Synaxarium

On this day in the year 221 A.M. (April 29, 505 A.D.), Pope Saint John the Twenty-Ninth of the Markian Patriarchs departed. This father was born in the city of Alexandria to Christian parents. From his youth, he inclined toward the monastic life, so he became a monk in the wilderness of Saint Macarius. He was chosen for the patriarchate after his predecessor Pope Athanasius. He initially hesitated, but the bishops, priests, and elders compelled him and ordained him at the beginning of the month of Babah, year 213 A.M. (September 29, 496 A.D.). When he sat on the throne, he paid great attention to teaching, preaching, and strengthening the believers in the true faith. He was the first patriarch to take monks.

At that time, the ruler over Constantinople was King Zeno the Righteous. Therefore, the patriarch's hand was strengthened in spreading the true faith throughout the Egyptian lands. This righteous king ordered the sending of supplies from the desert of Shihet, including wheat, oil, wine, and money, to renew and repair their monasteries. The days of this pope were days of calm and peace. When he completed his good work, he became ill briefly, then departed peacefully after serving on the Markian throne for eight years and seven months.

May his prayers be with us. Amen.

On this day in the year 882 A.M. (April 29, 1166 A.D.), Pope John V, the seventy-second Patriarch, departed. He was John the Monk from the Monastery of Abu Yohannes. He assumed the throne on the 2nd of Nasie in the year 863 A.M. (August 25, 1147 A.D.). He was a saintly, virtuous, and chaste man. During his days, when Al-Adil ibn Al-Sallar took office under the reign of Imam Al-Zahir, he ordered the tightening of belts and removal of the tiaras in Cairo and Egypt, but this did not last long because God quickly took vengeance on him as the governor of Egypt rose against him, killed him, and took over the ministry.

The Franks seized Ascalon and demolished the Church of Saint George in Matariya after renewing it on the ruins of the old one beside the Balsam Well. Nasr ibn Abbas rose, killed Caliph Al-Zahir, installed Al-Faiz in his place, and killed Ibn Abbas. Then Tala'i ibn Ruzzik took over, calling himself the Righteous King. He hated the Christians and ordered that their turbans be torn. During his days, prices rose, there was an epidemic among cattle, and Imam Al-Faiz died. Imam Al-Adid succeeded him. During his days, the minister Tala'i died and his son took his place. Qum rose against the latter, consulted the governor of Upper Egypt, seized the ministry, and killed his predecessor. Dirgham moved against Qum, deposed him, and took his place. Qum fled to Syria and returned with Asad al-Din Shirkuh and killed Dirgham. When Shirkuh besieged Qum in Cairo and took it, looting spread. His men plundered the people, seized the Christians of the country and the Armenian Franks, killed some, and sold others cheaply. The monk Bishnuna from the Monastery of Abu Maqar was martyred by them on 24 Bashans, 880 A.M. (1164 A.D.). They burned his body because he refused to change his faith, and his bones were preserved in the Church of Abu Serga. They demolished the Red Church (Saint Mina) in the outer Roman quarter, the Zahri Church, and several churches on the outskirts of Egypt after plundering them. Then God allowed their buildings to be renewed by Archon Abu al-Fakhr Salib ibn Michael, who was the head of the treasury of King Tala'i, the minister.

During this patriarch's days, a young Israelite named Abu al-Fakhr ibn Azhar believed in the Lord Christ. He learned Coptic reading and writing and was named George. The patriarch was imprisoned during the days of Al-Adil ibn Al-Sallar and thrown into prison because he refused to ordain a metropolitan for Ethiopia instead of its great old metropolitan known as Anba Michael Al-Atfihi, who was still alive and had been ordained by Pope Macarius. He was released two weeks after his arrest due to the death of Al-Adil. During this patriarch's days, the phrase "the vivifier" was added after "This is the body," so it became said, "This is the vivifying body which the only Son took..." This caused many debates and discussions. The patriarch departed during the days of Qum after he had ruled the throne for eighteen years, eight months, and four days.

May his prayers be with us. And to our Lord be glory forever. Amen.