Pope Gabriel III of Alexandria

Pope

Gabriel III
Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark
Papacy began1268
Papacy ended1271
PredecessorJohn VII
SuccessorJohn VII
Personal details
Born
al-Rashīd Farajallāh

20 October 1208
Died5 July 1274
Egypt
BuriedChurch of St. Mercurius
DenominationCoptic Orthodox Christian
ResidenceThe Hanging Church

Pope Gabriel III of Alexandria (born al-Rashīd Farajallāh; 20 October 1208 – 5 July 1274) was the 78th Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark from 1268 to 1271.[1][2]

He was originally one of the candidates for the Papal post when Pope John VII was elected. With support from some of the Bishops, Gabriel III replaced John VII and reigned for three years until his death, when John VII was reinstated. This is the only occasion in history when the Coptic Orthodox Church had two Popes at the same time.[3]

Gabriel III died on 5 July 1274 and was buried at the Church of St. Mercurius in Cairo.[2]

  1. ^ Meinardus, Otto F.A. (1999). Two Thousand Years of Coptic Christianity. American University in Cairo Press. pp. 273–279. ISBN 9774247574.
  2. ^ a b Swanson, Mark N. (7 August 2017). "Gabriel III, Patriarch". Claremont Coptic Encyclopedia. Provided by Claremont Graduate University.
  3. ^ History of Coptic Church by Menassa Youhanna