Who Was Pope Kyrillos?

In the bustling town of Damanhur, Egypt, around 1906, a young boy named Azer Youssef Ata grew up in a home filled with faith. Born on August 2, 1902, to Youssef and Esther, devout Coptic Christians, Azer was one of several siblings, surrounded by love but aware of others’ needs. Tradition says, as a young child, he noticed a poor Muslim family next door with little to eat. One tale says, during a pre-Lent feast, Azer’s heart stirred. “Why don’t we share this with our neighbors?” he asked, his voice bold with care. He helped carry plates of food to their doorstep, bringing joy to their faces. Tradition recalls Azer often shared bread or fruit with those in need, his generosity a spark of Christ’s love.

This kindness was a sign of the saint he’d become. Azer’s parents taught him to pray and read the Bible, and tradition says he took it further, praying quietly in his room, as if preparing for a greater calling. One tale says a beggar knocked during a family meal, and Azer gave his own portion, saying, “Jesus would want this.” Tradition says his mother, Esther, smiled, seeing her son’s selfless heart. In a land where Christians and Muslims lived side by side, Azer’s actions showed love had no limits. These early years in Damanhur planted seeds of compassion that would grow into a life of miracles, proving even a child’s kindness can echo through eternity.

Yet, Azer faced challenges. Early 20th-century Egypt had poverty and division, with Copts sometimes misunderstood. Tradition says his insistence on sharing, even when food was scarce, puzzled some relatives, but Azer stood firm, his faith unshaken. This steadfast compassion, forged in childhood, prepared him for a life of giving—not just food, but hope, prayers, and miracles as Pope Kyrillos VI.