Pope Cyril IV of Alexandria
Kirellos IV or Kyrillos IV (* 1816, † 1861) was the 110th Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the chair of St. Mark ( Coptic Church ).
He is best known as the founder of the Coptic Reformation. He built many modern schools. The first was the Coptic College in the vicinity of the cathedral, which was one of the first modern Egyptian schools. Here was Arabic, taught English, French, Turkish and Italian. He attended classes frequently and participated in the discussions. Many foreign friends visited the College, and their suggestions were often put into practice. He built the first Egyptian school for girls and the Coptic trade school. His school has been copied brisk, thereby soon were all over Egypt Coptic schools where the students were taught in foreign, but also in their own religions. He imported the second Egyptian press, the first was owned by the government. He took the printing press at the station in Cairo on its own in the company of priests and deacons in receiving. All wore ecclesiastical robes and attested by the printed word, an extraordinary honor. He did a lot for the reformation of monastic life, of canon law and of family life. He caused, for example, that the bride and groom confession before marriage and had an oath. Because of the many reforms he brought about, he is known as the father of Reform ( Abû al - Islah ).
In its relations with other churches he revealed a pioneering spirit in ecumenism. He created such a far-reaching genuine and mutual understanding with the Greek and Russian church, that the contemporary Greek patriarch, the Greek Orthodox Church had during his long absence in his care. Both pulled off for a communal life and a set-up for a while in the St. Anthony's Monastery back.