Pope John I (II) of Alexandria was the 29th Patriarch of the See of St. Mark, serving as the head of the Coptic Orthodox Church. Born in Alexandria to Christian parents around 450, he lived as a monk at the Monastery of Saint Macarius before his election. As the first desert monk to ascend to the papacy, he led the church for eight years and seven months. His reign, which began with his consecration in 496, was defined by his theological stance and efforts to maintain ecclesiastical stability.