Cyril IV

1816 - 1861

110th Coptic patriarch of Egypt, 1854 - 1861.

Despite his short tenure, Cyril IV was the father of reform in the Egyptian Coptic church, both in the laity and the clergy; he remains one of the greatest modern Coptic patriarchs. Concerned for education in its broadest sense, Cyril established many schools throughout Egypt, promoted basic literacy, advanced theological training, and published new editions of important Coptic documents. The most famous institutions founded by the patriarch were the Coptic Orthodox College for clerics and Egypt's first women's college, both in Cairo. Empowered by the tuition received at these new schools, Copts attained important governmental positions in unprecedented numbers. Cyril's aggressive reform of church administration, particularly in land management, made him unusually popular among the laity, which had long sought a more equitable balance of power with the clergy. Unfortunately, Cyril's successors had no interest in continuing the enfranchisement of the laity and thus created a tension that has been played out even in recent times. Cyril fostered Coptic nationalism through an aggressive campaign of restoring ancient churches and building new ones, his greatest achievements being the construction of Saint Mark's Basilica in Azbakiya. A skillful negotiator, Cyril successfully mediated a dispute between Egypt and Ethiopia from 1856 to 1858. His dream of closer ties with the Russian Orthodox Church and the Church of England led to a conflict with Saʿid Pasha, who feared foreign interference. Cyril's assassination (by poison) was rumored to have been ordered by the pasha.

Bibliography

Atiya, Aziz S. A History of Eastern Christianity, revised edition. Millwood, NY: Kraus Reprint, 1980.

Strothmann, R. Die koptische Kirche in der Neuzeit. Tübingen, Germany: J.C.B. Mohr, 1932.

— DONALD SPANEL