Pope Gabriel VIII of Alexandria
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (October 2022) |
Pope Gabriel VIII of Alexandria | |
|---|---|
Coptic Orthodox Christian | |
| Residence | Church of the Virgin Mary (Haret Zuweila) |
Pope Gabriel VIII of Alexandria was the
97th Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark
.
Gabriel VIII was originally from Meer,
Scetes and was ordained on Sunday, 16 Paoni, 1303 A.M. (June 20, 1587 AD). Avva Zacharias, Bishop of Jerusalem, and Avva Kyrellos El-Khiami led Gabriel's consecration in the Church of Saint Mercurius in Old Cairo. At the time of his ordination the Copts were divided, and they chose for themselves four different patriarchs. Gabriel's papacy was later accepted by the Coptic community. He was contemporary of the Ottoman Sultan Ahmed I
.
During his papacy, Gabriel VIII decreed that the
Fast of the Dormition of the Virgin Mary to be optional. The Copts
at the time accepted these decisions, but the fasts were reinstituted after his death.
Gabriel VIII died on
Saint Mark
for 15 years, 10 month, and 24 days.
References
- Coptic Synexarion