Pope Gabriel VIII of Alexandria was the 97th
Coptic Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark (
June 20, 1587 –
May 14, 1603).
The seat of the Pope during his papacey remained in the
Church of the Virigin Mary (Haret Zuweila) in
Cairo.
He was originally from
Meer and his lay name was
Shenouda. He became monk in the
Monastery of Saint Pishoy in
Scetes. He was ordained on Sunday, 16
Paoni, 1303 A.M. (
June 20, 1587 A.D.). The enthronement celebration was headed by Avva Zacharias, Bishop of
Jerusalem, and Avva Kyrellos El-Khiami, in the church of
Saint Mercurius in
Old Cairo. At the time of his ordination, the
Copts were divided, and they chose for themselves four different patriarchs. His papacy was later confirmed. He was contemporary of the
Ottoman Sultan Ahmed I.
During his Papacy, Gabriel VIII decreed that the
Fast of the Apostles must start on the 21
Paoni and end on 5
Epip, and that
Advent must start on the first of
Koiak. He also cancelled the
Fast of Jonah, and left the
Fast of the Dormition of the Virgin Mary optional. All the
Copts at that time approved of these decisions, but reverted to the old tradition of fasting after his departure.
Gabriel VIII departed on
9 Pashons, 1319 A.M. (
May 14, 1603 A.D.) in the
Syrian Monastery. He occupied the Throne of
Saint Mark for 15 years, 10 month, and 24 days.
Gabriel VIII of Alexandria 
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