Pope Peter VII of Alexandria

Pope
Peter VII of Alexandria
109th Pope of Alexandria & Patriarch of the See of St. Mark
Papacy began 24 December 1809
Papacy ended 15 April 1852
Predecessor Mark VIII
Successor Cyril IV
Personal details
Birth name Mankarius
Born Gawly - Manfalut, Egypt
Died 15 April 1852
Egypt
Buried Saint Mark's Coptic Orthodox Cathedral (Azbakeya)
Nationality Egyptian
Denomination Coptic Orthodox Christian
Residence Saint Mark's Coptic Orthodox Cathedral (Azbakeya)
For other people named Peter VII, see Peter VII (disambiguation).

Pope Peter VII of Alexandria (Abba Boutros El-Gawly), 109th Pope of Alexandria & Patriarch of the See of St. Mark. He was born in the village of El-Gawly in Upper Egypt, and known as Mankarius while a monk at the Monastery of Saint Anthony on the Red Sea.

During his papacy, sensing intimations of pressure from Roman Catholicism, the Coptic Church intensified her teaching, her preaching, and her pastoral work, and the Coptic Pope himself intensified his writing on matters of faith and doctrine. During the period, many private and public patriarchal libraries were founded.

When the Russian Czar sent his delegates with an offer to put the Coptic Church under his protection, Pope Peter declined the proposal by asking, "Does your Emperor live forever?" When the envoy answered that he would die, like all humans, the Pope told him that he preferred the Protector of the Church who wouldn't die.

The papal throne stood vacant for a little over one year before his successor, Cyril IV, was elected.

Also during the papacy, Saint Sidhom Bishay was martyred at the hands of Muslims in Damietta. His martyrdom made possible the raising of the Cross openly during Christian funeral processions, for this practice was previously forbidden.

Oriental Orthodox titles
Preceded by
Mark VIII
Coptic Pope
1809–1852
Succeeded by
Cyril IV

Source and further details



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