Agatho of Alexandria

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Saint Agatho of Alexandria († October 27, 673 in Alexandria ) was the 39th Pope of the Coptic Church from 654 to 673 .

Live and act

Agatho was a student of his predecessor who had to hide from Chalcedonian persecutors for some time . During this time Agatho took his place. During the day he walked through the streets and markets dressed as a carpenter , at night he went into the houses in priestly clothing and preached and taught the believers. It was only after the Arabs had conquered Egypt that his predecessor could return to office.

After the death of his predecessor, Abba Agatho was elected Pope. He presided over the Church at a difficult time. Heavy taxes were imposed on Christians. A bribery governor of Egypt issued an order that anyone who found the patriarch should kill him. The patriarch remained in his cell until the governor's death.

Services

During the term of office of Abba Agatho, the construction of the St. Makarius Church in his monastery in the Sketian desert was completed.

Commemoration

His feast day in the Coptic Church is the day of his death, October 26th (Baba 16 according to the Coptic calendar ).

literature

  • John Mason Neale : A History of the Holy Eastern Church. The Patriarchate of Alexandria . J. Masters, 1847, pp. 75-78.

Individual evidence

  1. Baba 16 in the Synaxarion of the Coptic Church, accessed January 30, 2016.
predecessor Office successor
Benjamin I. Coptic Pope
654–673
Yoannis III