Pope Cyril VI of Alexandria facts for kids
Quick facts for kids SaintCyril VI of Alexandria |
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Coptic Icon of Pope Cyril VI
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| Pope of Alexandria | |
| Born | August 2, 1902 Damanhour, Khedivate of Egypt |
| Died | March 9, 1971 (aged 68) Cairo, Egypt |
| Venerated in | Coptic Christianity Ethiopian Christianity Syriac Orthodox Church |
| Canonized | 20 June 2013 (Gregorian) 13 Paoni 1729 Anno Martyrum (Coptic), Cairo, Egypt by Pope Tawadros II |
| Major shrine | Saint. Mina Monastery, Alexandria, Egypt |
| Feast | 30 Meshir (Coptic) 9 March (Gregorian) |
| Patronage | Alexandria |
| Pope Saint Cyril (Kyrillos) VI | |
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| Pope of Alexandria & Patriarch of the See of St. Mark | |
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| Papacy began | 2 Pashons 1675 (10 May 1959) |
| Papacy ended | 30 Meshir 1687 (9 March 1971) |
| Predecessor | Joseph II |
| Successor | Shenouda III |
| Personal details | |
| Birth name | Azer Youssef Atta |
| Born | 26 Epip 1618 (August 2, 1902) Damanhour, Egypt |
| Died | 30 Meshir 1687 March 9, 1971 (aged 68) Cairo, Egypt |
| Buried | Monastery of Saint Mina, Alexandria, Egypt |
| Nationality | Egyptian |
| Denomination | Oriental Orthodox |
| Residence | 1959-1968 Saint Mark's Coptic Orthodox Cathedral (Azbakeya) 1968-1971 Saint Mark's Coptic Orthodox Cathedral, Cairo |
| Sainthood | |
| Feast day | 30 Meshir (Julian: 24 February) (Gregorian: 9 March) |
| Canonized | 13 Paoni 1729 Anno Martyrum (Julian: 7 June) (Gregorian: 20 June 2013) |
Pope Cyril VI of Alexandria, also known as Abba Kyrillos VI, was the 116th leader of the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria. He served as Pope and Patriarch from May 10, 1959, until his death on March 9, 1971.
Contents
The Life of Pope Cyril VI
His Early Years
Pope Cyril VI was born Azer Youssef Atta on August 2, 1902, in Damanhour, Egypt. He came from a middle-class Coptic Orthodox family. His father was a deacon, a helper in the church.
Becoming a Monk
In July 1927, Azer decided to leave his job in the government. He chose to become a monk, someone who dedicates their life to religious service. On February 24, 1928, he took his monastic vows at the Paromeos Monastery. He was given the new name Father Mina el-Baramosy. People also called him Father Mina the Elder.
Father Mina loved to be alone and pray. He lived for a time in an old windmill in Cairo. He made the ground floor his living space. On the upper level, he created a small chapel for daily prayers. Later, he moved to the Monastery of Saint Samuel the Confessor. After his death, a church was built around the windmill where he once lived.
In 1944, Father Mina was asked to become the leader of the Monastery of Saint Samuel the Confessor. He helped build a new center for the monastery. He also worked to fix up the old churches there and build new rooms for the monks. In 1947, Father Mina built the Church of Saint Mina in Cairo.
Leading the Coptic Church
Father Mina became the Coptic Pope on May 10, 1959. He was chosen directly from being a monk, which was unusual at the time. Most Popes before and after him had first been a bishop.
When he became Pope, he shared a message with the Coptic Church members. He said: "I hope to open my heart to you, that you might feel the deep love for all inside it. This love comes from our Savior. I ask all of you to keep praying for the Church's safety and for my weakness."
Important Events as Pope
In November 1959, Pope Cyril VI started building a new Monastery of Saint Mina in the desert near Lake Mariout.
During his time as Pope, people reported seeing the Virgin Mary appear in Zeitoun, Egypt. These events began on April 2, 1968.
The main church for the Coptic Pope was first in Azbakeya, Cairo. But in 1968, Pope Cyril built a new, larger Saint Mark's Coptic Orthodox Cathedral in Abbasseya, Cairo. Important leaders attended its opening. These included Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser and Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie.
In June 1968, Pope Cyril received the relics (holy remains) of Saint Mark. These relics had been in Venice for over 1,100 years. They were placed under the new cathedral.
Pope Cyril VI passed away on March 9, 1971, after a short illness. His funeral was held at the new Saint Mark's Cathedral. He was first buried there. Later, his body was moved to the Monastery of Saint Mina in Mariut, as he had wished.
Pope Shenouda III, who became Pope after him, spoke highly of Pope Cyril VI. He said, "No one in church history prayed as many liturgies as Pope Cyril VI. He prayed over 12,000 liturgies. This has never happened before." On June 20, 2013, 42 years after his death, Pope Cyril VI was recognized as a saint by the Holy Synod of the Coptic Orthodox Church.
Working with Other Churches
Pope Cyril VI helped strengthen ties with other churches. He raised the leader of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church to the title of Patriarch. This made Abuna Basilios the first Ethiopian Patriarch. Emperor Haile Selassie honored Pope Cyril VI for this important step.
In January 1965, Pope Cyril VI led a meeting of Oriental Orthodox Churches in Addis Ababa. This was a big meeting of these churches in modern times.
See also
- List of Coptic Orthodox Popes of Alexandria
- List of Copts
- List of Egyptians
