Pope Cyril VI was born in Damanhour, Egypt, into a Christian family. He resigned a civil service position to become a monk in July 1927. He passed his probationary period and, on February 24, 1928, took his monastic vows and assumed the name Fr. Mina El-Baramosy. The spiritual mentor of Fr. Mina El-Baramosy the recluse was St. Isaac of Syria, Bishop of Ninevah and 7th century ascetic. Fr. Mina was very much influenced by St. Isaac's writings and wrote extensively about them. In 1947, Fr. Mina built the Church of Saint Mina the Martyr in Cairo.