St. Mina and St. Abanoub Coptic Orthodox Church

His Holiness was born on 4 November 1952 in the City of Mansoura. He graduated from the Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Alexandria in 1975 and worked as a manager at a pharmaceutical factory in Damanhur. He received the fellowship in world health from England in 1985.

In the same year he received a bachelor degree in theology from the Theological College in Alexandria. He joined St. Bishoy’ monastery in 1986 where he was tonsured a monk in 1988 with the name Theodor El-Anba Bishoy. He was ordained a priest in 1989 where he served in Damanhour from 1990 - 1997 with His Eminence Metropolitan Bakhomious of Al-Beheira. On 15 June 1997 he was ordained General Bishop and was assigned to serve as an Assistant Bishop to His Eminence Metropolitan Bakhomious.

It is noteworthy that His Holiness and His Grace Bishop Suriel of Melbourne were ordained general bishops together on the same date; also His Grace Bishop Suriel was one of the six bishops who nominated His Holiness for the papal elections. His Holiness is an author of 12 books on Christian Theology. On 4 November 2012 the Grace of God chose His Holiness through the Altar Ballot to be the 118th Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark. This date coincided with His Holiness’ 60th birthday. His Holiness was enthroned on 18 November 2012.