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 Our Lady of Egypt, in the national capital Cairo, the other dedicated to the Resurrection, in Ancient Alexandria.

History

It had three false starts, each failing to prove enduring.

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 :

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 Apostolic See of Rome 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:

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 Pope Francis in April 2017.

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 (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 (15 August 1824 – died 30 August 1831), Titular Bishop of Uthina (9 March 1824 – 15 August 1824)

Vacant (1831–1899)

    • Apostolic Administrator Théodore Abou-Karim (22 June 1832 – died 28 September 1855), Titular Bishop of Alia (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 (15 March 1895 – 19 June 1899)
  • Kyrillos Makarios = Cyrillus Macaire (1899–1908) (resigned)

Vacant (1908–1947)

See also

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