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| Pope Cyril V |
The Coptic Orthodox Church is filled with remarkable figures who played significant roles in its development. One of these influential leaders is Pope Cyril V, whose time as a patriarch is considered a landmark in the church’s history. He served as the leader of the church for 52 years, 9 months, and 6 days, making it the longest reign in the history of Coptic patriarchs. During this time, he witnessed various social, political, and cultural changes in Egypt. He faced an ongoing struggle between tradition and modernity, and he had to manage the church amid the presence of secular individuals.
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Photographer newspaper the death of Pope Cyril V |
Pope Cyril V, born Yuḥanna in 1824 in a village called Tazmurt near Beni Suef, and He died August 7, 1927 , he began his life as a monk in 1844 at the Monastery of Baramos. He was known as Yuḥanna the Baramosi or Yuḥanna the Scribe because he was involved in copying many books. His vision for education and his support for it were key motivators in his papal work, as he recognized the importance of providing educational opportunities for the Coptic community. Under his leadership, nearly 10,000 students from diverse backgrounds, including Muslims and Jews, joined new Coptic schools in Cairo and Giza.
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| Pope Cyril V |
From 1857 to 1900, a total of 51 schools were established across Egypt, reflecting Pope Cyril V’s commitment to education as a means to uplift society. He also played a crucial role in reviving the theological school, which reopened on November 29, 1893, becoming a vital institution for training priests. Additionally, Pope Cyril V promoted the creation of Sunday schools, which aimed at teaching Christian values to children. This program flourished, starting with the cooperation of deacon Habib Girgis, and has become an important part of the church's educational framework even today.
Pope Cyril V’s contributions included the ordination of 44 bishops, some of whom later became patriarchs.
His focus on expanding education and understanding culture within the church involved creating new administrative practices that made the church more responsive to social changes.
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| Teacher Michael Girgis the Batonai |
Pope Cyril V played an essential role in preserving Coptic hymns, which are a vital part of the church's spiritual and cultural heritage. Hymns serve as a language through which the church expresses its faith and spirituality, carrying the church's history and spiritual stories. Therefore, it was crucial to maintain them for future generations. One of the key steps taken by Pope Cyril V in this regard was supporting teacher Michael Girgis the Batonai. Michael was known for his excellent memory and skill in memorizing hymns. The pope often encouraged him to learn from great masters and sometimes he would bring a teacher from the older generation and ask him to sing a specific tune while Michael was present in a hidden place (under the seat) so he could catch the tune of teach hymns accurately. Pope Cyril understood that enriching the church with outstanding teachers would inevitably lead to preserving and developing hymns. Michael's contributions included developing musical notes for hymns, a historical achievement that transitioned the old heritage from an oral tradition to a documented form. This not only helped preserve the hymns but also made them accessible to future generations.
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| The team of deacons and apostates who moved to sing the tunes. |
Moreover, Pope Cyril V established Sunday schools, which aimed not only to teach the principles of the Christian faith but also served as a platform to preserve church hymns. Students were encouraged to learn and practice hymns, increasing awareness of the importance of music in worship.
Pope Cyril V also showed great interest in the musical arts in the church by facilitating the process of documenting hymns. Supported by the pope, efforts began to record the musical notes of Coptic hymns, led by teacher Michael in collaboration with Coptic researcher Ragab Mefid. This project had a significant historical impact, as it transformed hymns from oral traditions to documented music, making it easier for new generations to learn and better understand them.
The pope was also keen on ensuring the quality of performance in the church. He monitored celebrations and encouraged hymn singers to adhere to accuracy and harmony, helping to preserve hymns in their original form.
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| Teacher Ibrahim Ayad, deacon of the St. Mark's Church |
The initiatives taken by Pope Cyril V and teacher Michael were driven by a collective goal: to preserve the Coptic identity and pass on Christian values to new generations amidst a time of great change. Their legacies left a deep impact on the hearts of the Coptic people, ensuring that their spiritual heritage would continue.
The legacy of Pope Cyril V in church music is central to everything related to Coptic heritage. His vision and support allowed church hymns to survive through time, not just as memories, but as an active and meaningful part of church life. Today, Coptic hymns still enrich worship rituals and express faith in ways that enable new generations to inherit and preserve this rich heritage.