March 9, 2026 Amshir 30, 1742

Saint Pope Kyrillos VI (1902–1971) was the 116th Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of Saint Mark, serving from 1959 to 1971. Known as a “silent patriarch” and a modern-day saint, he was renowned for his intense asceticism, unceasing prayer, and the performance of numerous miracles. His papacy marked a significant spiritual revival within the Coptic Orthodox Church, including the expansion of church-building inside and outside of Egypt.

Early Life and Background
Birth: Born Azer Atta on August 2, 1902, in Damanhour, Egypt, to a pious middle-class family.
Piety: As a child, he showed great love for the church, spending time in prayer and reading the Bible.
Pre-Monastic Life: After high school, he worked for a shipping company in Alexandria but left his career to pursue a monastic life against his family’s wishes.

Monastic Life (1927–1959)
Monkhood: Entered the Monastery of El-Baramous on July 27, 1927, and was ordained a monk on February 25, 1928, taking the name Mina.
Asceticism: He lived a life of extreme asceticism, often surviving on minimal food and water during Lent.
Solitude: He desired a life of solitude and lived in a cave near the monastery, later moving to a deserted windmill in Old Cairo, where he prayed, studied, and held daily liturgies.
Service: He built a church for St. Mina in Cairo and established a dormitory for students, many of whom later became Church leaders.

Papacy (1959–1971)
Election: Ordained Pope on May 10, 1959.
Spiritual Legacy: He was known for holding daily masses and making himself accessible to all, often spending hours blessing visitors.
Key Achievements:
Monastery of St. Mina: Established the new monastery of St. Mina in Mariout.
Cathedral Construction: Built the new St. Mark’s Cathedral at Anba Rouis.
Relics of St. Mark: Successfully restored the relics of St. Mark the Evangelist from Italy in 1968.
International Expansion: Established the first Coptic Orthodox churches in Asia, Canada, Australia, and America.
Zeitoun Apparitions: The famous apparitions of the Virgin Mary in Zeitoun occurred during his papacy.

Death and Canonization
Departure: Passed away on March 9, 1971.
Burial: Initially buried under the altar of the cathedral, his body was later moved to the Monastery of St. Mina in Mariout in 1972, according to his will.
Canonization: Recognized as a saint by the Holy Synod of the Coptic Orthodox Church on June 20, 2013.