Pope Mark VII of Alexandria (Abba Marcos VII), 106th Pope of Alexandria & Patriarch of the See of St. Mark. Pope Mark VII was born in the city of Klosna, in the district of El Bahnasa, and his lay name was Simeon. He joined the Monastery of Saint Anthony at a young age, then moved to the Monastery of Saint Paul the Anchorite, where he became a monk and was ordained a priest. When Pope John XVII departed, he was chosen to succeed him. Pope Mark VII was ordained Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria on Sunday, 24 Pashons, 1461 A.M. (30 May 1745 AD) on the day of the feast of the entry of Christ to Egypt. Pope Mark VII was contemporary of the Ottoman Sultans Mahmud I, Osman III, and Mustafa III. He ordained a general bishop over Upper Egypt to shepherd its Christians. He also ordained HG John (Yoannis) the 14th as the 104th Metropolitan of Ethiopia. Pope Mark VII occupied the Throne of Saint Mark for 23 years, 11 months, and 18 days. He departed on 12 Pashons 1485 A.M. (18 May 1769 AD), while he was residing in a monastery in Maadi. He was buried in the tombs of the Patriarchs at Saint Mercurius Church in Coptic Cairo. The Papal Throne was vacant after his departure for 5 months and 5 days. Sources Coptic Synexarion Mark VII of Alexandria 1769 deaths Year of birth unknown