The Coptic Catholic Patriarchate of Alexandria is the Patriarchal and only Metropolitan see of the head of the

Eastern Eastern may refer to: Transportation *China Eastern Airlines, a current Chinese airline based in Shanghai *Eastern Air, former name of Zambia Skyways *Eastern Air Lines, a defunct American airline that operated from 1926 to 1991 *Eastern Air Li ...

sui iuris ''Sui iuris'' ( or ) also spelled ''sui juris'', is a Latin phrase that literally means "of one's own right". It is used in both secular law and the Catholic Church's canon law. The term church ''sui iuris'' is used in the Catholic ''Code of Can ...

Coptic Catholic Church The Coptic Catholic Church ( ar, الكنيسة القبطية الكاثوليكية; la, Ecclesia Catholica Coptorum) is an Eastern Catholic particular church in full communion with the Catholic Church. Along with the Ethiopian Catholic Chur ...

, a

particular Church In metaphysics, particulars or individuals are usually contrasted with universals. Universals concern features that can be exemplified by various different particulars. Particulars are often seen as concrete, spatiotemporal entities as opposed to a ...

in the

Catholic Church The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with 1.3 billion baptized Catholics worldwide . It is among the world's oldest and largest international institutions, and has played a ...

full communion Full communion is a communion or relationship of full agreement among different Christian denominations that share certain essential principles of Christian theology. Views vary among denominations on exactly what constitutes full communion, but ...

with the

Holy See The Holy See ( lat, Sancta Sedes, ; it, Santa Sede ), also called the See of Rome, Petrine See or Apostolic See, is the jurisdiction of the Pope in his role as the bishop of Rome. It includes the apostolic episcopal see of the Diocese of Rome ...

, which follows the

Alexandrian Rite Alexandrian rites are liturgical rites employed by three Oriental Orthodox churches, the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria, Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo Church, and Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church, as well as by their Eastern Catholic count ...

in its own

Coptic language Coptic (Bohairic Coptic: , ) is a language family of closely related dialects, representing the most recent developments of the Egyptian language, and historically spoken by the Copts, starting from the third-century AD in Roman Egypt. Coptic ...

. He is thus the superior of all Coptic dioceses, mostly in and around

Egypt Egypt ( ar, مصر , ), officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, is a transcontinental country spanning the northeast corner of Africa and southwest corner of Asia via a land bridge formed by the Sinai Peninsula. It is bordered by the Mediter ...

(where all its sees are), the word Copt(ic) being a corruption of the Greek word for Egypt(ian). It has two

cathedral A cathedral is a church that contains the '' cathedra'' () of a bishop, thus serving as the central church of a diocese, conference, or episcopate. Churches with the function of "cathedral" are usually specific to those Christian denomination ...

archiepiscopal sees, both in Egypt: one dedicated to Our Lady of Egypt, in the national capital

Cairo Cairo ( ; ar, القاهرة, al-Qāhirah, ) is the capital of Egypt and its largest city, home to 10 million people. It is also part of the largest urban agglomeration in Africa, the Arab world and the Middle East: The Greater Cairo metro ...

, the other dedicated to the

Resurrection Resurrection or anastasis is the concept of coming back to life after death. In a number of religions, a dying-and-rising god is a deity which dies and is resurrected. Reincarnation is a similar process hypothesized by other religions, which ...

, in Ancient

Alexandria Alexandria ( or ; ar, ٱلْإِسْكَنْدَرِيَّةُ ; grc-gre, Αλεξάνδρεια, Alexándria) is the second largest city in Egypt, and the largest city on the Mediterranean coast. Founded in by Alexander the Great, Alexandria ...

History

It had three false starts, each failing to prove enduring. * In 1741 a precursor Catholic Apostolic vicariate was established for Alexandria for

Coptic Coptic may refer to: Afro-Asia * Copts, an ethnoreligious group mainly in the area of modern Egypt but also in Sudan and Libya * Coptic language, a Northern Afro-Asiatic language spoken in Egypt until at least the 17th century * Coptic alphabet ...

Christians wanting to unite with the

. * On 15 August 1824 a Patriarchal See of Alexandria / Alexandrin(us) Coptorum (Latin) was established on Egyptian territory, split off from the

Apostolic Vicariate of Syria, Egypt, Arabia and Cyprus The Apostolic Vicariate of Aleppo (in Latin: Vicariatus Apostolicus Aleppensis) is an apostolic vicariate (Latin pre-diocesan missionary jurisdiction of the Roman Catholic Church, entitled to a titular bishop) and is immediately subject to the ...

. * On 26 November 1895 it was restored as Patriarchal See of Alexandria / Alexandrin(us) Coptorum (Latin), again on Egyptian territory, split off from the

Apostolic Vicariate of Egypt The Apostolic Vicariate of Alexandria of Egypt, or in full - of Alexandria of Egypt-Heliopolis-Port Said ( la, Vicariatus Apostolicus Alexandrinus) is the Roman Catholic Apostolic vicariate (missionary ordinariate) in Egypt, named after its ca ...

. In 1947 it was restored for good as Patriarchal See of Alexandria / Alexandrin(us) Coptorum (Latin). It lost territories in Egypt repeatedly to establish

suffragan A suffragan bishop is a type of bishop in some Christian denominations. In the Anglican Communion, a suffragan bishop is a bishop who is subordinate to a metropolitan bishop or diocesan bishop (bishop ordinary) and so is not normally jurisdictiona ...

sees of Alexandria as Metropolitan : * on 17 December 1982 the

Coptic Catholic Eparchy of Ismayliah Ismailia ( ar, الإسماعيلية ', ) is a city in north-eastern Egypt. Situated on the west bank of the Suez Canal, it is the capital of the Ismailia Governorate. The city has a population of 1,406,699 (or approximately 750,000, includi ...

* on 21 March 2003 the

Coptic Catholic Eparchy of Guizeh The Coptic Catholic Eparchy of Giza is an Eastern Catholic diocese in Giza. It is one of the suffragan sees comprising the sole ecclesiastical province (covering all Egypt) of the Coptic Catholic Patriarch of Alexandria, the head of the Coptic Cat ...

. It enjoyed

Papal visit Papal travel outside Rome has been historically rare, and voluntary travel of the pope was non-existent for the first 500 years. Pope John Paul II (1978–2005) undertook more pastoral trips than all his predecessors combined. Pope Francis (2013� ...

s from

Pope John Paul II Pope John Paul II ( la, Ioannes Paulus II; it, Giovanni Paolo II; pl, Jan Paweł II; born Karol Józef Wojtyła ; 18 May 19202 April 2005) was the head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State from 1978 until his ...

in February 2000 and from

Pope Francis Pope Francis ( la, Franciscus; it, Francesco; es, link=, Francisco; born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, 17 December 1936) is the head of the Catholic Church. He has been the bishop of Rome and sovereign of the Vatican City State since 13 March 2013. ...

in April 2017.

Rank

The patriarchal see as such ranks third among all Catholic (arch)bishoprics of the world (only after the Apostolic See of Rome and the

Catholic Patriarch of Constantinople The Latin Patriarchate of Constantinople was an office established as a result of the Fourth Crusade and its conquest of Constantinople in 1204. It was a Roman Catholic replacement for the Eastern Orthodox Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople ...

), by the virtue of Canon Law (

CCEO The ''Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches'' (CCEC; la, Codex Canonum Ecclesiarum Orientalium, abbreviated CCEO) is the title of the 1990 codification of the common portions of the canon law for the 23 Eastern Catholic Churches in the Catholic ...

58, 59.2).

Proper diocese

His proper (arch)eparchy is the Coptic Catholic Eparchy of Alexandria, which has no other Ordinary than the Patriarch. However, he may appoint an Auxiliary bishop for the eparchy, distinct from Auxiliaries for the Patriarchate, as was the case with: * Youhanna Kabès (7 June 1958 – died 28 June 1985),

Titular Bishop A titular bishop in various churches is a bishop who is not in charge of a diocese. By definition, a bishop is an "overseer" of a community of the faithful, so when a priest is ordained a bishop, the tradition of the Catholic, Eastern Orthodox an ...

of Cleopatris (7 June 1958 – 28 June 1985). As of 2014, it served 35,865 Eastern Catholics in 31 parishes with 73 priests (41 diocesan, 32 religious), 209 lay religious (65 brothers, 144 sisters) and 5 seminarians. It enjoyed a Papal visit from

in April 2017.

Bishops

Coptic Catholic Patriarchs of Alexandria and precursor Apostolic Vicars

''Coptic Catholic Apostolic Vicars'' * Athanasios (1741–1744?) * Giusto Marsghi (1744?–1748) * Jakub Římař OFM (1748–1751) (Jacques de Kremsier) * Paolo d'Angnone (1751–1757) * Giuseppe de Sassello (1757–1761) * Roche Abou Kodsi Sabak de Ghirgha (1761–1778); (1781); (1783–1785) * Gervais d'Ormeal (1778–1781) * Jean Farargi (1781–1783) * Bishai Nosser (1785–1787) * Michelangelo Pacelli de Tricario (1787–1788) *

Mathieu Righet Mathieu is both a surname and a given name. Notable people with the name include: Surname * André Mathieu (1929–1968), Canadian pianist and composer * Anselme Mathieu (1828–1895), French Provençal poet * Claude-Louis Mathieu (1783–1875), ...

(1788–1822) *

Maximos Jouwed Maximus (Hellenised as Maximos) is the Latin term for "greatest" or "largest". In this connection it may refer to: * Circus Maximus (disambiguation) * Pontifex maximus, the highest priest of the College of Pontiffs in ancient Rome People Roman h ...

(1822–1831) (also carried the title of Patriarch starting 1824) *

Théodore Abu Karim Théodore is the French version of the masculine given name Theodore (given name), Theodore. Given name *Théodore Caruelle d'Aligny (1798–1871), French landscape painter and engraver *Théodore Anne (1892–1917), French playwright, librettist, ...

(1832–1855) * Athanasios Kyriakos Khouzam (1855–1864) * Agapios Bishai (1866–1876) ** Antoun di Marco (1876–1887) (visiting apostolic vicar) ** Antoun Nabad (1887–1889) (provicar) ** Simon Barraia (1889–1892) (provicar) ** Antoun Kabes (1892–1895) (provicar) *

Kyrillos Makarios Kyrillos Makarios also written as Cyrillus Macaire (in Arabic language, Arabic كيرلس مقار ) (born 9 February 1867 - died 18 May 1921) was a leader of the Coptic Catholic Church, an Eastern Catholic Churches, Eastern Catholic ''sui juris'' ...

(1895–1899) (apostolic administrator and Patriarchal vicar, Patriarch starting 1899) ''Coptic Catholic Patriarchs of Alexandria'' ''Patriarchate established'' in 1824 (by

Pope Leo XII Pope Leo XII ( it, Leone XII; born Annibale Francesco Clemente Melchiorre Girolamo Nicola della Genga (; 2 August 1760 – 10 February 1829), was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 28 September 1823 to his death ...

) * Maximos Jouwed, also known as Maximos Givaid (15 August 1824 – died 30 August 1831),

Uthina :''Uthina'' is also a spider genus (Pholcidae) Uthina or Oudna ( ar, أوذنة) was an ancient Roman- Berber city located near Tunis, Tunisia. History Uthina was a town in the province of Africa Proconsularis, now northern Tunisia. Uthina becam ...

(9 March 1824 – 15 August 1824) *''Vacant'' (1831–1899) **''

Apostolic Administrator An Apostolic administration in the Catholic Church is administrated by a prelate appointed by the pope to serve as the ordinary for a specific area. Either the area is not yet a diocese (a stable 'pre-diocesan', usually missionary apostolic admi ...

Théodore Abou-Karim (22 June 1832 – died 28 September 1855), Titular Bishop of

Alia Alia or ALIA may refer to: People *Alia (name), a list of people with the surname or given name Places *Alia, Sicily, Italy, a comune * Alia (Phrygia), a town of ancient Phrygia which remains a Roman Catholic titular bishopric *Alía, Spain, a mu ...

(22 June 1832 – 28 September 1855), no other prelature'' **Apostolic Administrator Athanase Khouzan (2 October 1855 – died 17 February 1864), Titular Bishop of Maronia (2 October 1855 – 17 February 1864), no other prelature **Apostolic Administrator Abraham Agabio Bsciai (27 February 1866 – 1878), Titular Bishop of Cariopolis (27 February 1866 – 20 February 1887), no other prelature **Apostolic Administrator Cyrillus Macaire = Kyrillos Makarios (18 March 1895 – 19 June 1899 ''see below''), Titular Bishop of

Cæsarea Paneas Banias or Banyas ( ar, بانياس الحولة; he, בניאס, label=Modern Hebrew; Judeo-Aramaic, Medieval Hebrew: פמייס, etc.; grc, Πανεάς) is a site in the Golan Heights near a natural spring, once associated with the Greek ...

(15 March 1895 – 19 June 1899) *

= Cyrillus Macaire (1899–1908) (resigned) *''Vacant'' (1908–1947) **''

(Joseph-)Maxime Sedfaoui (1908 – 13 January 1925)'' **''Apostolic Administrator Marc Khouzam = Markos Khouzam (30 December 1927 – 10 August 1947 ''see below'')'' * Markos II Khouzam (''see above'' 10 August 1947 – died 2 February 1958) * Stéphanos I Sidarouss,

Lazarists , logo = , image = Vincentians.png , abbreviation = CM , nickname = Vincentians, Paules, Lazarites, Lazarists, Lazarians , established = , founder = Vincent de Paul , fou ...

(C.M.) (10 May 1958 - retired 24 May 1986) (Cardinal in 1965), died 1987 **'' Patriarchal Vicar: Athanasios Abadir (18 May 1976 – 17 December 1982), Titular Bishop of Appia (18 May 1976 – 17 December 1982); next Eparch (Bishop) of

Ismayliah of the Copts Ismailia ( ar, الإسماعيلية ', ) is a city in north-eastern Egypt. Situated on the west bank of the Suez Canal, it is the capital of the Ismailia Governorate. The city has a population of 1,406,699 (or approximately 750,000, includi ...

(Egypt) (17 December 1982 – died 25 May 1992)'' *

Stéphanos II Ghattas Stéphanos II Ghattas ( ar, إسطفانوس الثاني غطاس) (January 16, 1920 – January 20, 2009), was an eparch of the Coptic Catholic Church. From 1986 to 2006 he served as the Coptic Catholic Patriarch of Alexandria. He was also a ...

(23 June 1986 – retired 30 March 2006) (Cardinal in 2001), died 2009 ** Auxiliary Bishop: Youhanna Golta (27 July 1986 – 1997), Titular Bishop of Andropolis (27 July 1986 – present); next

Bishop of Curia A bishop is an ordained clergy member who is entrusted with a position of authority and oversight in a religious institution. In Christianity, bishops are normally responsible for the governance of dioceses. The role or office of bishop is ca ...

of the Copts (1997–2020) ** Auxiliary Bishop: Andraos Salama (1 November 1988 – 1997), Titular Bishop of Barca (1 November 1988 – 21 March 2003); next Eparch (Bishop) of

Guizeh of the Copts The Coptic Catholic Eparchy of Giza is an Eastern Catholic diocese in Giza. It is one of the suffragan sees comprising the sole ecclesiastical province (covering all Egypt) of the Coptic Catholic Patriarch of Alexandria, the head of the Coptic ...

(Egypt) (21 March 2003 – died 6 December 2005) * Antonios I Naguib (7 April 2006 – retired 15 January 2013) (Cardinal in 2010), died 2022 *

Ibrahim Isaac Sidrak Ibrahim Isaac Sidrak (, ar, إبراهيم إسحاق سدراك; born 19 August 1955 in Beni-Chokeir, Egypt) is the current Coptic Catholic Patriarch of Alexandria. Life Ibrahim Isaac Sidrak was born on 19 August 1955 in Beni-Chokeir, Asyut Go ...

(18 January 2013 – present)

Curial bishops

Youhanna Golta Youhanna Kamal Golta (27 January 1937 – 15 February 2022) was an Egyptian Coptic Catholic hierarch. Born in Cairo, Kingdom of Egypt, Egypt, Golta was ordained to the priesthood in 1960. He served as auxiliary and curial bishop of the Coptic Cath ...

(1997-2020) * Antonios Aziz Mina (2002-2006), confirmed Bishop of Guizeh (Coptic) * Kamal Fahim Awad (Boutros) Hanna (2006-2013), confirmed Bishop of Minya (Coptic) *

Hani Nassif Wasef Bakhoum Kiroulos Hani may refer to: People * Hani (name) * Hani (producer), a record producer and remixer from New York City * Hani (singer), a South Korean singer and member of EXID * Hani people, an ethnic group of China and Vietnam Places * Hani, an island in ...

(2019-)

Sources and external links

List of all Coptic Patriarchs of Alexandria
by GCatholic.org

{{Particular churches sui iuris footer Christianity in Alexandria Coptic Catholic Church Eastern Catholicism in Egypt

Coptic Catholic Patriarchate of Alexandria The Coptic Catholic Patriarchate of Alexandria is the Patriarchal and only Metropolitan see of the head of the Eastern ''sui iuris'' Coptic Catholic Church, a particular Church in the Catholic Church in full communion with the Holy See, which foll ...

Alex Alex is a given name. It can refer to a shortened version of Alexander, Alexandra, Alexis. People Multiple *Alex Brown (disambiguation), multiple people * Alex Gordon (disambiguation), multiple people *Alex Harris (disambiguation), multiple pe ...

Coptic Catholic Patriarchs Alexandria-related lists Copts in Alexandria