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Pope Cyril IV of Alexandria

1816 – 1861

Pope of the Coptic Orthodox Church

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About Pope Cyril IV of Alexandria

Lived 1816 – 1861 (aged 44–45). Pope Cyril IV of Alexandria was an Egyptian presbyter.

Pope Cyril IV of Alexandria (Abba Kyrillos IV), Coptic: Ⲡⲁⲡⲁ Ⲁⲃⲃⲁ Ⲕⲩⲣⲓⲗⲗⲟⲩ ⲇ̅ 110th Pope of Alexandria & Patriarch of the See of St. Mark. He was born David (Daoud) in 1816. Despite his relatively short papacy, he is regarded as the "Father of Reform" of the Coptic Orthodox Church in modern times. He is credited for establishing a great printing house and printing many Church books.

While abbot of the Monastery of Saint Anthony, he was sent to Ethiopia at the request of Peter VII to mediate between Abouna Salama and his opponents in the Ethiopian Church, as well as "prevent the sympathies for the Catholic missionaries and their teaching from increasing further." While he was in Ethiopia, the Patriarch died. The former Ichege Gebre Mariam, who was in Cairo to press for the Ethiopian rights to the convent in Jerusalem, used this opportunity to exert pressure for his cause. As a result, the majority choice for Patriarch Peter's successor, Daoud, was kept from taking his seat for two years.

As Patriarch, Cyril returned to Ethiopia at the request of viceroy Sa'id of Egypt, the first recorded visit by the head of the Coptic church to that country. Emperor Tewodros II, whom Trimingham described as "unable to conceive how a Christian prelate could consent to act as the envoy of a Muslim prince", received Pope Cyril unfavorably in December 1856. Sven Rubenson records that when the Patriarch expressed an interest in reviewing the Emperor's army, Tewodros II suspected him of being a spy, and confined him with Abouna Salama to their house; only after the Ethiopian clergy intervened, were both men released. During a flare-up of tempers between the Abouna and Emperor in November of the following year, which led to the Abouna excommunicating Emperor Tewodros II, Patriarch Cyril lifted the interdict against the wishes of Abouna Salama; the Patriarch left Ethiopia soon after.

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Important facts

Born
1816, Girga
Birth century
Occupation
Nationality
Positions held
Pope of the Coptic Orthodox Church

People in Pope Cyril IV of Alexandria's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Pope Cyril IV of Alexandria's

Frequently asked questions

Who was Pope Cyril IV of Alexandria?

Pope of the Coptic Orthodox Church

When was Pope Cyril IV of Alexandria born?

Pope Cyril IV of Alexandria was born in 1816 in Girga.

When did Pope Cyril IV of Alexandria die?

Pope Cyril IV of Alexandria died on 31 January 1861 in Egypt eyalet.

What was Pope Cyril IV of Alexandria's occupation?

Pope Cyril IV of Alexandria was a presbyter.

What nationality was Pope Cyril IV of Alexandria?

Pope Cyril IV of Alexandria was Egyptian.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Pope Cyril IV of Alexandria

· Wikidata: Q981901

· DBpedia: Pope Cyril IV of Alexandria

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Pope Cyril IV of Alexandria. https://biography.guide/pope-cyril-iv-of-alexandria/

MLA: "Pope Cyril IV of Alexandria." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/pope-cyril-iv-of-alexandria/.

Chicago: "Pope Cyril IV of Alexandria." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/pope-cyril-iv-of-alexandria/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-26 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

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