List of Coptic Orthodox Popes of Alexandria

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The following is a list of all the Coptic Orthodox Popes of Alexandria who have led the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria and have succeeded the Apostle Mark the Evangelist in the office of Bishop of Alexandria, who founded the Church in the 1st century, and therefore marked the beginning of Christianity in Africa. It is one of the five ancient patriarchates of the early Church (designated as "equals" and called the Pentarchy).

The Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria is one of the Oriental Orthodox churches (not to be mistaken with the Byzantine Orthodox group of churches) and is presided over by the Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria who is the body's spiritual leader.

The Oriental Orthodox believe that they are the "One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic" Church of the ancient Christian creeds. Currently this position is held by His Holiness Pope Shenouda III, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of all Africa on the Holy See of St. Mark.

1 The title Pope
2 Coptic Orthodox Popes of Alexandria
3 See also
4 References
5 External links

[edit] The title Pope

The title Pope has been first adopted by Pope Heraclas as the first Alexandrian Bishop to be known by this title. Papa has been the specific designation for the Archbishop of Alexandria, Patriarch of Egypt, and the See of Saint Mark, whose ecclessiastic title is, Papa Abba, the Abba stands for the devotion of all monastics, from Pentapolis in the West to Constantinople in the East, to his guidance. Abba is the most powerful designation, that for all Monks in the East to voluntarily follow his spiritual authority, it should be assumed he was a bearer of Christ.

Historically, this office has held the title of Papa, Father in Coptic, since Papa Heracleus, 13th Alexandrine Patriarch (232-249 AD) was first to associate with the title three centuries before it was assumed by John I, the Roman Bishop (523- 526), who ratified the Alexandrian computation of the date of Easter. Bestowing the title on Rome's Pontiff did not strip it from Alexandria's, and the Roman Catholic Church recognizes this ecclesiastical fact.^[1]

For the Patriarchs of Alexandria prior to the schism after the Council of Chalcedon, see List of Patriarchs of Alexandria. For the patriarchs of the Byzantine Orthodox church after the split with the Oriental Orthodox church, see List of Greek Orthodox Patriarchs of Alexandria.

Note: Not all of the dates given are certain. Some of these dates disagree with those given in Coptic publications such as the English Katameros. In some cases this is due to publications errors which have been corrected. In other cases, calendar differences may have caused some confusion.

Note: Pope (St.) Dioscorus I served as the sole Patriarch of Alexandria from 444-451, but continued to be Coptic Pope in exile until his death in 454.