Pope Cyril VI of Alexandria

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St Kyrillos VI, 116th Pope of Alexandria: A man of prayer, who held daily masses and had his door open to everyone

His Holiness Pope Cyril (Kyrillos) VI of Alexandria, born Azer Ioseph Atta (August 8, 1902 – March 9, 1971), was Coptic Orthodox Pope from 1959 to 1971.

Pope Cyril VI was born in Damanhour, Egypt, into a Christian family. He resigned a civil service position to become a monk in July 1927. He passed his probationary period and, on February 24, 1928, took his monastic vows and assumed the name Fr. Mina El-Baramosy.

In 1947, he built the Church of Saint Mina the Martyr in Cairo.

He became Pope of Alexandria on May 10, 1959 (2 Pashons 1675 AM). On June 28, 1959, he elevated the Archbishop of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahido Church to the title of Patriarch-Catholicos. Abuna Baslios, who was the first Ethiopian to be appointed Archbishop of Ethiopia by the previous Pope, Joseph II (Yusab II), became Ethiopia's first Patriarch. Pope Cyril VI was awarded the Grand Cordon of the Star of Solomon by Emperor Haile Selassie in gratitude. In November 1959 he laid the foundation stone of the new Monastery of Saint Mina the Wonders Worker in the Mariout Desert.

In January 1965, Pope Cyril presided over the Committee of Oriental Orthodox Churches in Addis Ababa, the first ecumenical and non-Chalcedonian synod of these churches held in modern times.

In June 1968, Pope Cyril received the relics of the Apostle Saint Mark the Evangelist, which had been absent from Egypt for over eleven centuries (in Venice). The Saint's relics were interred beneath the newly built Cathedral of Saint Mark at Saint Rewiss Cathedral in Cairo, which was built by Pope Cyril and was opened in a ceremony attended by President Nasser, Emperor Haile Selassie, and delegates from most of the world's churches.

His papacy has also been marked by the unprecedented Apparitions of the Blessed Holy Virgin Mary in Zeitun, Egypt (starting on 2 April 1968).

It is said that God gifted Pope Kyrillos VI the gift of prescience, for he knew who was coming to see him, their needs (before they said a word) and God's answers to them, and also the gift of bilocation. He also knew the time of his departure.

At his death bed Pope Cyril VI said this to the clergy: "I am leaving to the Lord... Safeguard the Church with your keen vigil over it... may the Lord shepherd you." He died on March 9, 1971, after a short illness.

It is believed by many in the Coptic Church and other Churches that countless miracles occurred and continue to occur to this day through the intercession of Pope Kyrillos VI.

H.H. Pope Shenouda III states that "There is NO man in ALL the history of the church like Pope Kyrillos VI who was able to pray this many liturgies. He prayed more than 12,000 liturgies. This matter never happened before in the history of any pope of the popes of Alexandria or the world or the monks - He was wondrous in his prayers."

Sources

• [Short Bio of Pope St. Kyrillos VI]
• [Bio of Pope St. Kyrillos VI, long version (Zipped PDF)]

See also

• List of Patriarchs of Alexandria
• List of Coptic Popes

External links

• [Pope St. Kyrillos VI Multimedia Web Gallery]
• [Pope Kyrillos VI (St. Mina Monastery page)]
• [Pope Kyrillos VI Miracles (St. Mina Monastery page)]
• [Full History of Pope Kyrillos VI]
• [Rare footage of H.H. Pope Kirellos VI]

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