Pope Cyril III of Alexandria

Pope

Cyril III of Alexandria
Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark
Papacy began17 June 1235
Papacy ended10 March 1243
PredecessorJohn VI
SuccessorAthanasius III
Orders
Ordination17 June 1235
Consecration17 June 1235
Personal details
Born
David Ibn Laqlaq of Fayyum (داود ابن لقلق الفيومي)

~ 1175 AD
Died10 March 1243
Cairo, Egypt
BuriedWax (El-Shamaa) Monastery (دير الشمع في الجيزة)
NationalityEgyptian
DenominationCoptic Orthodox Christian
ResidenceThe Hanging Church

Cyril III, known as Cyril ibn Laqlaq (كيرلس الثالث ابن لقلق), was the 75th Coptic Orthodox Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria.

His episcopate lasted seven years, eight months, and 23 days from Sunday, 17 June 1235 (23 Paoni 951 A.M.) to Tuesday, 10 March 1243 (14 Baramhat 959 A.M.). Before his ordination, the Episcopal Seat was vacant for 19 years, partly due to the competition between the three candidates vying for the position, including ibn Laqlaq himself. His ordination was controversial, and he is remembered as a lover of money who did not ordain a bishop, a priest, or a deacon without getting paid, a practice called simony.

In 1238, he issued a new set of canons for the Coptic church and its dependencies in Ethiopia, Nubia, and Cyrenaica.[1]

The See of St Mark remained vacant for seven years, six months, and 28 days after Cyril ibn Laqlaq's death until he was succeeded by Pope Athanasius III of Alexandria on Sunday, 9 October 1250 AD. The Apostolic Throne remained vacant because intense persecution did not allow the Copts to elect a successor. Cyril ibn Laqlaq was buried in the Wax Monastery in Giza (دير الشمع في الجيزة). In his time, the Papal Residence was located at the Hanging Church in Coptic Cairo.

  1. ^ Takla, Hany N. "TREASURES OF THE COPTIC CHURCH (TCC)". www.stshenouda.com. Retrieved 2018-03-14.