Abram was born Boulos (Paul) Gabriel in 1545 A.M. (1829 AD), in the village of Gilda, district of Mallawi, in the Minya Governorate.

At the age of fifteen the village priests recommended him to Youssab (Joseph), the Bishop of the Diocese, who ordained him as a deacon.

In the long run, the monks became dissatisfied with his ways, which they considered as sheer dissipation of the fortunes of the monastery.

They complained to Anba Marcus, archbishop of Beheira and acting patriarchal deputy after the death of Demetrius II, who decided to relieve him from the headship of al-Muharraq.

The abbot of the Paromeos Monastery, at that time, was arch-priest Youhanna (John) the Scribe, who later became Pope Cyril V of Alexandria.