopia, and that government offices be closed for three days.[4]
| Oriental Orthodox titles | ||
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| Preceded by | Coptic Pope 1874–1927 | Succeeded by |
