Cairo: The Coptic Orthodox Church announced the death of Bishop Pachomius, Archbishop of the Coptic Orthodox Church, Patriarchal Vicar, Metropolitan of Beheira, Matrouh, and the Western Pentapolis, and Abbot of the Monastery of Saint Macarius of Alexandria in Mount Qalaali.

According to State Information Service Egypt, Bishop Pachomius died after a life full of giving to the Church and the nation, at the age of nearly 90. He served the Church for more than 70 years as a servant, consecrated deacon, monk, bishop, and metropolitan, including approximately 54 years in the episcopal ministry.

The venerable father was born on December 17, 1935, and became a monk at the Syrian Monastery in Wadi El Natrun, under the name of Monk Antonios the Syrian, on November 11, 1962. He was ordained a bishop on December 12, 1971, along with the late Anba Youannis, former Bishop of Gharbia. These were the first ordinations of Pope Shenouda III, less than a month after his enthronement on the throne of St. Mark the Apostle.

He was consecrated a bishop on September 2, 1990. For eight months (from March 22 to November 18, 2012), he assumed the responsibility of leading the Coptic Orthodox Church after being selected as the Patriarch’s deputy. He managed this period with wisdom and competence, earning the acclaim of all those who followed him both inside and outside Egypt.

He nurtured generations of ministers, many of whom became priests, monks, and bishops, most notably His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, may God prolong his life.