Cyril VI of Alexandria 116th Patriarch of the Coptic Orthodox Church Date of Birth: 02.08.1902 Country: Operator

Content:

1. Early Life and Monastic Journey
2. Theological Education and Solitary Life
3. Leadership and Restoration
4. Patriarchy
5. Expansion and Missions
6. Autocephalous Churches
7. International Relations
8. Marian Apparitions
9. Pastoral Leadership
10. Legacy and Veneration

Early Life and Monastic Journey

Azar Joseph Atta, the future Patriarch Kyrillos VI, was born into a Coptic Orthodox family in Damanhour, Egypt. His father served as a deacon. After completing secondary school, Azar worked at a transportation company in Alexandria. In July 1927, he left his secular employment to become a monk.

On July 27, 1927, Azar entered the Monastery of El-Baramus, where Saints Arsenius the Great and Moses the Black once lived. After a period of probation, he was tonsured as a monk and given the name Mina el-Baramus (Mina of the El-Baramus Monastery) on November 25, 1928. Three years later, on July 18, 1931, Mina was ordained a priest.

Theological Education and Solitary Life

Father Mina excelled at the Helwan Theological College, graduating among the top ten students. He subsequently secluded himself in a cave near the monastery to pursue a life of solitude. Father Mina adopted "Love everyone, but keep a distance" as his monastic motto.

Leadership and Restoration

Father Mina later became the abbot of the Monastery of St. Samuel in the eastern desert near the Red Sea. There, he meticulously restored the monastery's historic sites. Completing this restoration, Father Mina moved into an abandoned windmill in southern Cairo to live a solitary life.

He was evicted from the windmill in 1947 and built a modern church in Old Cairo dedicated to St. Mina, his heavenly patron. He also established a dormitory at the church for out-of-town students. The students attended church services, received spiritual guidance, and learned the basics of monastic life. This was the first church-affiliated student dormitory in modern Egypt and became a model for many others, fostering future priests and bishops in the Coptic Orthodox Church.

Patriarchy

Election and Legacy

On May 10, 1959, Kyrillos VI was enthroned as the 116th Patriarch of the Coptic Orthodox Church. He was the only monk elected as patriarch in the 20th century who had not previously held episcopal rank. Kyrillos VI's election was determined by lot, similar to the manner in which Patriarch Tikhon of Moscow and All Russia was chosen in 1917.

Soon after his election, Patriarch Kyrillos VI initiated the restoration of the Monastery of St. Mina in the Mariut Desert. Today, it is one of Egypt's most revered monasteries, housing the relics of Saint Mina and recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.

Expansion and Missions

Patriarch Kyrillos VI established 33 churches in Cairo and 10 in Alexandria. He also founded Coptic churches in Asia (Kuwait), America (New Jersey, California), Canada (Toronto, Montreal), and Australia (Sydney, Melbourne), a first in the history of the Coptic Orthodox Church.

Autocephalous Churches

Patriarch Kyrillos VI granted autocephaly to the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, elevating its primate to the rank of Patriarch Catholicos. In 1959, Abuna Basileos became the first Patriarch Catholicos of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church.

International Relations

Patriarch Kyrillos VI also presided over the Meeting of Heads of the Ancient Eastern Churches in Addis Ababa in January 1965, marking the first such meeting held in modern times.

In June 1968, he returned to Egypt a portion of the relics of Saint Mark the Evangelist, which had been held in the Basilica of San Marco in Venice since 829.

Marian Apparitions

The patriarchate of Kyrillos VI was marked by unprecedented Marian apparitions in the Cairo suburb of Zeitoun. Beginning on April 2, 1968, and continuing until May 29, 1971, the Virgin Mary appeared sporadically as a luminous image above the domes of a church. Millions of Egyptians and foreigners of diverse faiths witnessed the apparitions, which lasted from several minutes to several hours.

Pastoral Leadership

Kyrillos VI led the multi-million member flock of the Coptic Orthodox Church directly, without intermediaries. Individuals could readily meet and converse with him. Prior to his time, the church hierarchy and laity were separated. Patriarch Joseph II, accused of simony, was forced to sign an abdication in 1954.

Patriarch Kyrillos VI prioritized his flock, spending countless hours blessing and engaging with people from all walks of life. His humble lifestyle inspired many young people to embrace monasticism and ministry. He paid special attention to students, encouraging them during exam seasons and praying for their success. Consequently, many entered the priesthood after graduating college, an occurrence that had previously been rare.

Legacy and Veneration

Testifying to his predecessor's holiness, Patriarch Shenouda III stated: "In the entire history of the Coptic Orthodox Church, there was no one like Patriarch Cyril VI who was able to participate in such a large number of liturgies. He prayed in more than 12,000 liturgies. Such an occurrence had never taken place in history, not among patriarchs or even among simple monks. He was amazing in his prayers."

Upon his death, Patriarch Kyrillos VI's body was interred under the altar of the Great Cathedral in Cairo. His successor, Patriarch Shenouda III, moved his remains to the Monastery of St. Mina in accordance with the former's last wishes. In the Coptic Church, individuals are typically not canonized until 50 years after their death. Many Copts recognize the case for Kyrillos VI's sainthood and eagerly anticipate the day when it may be realized.

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