Pope John VIII was a contemporary of Saint Parsoma , and presided over his funeral . He was the last to reside in the church of Saint Mercurius Church in Coptic Cairo . He was the first to relocate the patriarchal throne to the Church of the Virgin Mary ( Haret Zuweila ) . He was residing there in the year 1303 AD . when a severe earthquake caused great destruction in Syria and Egypt . Ebn Kabre indicated that Pope John VIII had made some changes in the Liturgy . He died on 4 Paoni 1036 A.M. ( 29 May 1320 AD ) after 20 years , 3 months , and 15 days on the Patriarchal Throne
severe earthquake
1303 Crete earthquake
Pope John VIII of Alexandria