Pope Macarius III of Alexandria (Abba Macari III) was 114th Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark. Before becoming a pope, he was the Metropolitan of

Asyut AsyutAlso spelled ''Assiout'' or ''Assiut'' ( ar, أسيوط ' , from ' ) is the capital of the modern Asyut Governorate in Egypt. It was built close to the ancient city of the same name, which is situated nearby. The modern city is located at , ...

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 ...

. He is the second Metropolitan to become a pope in the history of the

Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria The Coptic Orthodox Church ( cop, Ϯⲉⲕ̀ⲕⲗⲏⲥⲓⲁ ⲛ̀ⲣⲉⲙⲛ̀ⲭⲏⲙⲓ ⲛ̀ⲟⲣⲑⲟⲇⲟⲝⲟⲥ, translit=Ti.eklyseya en.remenkimi en.orthodoxos, lit=the Egyptian Orthodox Church; ar, الكنيسة القبطي� ...

. The first Metropolitan to become a pope was Pope John XIX.History of the Coptic Church,

Iris Habib Elmasry Iris Habib Elmasry (إيريس حبيب المصري) was a prominent Coptic Historian (1910–1994). Biography Iris Habib Elmasry was born into a Coptic family in 1910. Her family name ''Elmasry'' in the Arabic language means The Egyptian. Her f ...

. On several occasions, Habib Elmasry, secretary of the

General Congregation Council General Congregation Council ( ar, المجلس الملي العام للأقباط الأرثوذكس) is part of the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria and represents the laity of the Church, it is also known as the Coptic Orthodox Lay Council ...

(Elmagles Elmelly Ela'am) of the

, vocally disagreed with Macarius's papal appointment. His daughter, historian

, documented these incidents in her book on the church's history. During his papacy, Macarius ordained no

bishops 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 ...

or metropolitans. This was interpreted as an indication of his regret at accepting the position, despite being a metropolitan beforehand. On 22 February 1944, Macarius issued a document describing the church's intention to repair monasteries, to update monks scientifically and spiritually, and to hold monastic heads accountable. This led to a major split between the Holy Synod and

(Elmagles Elmelly Ela'am). On 7 June 1944, the Holy Synod submitted an appeal to the pope and to the Minister of Justice on the personal status law for non-Muslims Egyptians, as they felt it contradicted a church canon and affected two of the holy mysteries of the Church: marriage and priesthood. As the conflict continued, The Holy Synod and General Congregation Council could not agree. Failing to reconcile them, Macarius abandoned the capital headquarters and went into exile in

Helwan Helwan ( ar, حلوان ', , cop, ϩⲁⲗⲟⲩⲁⲛ, Halouan) is a city in Egypt and part of Greater Cairo, on the bank of the Nile, opposite the ruins of Memphis. Originally a southern suburb of Cairo, it served as the capital of the now de ...

. He later went to the Eastern monasteries, accompanied by bishops, and settled in the

Monastery of Saint Anthony The Monastery of Saint Anthony is a Coptic Orthodox monastery standing in an oasis in the Eastern Desert of Egypt, in the southern part of the Suez Governorate. Hidden deep in the Red Sea Mountains, it is located southeast of Cairo. The Monas ...

in the Red Sea. He then went to the

Monastery of Saint Paul the Anchorite The Monastery of Saint Paul the Anchorite in Egypt is a Coptic Orthodox monastery located in the Eastern Desert, near the Red Sea Mountains. It is about south east of Cairo. The monastery is also known as the Monastery of the Tigers. Foundati ...

. These changes were painful among the Coptic people. When the prime minister learned of the matter, he worked to resolve it, and the pope returned.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Macarius 03 of Alexandria, Pope 1872 births 1945 deaths 20th-century Coptic Orthodox popes of Alexandria People from El Mahalla El Kubra