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 follows the Alexandrian Rite in its own Coptic language. He is thus the superior of all Coptic dioceses, mostly in and around Egypt (where all its sees are), Copt(ic) being corruptions of the Greek word for Egypt(ian).

It has two cathedral archiepiscopal sees, both in Egypt: one dedicated to Notre-Dame of Egypte, in national capital Cairo, the other dedicated to the Resurrection, in Ancient 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 Christians wanting to unite with the Holy See.
On 1824.08.15 a Patriarchal See of Alexandria / Alexandrin(us) Coptorum (Latin) is established on Egyptian territory, split off from the Apostolic Vicariate of Syria, Egypt, Arabia and Cyprus.
On 1895.11.26 it is restored as Patriarchal See of Alexandria / Alexandrin(us) Coptorum (Latin), again on Egyptian territory, split off from the Apostolic Vicariate of Egypt.

In 1947 it is restored for good as Patriarchal See of Alexandria / Alexandrin(us) Coptorum (Latin).

It lost territories in Egypt repeatedly to establish suffragan sees of Alexandria as Metropolitan :

on 1982.12.17 the Coptic Catholic Eparchy of Ismayliah
on 2003.03.21 the Coptic Catholic Eparchy of Guizeh.

It enjoyed Papal visits from Pope John Paul II in February 2000 and from Pope Francis in April 2017.

Rank

The patriarchal see as such ranks third among all Catholic (arch)bishoprics of the world (only after the Pope's Holy See and the Catholic Patriarch of Constantinople), by the virtue of Canon Law (CCEO 58, 59.2).

Nevertheless, the incumbent Patriarch is likely to be outranked by many or even most Cardinals, whose higher rank as Princes of the Church is normally not (formally) linked to a see.

Proper diocese

His proper (arch)eparchy is the Coptic Catholic Eparchy of Alexandria, which has no other Ordinary then the Patriarch. However, he may appoint an Auxiliary bishop for the eparchy, distinct from Auxliaries for the Patriarchate, as was the case with :

Youhanna Kabès (1958.06.07 – death 1985.06.28), Titular Bishop of Cleopatris (1958.06.07 – 1985.06.28).

As per 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 Pope Francis in April 2017.

Coptic Catholic Patriarchs of Alexandria and precursor Apostolic Vicars

Coptic Catholic Apostolic Vicars

BIOs to ELABORATE

Athanasios (1741–1744?)
Giusto Marsghi (1744?–1748)
Jacques de Kremsier (1748–1751)
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 (1788–1822)
Maximos Jouwed (1822–1831) (also carried the title of Patriarch starting 1824)
Théodore Abu Karim (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 (1895–1899) (apostolic administrator and Patriarchal vicar, Patriarch starting 1899)

Coptic Catholic Patriarchs of Alexandria

Patriarchate established in 1824 (by Pope Leo XII)

Maximos Jouwed, also known as Maximos Givaid (1824.08.15 – death 1831.08.30), Titular Bishop of Uthina (1824.03.09 – 1824.08.15)

Vacant (1831–1899)

- Apostolic Administrator Théodore Abou-Karim (1832.06.22 – death 1855.09.28), Titular Bishop of Alia (1832.06.22 – 1855.09.28), no other prelature
- Apostolic Administrator Athanase Khouzan (1855.10.02 – death 1864.02.17), Titular Bishop of Maronia (1855.10.02 – 1864.02.17), no other prelature
- Apostolic Administrator Abraham Agabio Bsciai (1866.02.27 – 1878), Titular Bishop of Cariopolis (1866.02.27 – 1887.02.20), no other prelature
- Apostolic Administrator Cyrillus Macaire = Kyrillos Makarios (1895.03.18 – 1899.06.19 see below), Titular Bishop of Cæsarea Paneas (1895.03.15 – 1899.06.19)

BIOs to ELABORATE

Kyrillos Makarios = Cyrillus Macaire (1899–1908) (resigned)

Vacant (1908–1947)

- Apostolic Administrator (Joseph-)Maxime Sedfaoui (1908 – 1925.01.13)
- Apostolic Administrator Marc Khouzam = Markos Khouzam (1927.12.30 – 1947.08.10 see below)
Markos II Khouzam (see above 1947.08.10 – death 1958.02.02)
Stéphanos I Sidarouss, Lazarists (C.M.) (later Cardinal) (1947.08.09 – retired 1958.05.10)
- Patriarchal Vicar: Athanasios Abadir (1976.05.18 – 1982.12.17), Titular Bishop of Appia (1976.05.18 – 1982.12.17); next Eparch (Bishop) of Ismayliah of the Copts (Egypt) (1982.12.17 – death 1992.05.25)
Stéphanos II Ghattas (1986.06.23 – retired 2006.03.30), died 2009
- Auxiliary Bishop: Youhanna Golta (1986.07.27 – 1997), Titular Bishop of Andropolis (1986.07.27 – ...); next Bishop of Curia of the Copts (1997 – ...)
- Auxiliary Bishop: Andraos Salama (1988.11.01 – 1997), Titular Bishop of Barca (1988.11.01 – 2003.03.21); next Eparch (Bishop) of Guizeh of the Copts (Egypt) (2003.03.21 – death 2005.12.06)
Antonios I Naguib (2006.04.07 – 2013.01.15) (retired)
Ibrahim Isaac Sidrak (2013.01.18– ...).

Sources and external links

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