# Barsanuphians

Source: https://coptic-lore-forge.lovable.app/wiki/barsanuphians — Coptic Orthodox Wiki (updated 2026-10-02)

The Barsanuphians were an Alexandrian group associated with the Acephaloi, separated from patriarchal communion in the late fifth century and reconciled with the Coptic Church under Mark II.[^1][^6]

## Origins and name

The Barsanuphians were an Alexandrian group belonging to the Acephaloi, meaning “headless,” who were Monophysites who had rejected communion with their patriarch. They separated from the Jacobites during the latter part of the fifth century, under Emperor Zeno.[^1]

The group took its name from a Barsanuphius who was a claimant to episcopal rank, not from Saint Barsanuphius the anchorite.[^2] Their separation was connected with opposition to Peter III Mongus (480–488), who accepted Zeno’s Henotikon of 482, and they refused to recognize subsequent patriarchs.[^3]

## Relations with the Coptic patriarchate

Patriarch Agathon of Alexandria (661–677) attempted to establish communication with the Barsanuphians and the Gaianites as part of his efforts toward ecclesiastical reconciliation.[^4] During the patriarchate of Alexander II (705–730), John of Sa brought the Barsanuphians at al-Muna into communion with the church.[^5]

A separate account concerning Rashid reports that Bishop John of Sa successfully opposed at least one of these two groups there during Alexander II’s patriarchate. The source explicitly notes that it is unclear whether the group active in Rashid was the Barsanuphians or the Gaianites.[^7]

## Reconciliation under Mark II

Their collective return to church communion took place at the beginning of the ninth century. Patriarch Mark II baptized their leaders, George and his son Abraham, at the Church of the Martyr Saint Menas at Maryut, after which the remaining Barsanuphians followed them into communion.[^6]

The article on Mark II gives a different detail: it states that George and Abraham were ordained bishops by Mark and that their followers then returned to the church. Both accounts describe reconciliation under Mark, but one emphasizes baptism and the other episcopal ordination; the supplied passages do not explain the relationship between these events.[^3][^6]

## Sources
[^1]: The Coptic Encyclopedia, Volume 2, Aziz S. Atiya (Editor in Chief) (p. 76)
[^2]: The Coptic Encyclopedia, Volume 2, Aziz S. Atiya (Editor in Chief) (p. 76)
[^3]: The Coptic Encyclopedia, Volume 5, Aziz S. Atiya (Editor in Chief) (p. 451)
[^4]: The Coptic Encyclopedia, Volume 1, Aziz S. Atiya (Editor in Chief) (p. 169)
[^5]: The Coptic Encyclopedia, Volume 2, Aziz S. Atiya (Editor in Chief) (p. 76)
[^6]: The Coptic Encyclopedia, Volume 2, Aziz S. Atiya (Editor in Chief) (p. 76)
[^7]: The Coptic Encyclopedia, Volume 7, Aziz S. Atiya (Editor in Chief) (p. 47)