Pope Cyril VI was born in Damanhour, Egypt, into a Coptic Orthodox family. He resigned a civil service position to become a monk in July 1927. He passed his probationary period and, on 24 February 1928, took his monastic vows at the Paromeos (Roman) Monastery and assumed the name of Father Mina el-Baramosy (Mina of the Roman Monastery). In 1947, Father Mina built the Church of Saint Menas in Cairo and used to pray in the Church of the Holy Virgin (Babylon El-Darag) before assuming papacy.