DATES AND SUCCESSION OF PATRIARCHS
Significant dates in the lives of notable persons from the past, particularly from the ancient past, are often a matter of conjecture. In some cases a paucity of historical source material makes it impossible to determine when particular events took place, and in other instances discrepancies in the sources that are extant make such a determination frustratingly tenuous. Since such uncertainty is a feature of the biographical data available for many of the Coptic patriarchs, the following list can give only the approximate dates for some of these leaders. For the period up to 1243 the table relies solely on the History of the Patriarchs compiled by Sawirus ibn al- Muqaffa‘. Supplementary sections of subsequent writers and editors provide the dates for the remaining patriarchs.
Writers following other sources will give dates for some of the patriarchs that vary slightly from those listed below. Thus, some discrepancy in patriarchs’ dates may be found within The Coptic Encyclopedia.
In the list below the provenance of each patriarch has been designated in a separate column, and the rulers of Egypt during each patriarchal reign have been listed in another column. The list has been classified into sections representing the main historical periods:
Greco-Roman and Byzantine, medieval Arab, modern, and contemporary. Full biographies of all patriarchs have been included in the body of our alphabetized text, save in the case of the present patriarch, whose dates are recorded but whose life critique has to be deferred until after the end of his tenure for an objective evaluation of his total work and service.
Greco-Roman and Byzantine Period
1. |
Mark |
43-68 |
Alexandria |
Nero |
54-68 |
2. |
Anianus |
68-85 |
Alexandria |
Nero Galba Otho |
54-68 68-69 69 |
|
|
|
|
Vitellius Vespasian Titus Domitian |
69 69-79 79-81 81-96 |
3. |
Abilius |
85-98 |
Alexandria |
Domitian |
81-96 |
4.
5. |
Cerdon
Primus |
98-109
109-122 |
Alexandria
unknown |
Nerva Trajan Trajan |
96-98 98-117 98-117 |
6. |
Justus |
122-130 |
unknown |
Hadrian |
117-138 |
7.
8. |
Eumenius
Marcianus |
130-142
143-154 |
unknown
unknown |
Hadrian Antonius Pius Antonius Pius |
117-138 138-161 138-161 |
9. |
Celadion |
157-167 |
unknown |
Antonius Pius |
138-161 |
10.
11. |
Agrippinus
Julian |
167-180
180-189 |
unknown
unknown |
Marcus Aurelius Marcus |
161-180
161-180 |
|
|
|
|
Aurelius Commodus |
180-192 |
12. |
Demetrius I |
189-231 |
unknown |
Commodus Pertinax |
180-192 193 |
|
|
|
|
Didius |
193 |
|
|
|
|
Julianus Septimius Severus Caracalla |
193-211
211-217 |
|
|
|
|
Marcinus Heliogabalus Alexander Severus |
217-218 218-222 222-235 |
13. |
Heraclas |
231-247 |
unknown |
Alexander Severus Maximinus |
222-235
235-238 |
|
|
|
|
Bulbinus and Pupienus Gordianus III |
238
238-244 |
14. |
Dionysius |
247-264 |
unknown |
Philippus Philippus |
244-249 244-249 |
15. |
Maximus |
264-282 |
unknown |
Decius Gallus Valerianus Gallienus Gallienus |
249-251 251-253 253-260 260-268 260-268 |
|
Claudius II Aurelianus |
268-270 270-275 |
|||
16. |
Theonas |
282-300 |
unknown |
Tacitus Florianus Probus Carus |
275-276 276 276-282 282-283 |
17. |
Peter I |
300-311 |
unknown |
Numerianus Diocletian Diocletian |
283-284 284-305 284-305 |
|
|
|
|
Galerius |
305-310 |
18.
19. |
Achillas
Alexander I |
311-312
312-326 |
unknown
unknown |
Galerius Licinius Licinius |
305-310 308-324 308-324 |
20. |
Athanasius I |
326-373 |
unknown |
Constantine I Constantine I |
306-337 306-337 |
|
|
|
|
Constantius II Julian Jovian |
337-361 361-363 363-364 |
21. |
Peter II |
373-380 |
unknown |
364-378 364-378 |
|
22. |
Timothy I |
380-385 |
unknown |
Gratian Valentinian II Theodosius |
375-383 375-392 379-395 |
23.
24. |
Theophilus
Cyril I |
385-412
412-444 |
unknown
Anba Maqar |
Theodosius Arcadius Theodosius II Theodosius II |
379-395 395-408 408-450 408-450 |
25.
26. |
Dioscorus I
Timothy Aelurus |
444-458
458-480 |
unknown
unknown |
Theodosius II Marcian Marcian |
408-450 450-457 450-457 |
|
II “The Cat” |
|
|
Leo I |
457-474 |
27. |
Peter III |
480-488 |
unknown |
Zeno Zeno |
474-491 474-491 |
|
(Mongus) |
|
|
|
|
28.
29. |
Athanasius II
John I |
488-494
494-503 |
unknown
Anba Maqar |
Zeno Anastasius Anastasius |
474-491 491-518 491-518 |
30. |
John II |
503-515 |
al-Zujaj (Enaton) |
Anastasius |
491-518 |
31.
32. |
Timothy III |
515-517
517-535 |
unknown
unknown |
Anastasius Justin I Justin I |
491-518 518-527 518-527 |
|
|
|
|
Justinian |
527-565 |
33.
34. |
Theodosius I
Peter IV |
535-567
567-569 |
al-Zujaj (Enaton) |
Justinian Justin II Justin II |
527-565 565-578 565-578 |
35. |
Damian |
569-605 |
Tabur Abu Yuhannis |
Justin II Tiberius II |
565-578 578-582 |
|
Maurice Phocas |
582-602 602-610 |
|||
36.
37. |
Anastasius
Andronicus |
605-616
616-622 |
unknown
unknown |
Phocas Heraclius Heraclius |
602-610 610-634 610-634 |
Medieval Arab Period
38. |
Benjamin I |
622-661 |
Qibriyus |
Heraclius ‘Umar |
610-634 634-644 |
39. |
Agathon |
661-677 |
Alexandria |
‘Uthman ‘Ali al-Hasan b. ‘Ali Mu‘awiyah I Mu‘awiyah I |
644-656 656-661 661 661-681 661-681 |
40. |
John III |
677-686 |
Anba Maqar |
Yazid I Muawiyah II Marwan I |
680-683 683 684-685 |
41. |
Isaac |
686-689 |
Anba Maqar |
‘Abd-al-Malik ‘Abd-al-Malik |
685-705 685-705 |
42.
43. |
Simon I
Alexander II |
689-701
705-730 |
al-Zujaj (Enaton) al-Zujaj |
‘Abd-al-Malik
‘Abd-al-Malik |
685-705
685-705 |
|
|
|
(Enaton) |
al-Walid ibn ‘Abd |
705-715 |
|
|
|
|
al-Malik Sulayman |
715-717 |
|
|
|
|
‘Umar ibn ‘Abd al- Aziz Yazid II |
717-720
720-724 |
44. |
Cosmas I |
730-731 |
Anba Maqar |
Hisham Hisham |
724-743 724-743 |
45.
46. |
Theodorus
Kha’il I |
731-743
744-767 |
Tamnurah (Mareotis) Anba Maqar |
Hisham
al-Walid ibn Yazid |
724-743
743-744 |
|
|
|
|
Yazid III |
744 |
47. |
Mina I |
767-774 |
Anba Maqar |
Ibrahim Marwan II al-Saffah al-Mansur al-Mansur |
744 744-750 750-754 754-775 754-775 |
48. |
John IV |
775-799 |
Anba Maqar |
al-Mahdi al-Mahdi |
775-785 775-785 |
49. |
Mark II |
799-819 |
Anba Maqar |
al-Hadi Harun al-Rashid Harun al-Rashid |
785-786 786-809 786-809 |
|
|
|
|
al-Amin al-Ma’mun |
809-813 813-833 |
50. |
Jacob |
819-830 |
Anba Maqar |
al-Ma’mun |
813-833 |
51. |
Simon II |
830 |
Anba Maqar |
al-Ma’mun |
813-833 |
52.
53. |
Yusab I
Kha’il II |
830-849
849-851 |
Anba Maqar
Abu |
al-Ma’mun al-Mu‘tasim al-Wathiq al-Mutawakkil al-Mutawakkil |
813-833 833-842 842-847 847-861 847-861 |
54. |
Cosmas II |
851-858 |
Yuhannis Anba Maqar |
al-Mutawakkil |
847-861 |
55. |
Shenute I |
858-880 |
Anba Maqar |
al-Mutawakkil |
847-861 |
56. |
Kha’il III |
880-907 |
Anba Maqar |
al-Muntasir al-Musta‘in al-Mu‘tazz al-Muhtadi Ahmad ibn Tulun Ahmad ibn Tulun |
861-862 862-866 866-869 869-870 870-884 870-884 |
|
|
|
|
Khumarawayh Jaysh ibn |
884-896 896 |
|
|
|
|
Khumarawayh Harun ibn Khumarawayh Shayban ibn |
896-904
904 |
|
|
|
|
Ahmad al-Muktafi |
904-908 |
57. |
Gabriel I |
909-920 |
Anba Maqar |
al-Muqtadir al-Muqtadir |
908-932 908-932 |
58. |
Cosmas III |
920-932 |
unknown |
al-Muqtadir |
908-932 |
59.
60. |
Macarius I
Theophanes |
932-952
952-956 |
Anba Maqar
Anba Maqar |
al-Muhtadi al-Radi al-Ikhshid Abu al-Qasim Unujur Abu al-Qasim |
932-934 935 936-946 946-960
946-960 |
61. |
Mina II |
956-974 |
Anba Maqar |
Unujur Abu al-Qasim |
946-960 |
|
|
|
|
Unujur Abu al-Hasan ‘Ali |
960-966 |
62. |
Abraham |
975-978 |
Layman |
Kafur Abu al-Fawaris ibn ‘Ali al-Mu‘izz al-Mu‘izz |
966-968 968-969
972-975 972-975 |
|
|
|
|
al-Aziz |
975-996 |
63.
64. |
Philotheus
Zacharias |
979-1003
1004-1032 |
Anba Maqar
unknown |
al-Aziz al-Hakim al-Hakim |
975-996 996-1021 996-1021 |
65. |
Shenute II |
1032-1046 |
Anba Maqar |
al-Zahir al-Zahir |
1021-1035 1021-1035 |
|
al-Mustansir Abu Tamim |
1035-1094 |
|||
66. |
Christodoulus |
1047-1077 |
al-Baramus |
al-Mustansir |
1035-1094 |
67. |
Cyril II |
1078-1092 |
Anba Maqar |
al-Mustansir |
1035-1094 |
68.
69. |
Mikha’il IV
Macarius II |
1092-1102
1102-1128 |
Anba Maqar Sinjar
Anba Maqar |
al-Mustansir al-Musta‘li al-‘Amir al-‘Amir |
1035-1094 1094-1101 1101-1130 1101-1130 |
70. |
Gabriel II |
1131-1145 |
Layman |
al-Hafiz |
1130-1149 |
71. |
Mikha’il V |
1145-1146 |
Anba Maqar |
al-Hafiz |
1130-1149 |
72. |
John V |
1147-1167 |
Abu Yuhannis |
al-Hafiz
al-Zafir |
1130-1149
1149-1154 |
73. |
Mark III |
1167-1189 |
Layman |
al-Fa’iz al-‘Adid al-‘Adid |
1154-1160 1160-1171 1160-1171 |
74. |
John VI |
1189-1216 |
Layman |
Salah al-Din Salah al-Din |
1171-1193 1171-1193 |
|
|
|
|
al-‘Aziz ‘Imad al- Din al-Mansur Muhammad al-‘Adil |
1193-1198
1198-1200
1200-1218 |
75. |
Cyril ibn Laqlaq III |
1235-1243 |
unknown |
al-Kamil
al-‘Adil II |
1218-1238
1238-1239 |
|
|
|
|
al-Salih Najm al- |
1239-1249 |
76. |
Athanasius III |
1250-1261 |
Anba Maqar |
Din Shajarat al-Durr |
1250-1252 |
77. |
John VII |
1262-1268 |
unknown |
‘Izz al-Din Aybak al-Mansur Nur al- Din ‘Ali Sayf al-Din Qutuz al-Zahir Baybars al-Zahir Baybars |
1252-1257 1257-1259
1259-1260 1260-1277 1260-1277 |
78. |
Gabriel III |
1271-1293 1268-1271 |
unknown unknown |
al-Zahir Baybars |
1260-1277 |
79. |
Theodosius II |
1294-1300 |
Abu Fanah |
Barakah Khan Salamish Qalawun al-Ashraf Khalil al-Nasir |
1277-1279 1279 1279-1290 1290-1293 1294 |
|
|
|
|
Muhammad |
|
|
|
|
|
al-‘Adil Kitbugha Husam al-Din Lajin al-Nasir Muhammad |
1294-1926 1296-1299
1299-1309 |
80. |
John VIII |
1300-1320 |
Shahran |
al-Nasir Muhammad |
1299-1309 |
81. |
John IX |
1320-1327 |
unknown |
Baybars-Jashankir al-Nasir Muhammad al-Nasir |
1309-1310 1310-1341
1310-1341 |
82. |
Benjamin II |
1327-1339 |
Jabal Turah |
Muhammad al-Nasir |
1310-1341 |
83. |
Peter V |
1304-1348 |
Anba Maqar |
Muhammad al-Din Abu Bakr |
1341 |
|
|
|
|
al-Ashraf Kujuk |
1342 |
|
|
|
|
al-Nasir Ahmad al-Salih Isma‘il al-Kamil Sha‘ban |
1342 1342-1345 1346 |
84. |
Mark IV |
1349-1363 |
Shahran |
al-Muzaffar Hajji al-Nasir Hasan al-Nasir Hasan |
1347 1347-1351 1347-1351 |
|
|
|
|
Salih Salah al-Din |
1351-1354 |
85. |
John X |
1363-1369 |
unknown |
al-Nasir Hasan al-Mansur S Muhammad al-Ashraf Sha‘ban |
1354-1361 1361-1363
1363-1377 |
86.
87. |
Gabriel IV
Matthew I |
1370-1378
1378-1409 |
al-Muharraq
al-Muharraq |
al-Ashraf Sha‘ban ‘Ala al-Din ‘Ali al-Mansur |
1363-1377 1377-1381 1377-1381 |
|
|
|
|
al-Salih al-Din Hajji |
1382 |
88. |
Gabriel V |
1409-1427 |
Qalamun |
Barquq Salah Hajji Barquq al-Nasir Faraj al-Mansur ‘Abd al- ‘Aziz al-Nasir Faraj al-Nasir Faraj |
1383-1389 1389-1390 1390-1398 1398-1405 1405
1406-1412 1406-1412 |
|
|
|
|
al-‘Adil Musta‘in al-Mu’ayyad Shaykh al- Muzaffar Ahmad |
1412
1412-1421
1421 |
|
|
|
|
Sayf al-Din Tatar Nasir al-Din Muhammad |
1421 1421-1422 |
89. |
John XI |
1427-1452 |
unknown |
al-Ashraf Barsbay al-Ashraf Barsbay |
1422-1438 1422-1438 |
|
|
|
|
Jamal al-Din Yusuf Jaqmaq |
1438
1438-1453 |
90. |
Matthew II |
1452-1465 |
al-Muharraq |
Jaqmaq Fakhr al-Din |
1438-1453 1453 |
|
|
|
|
‘Uthman Sayf al-Din Inal |
1453-1460 |
91. |
Gabriel VI |
1466-1475 |
Antuniyus |
Shihab al-Din Ahmad Sayf al-Din Khushqadam Sayf al-Din |
1460
1460-1467
1460-1467 |
|
|
|
|
Khushqadam |
|
|
|
|
|
Sayf al-Din Yalbay |
1467 |
92. |
Mikhal VI |
1476-1478 |
unknown |
Timurbugha Qa’itbay Qa’itbay |
1467 1468-1495 1468-1495 |
Modern Period (1500-1798)
94. |
John XIII |
1484-1524 |
al-Muharraq |
Qa’itbay al-Nasir Muhammad |
1468-1495 1495-1498 |
95. |
Gabriel VII |
1525-1568 |
Suryan |
al-Zahir Qansuh al-Ashraf Janbalat Qansuh al-Ghuri Tuman-bay Selim I Sulayman I Sulayman I |
1498-1499 1499-1500 1500-1516 1516-1517 1512-1520 1520-1566 1522-1566 |
|
|
|
|
Selim II |
1566-1574 |
96.
97. |
John XIV
Gabriel VIII |
1570-1585
1586-1601 |
al-Baramus
Bishoi |
Selim II Murad III Murad III |
1566-1574 1574-1595 1574-1595 |
98. |
Mark V |
1602-1618 |
Anba Maqar |
Muhammad III Ahmad I |
1595-1603 1603-1617 |
99. |
John XV |
1619-1634 |
Antuniyus |
Mustafa I ‘Uthman II ‘Uthman II |
1617-1618 1618-1620 1618-1620 |
100. |
Matthew III |
1634-1649 |
al-Baramus |
Mustafa I Murad IV Murad IV |
1620-1623 1623-1640 1623-1640 |
101. |
Mark VI |
1650-1660 |
Anba Maqar Antuniyus |
Ibrahim I Ibrahim I |
1640-1648 1640-1648 |
102. |
Matthew IV |
1660-1675 |
al-Baramus |
Muhammad IV Muhammad IV |
1648-1687 1648-1687 |
103. |
John XVI |
1676-1718 |
Antuniyus |
Muhammad IV |
1648-1687 |
104. |
Peter VI |
1718-1726 |
Antuniyus |
Sulayman II Ahmad II Mustafa II Ahmad III Ahmad III |
1687-1691 1691-1695 1695-1703 1703-1730 1703-1730 |
105. |
John XVII |
1726-1745 |
Antuniyus- Bula |
Ahmad III Mahmud I |
1703-1730 1730-1754 |
106.
107. |
Mark VII
John XVIII |
1745-1769
1769-1796 |
Antuniyus
Antuniyus |
Mahmud I ‘Uthman III Mustafa III Mustafa III |
1730-1754 1754-1757 1757-1774 1757-1774 |
|
|
|
|
‘Abd al-Hamid I Salim III |
1774-1789 1789-1805 |
Contemporary Period (1798 to the present)
108.
109. |
Mark VIII
Peter VII |
1796-1809
1809-1852 |
Antuniyus
Antuniyus |
Salim III Muhammad ‘Ali Muhammad ‘Ali |
1789-1805 1805-1848 1805-1848 |
110. |
Cyril IV |
1854-1861 |
Antuniyus |
Ibrahim ‘Abbas I ‘Abbas I |
1848 1848-1854 1848-1854 |
|
|
|
|
Sa‘id |
1854-1863 |
111.
112. |
Demetrius II
Cyril V |
1862-1870
1874-1927 |
Anba Maqar
al-Baramus |
Sa‘id Isma‘il Isma‘il |
1854-1863 1863-1882 1863-1882 |
113. |
John XIX |
1928-1942 |
al-Baramus |
Tawfiq ‘Abbas II Husayn Kamil Fouad Fouad |
1882-1892 1892-1914 1914-1917 1917-1936 1917-1936 |
|
|
|
|
Farouk |
1936-1952 |
114. |
Macarius III |
1944-1945 |
Bishoi |
Farouk |
1936-1952 |
115.
116. |
Yusab II
Cyril VI |
1946-1956
1959-1971 |
Antuniyus
al-Baramus |
Farouk Muhammad Najib Jamal ‘Abd al-Naser Jamal ‘Abd al-Naser |
1936-1952 1952-1954 1954-1970 1954-1970 |
117. |
Shenouda III |
1971- |
Suryan |
Anwar al-Sadat Anwar al-Sadat |
1970-1981 |
|
|
|
|
Husni Mubarak |
1981- |
BIBLIOGRAPHY
- Kamil Salih Nakhlah. Kitab Tarikh wa-Jadawil Batarikat al- Iskandariyyah. Cairo, 1943. This work contains most references to the ancient original lists of the patriarchs and their dates compiled from older manuscripts by a number of writers, mainly medieval. These are preserved in manuscripts in the Patriarchal Library and the Library of the Coptic Museum, Cairo. The main compilations used by Nakhlah include the works of al-Safi ibn al-‘Assal, Abu Shakir ibn al-Rahib, Abu al-Barakat ibn Kabar, Sawirus ibn al- Muqaffa‘, and Yusab, bishop of Fuwwah, all medieval (eleventh to fourteenth centuries). All use the Anno Martyri calendar, which is quoted by Nakhlah. We have converted these dates to the Anno Domini (Gregorian) calendar and based our own compilation on the History of the Patriarchs by Sawirus ibn al-Muqaffa‘ (eleventh century). Modern dates have also been adopted from later writers of the new sections of the same history.
- Bacharach, Jere L. A Middle East Studies Handbook. Seattle and London, 1984. Gives Islamic history and chronology.
- Meinardus, O. F. A. Christian Egypt: Ancient and Modern. Cairo, 1972.
- Sawirus ibn al-Muqaffa‘. History of the Patriarchs of the Coptic Church of Alexandria, Vol. 1. In Patrologia Orientalis, 4 vols. Arabic text edited with English translation by B. T. A. Evetts. Paris 1904-1915. From Saint Mark to Yusab I. Continuation of History, published by the Society of Coptic Archeology, is as follows:
- Yassa ‘Abd al-Masih and O. H. E. Burmester, eds.
- Cairo, 1943. Kha’il II to Shenute I.
- Atiya, A. S.; Yassa ‘Abd al-Masih; and O. H. E. Burmester, eds.
- Cairo, 1948. Kha’il III to Shenute II. .
- Cairo, 1959. Christodoulos to Michael IV.
- Khater, A., and O. H. E. Burmester, eds.
- Cairo, 1968. Macarius II to John V.
- . Cairo, 1970. Mark III to John VI.
- . Cairo, 1970. Cyril II to Cyril V.
- . Cairo, 1974. Cyril III ibn Laqlaq.
AZIZ S. ATIYA