[citation needed] As a young boy, Matthew was shepherd tending his fathers sheep.
Upon hearing of the persecution of Copts because of the actions of the Crusaders, he returned to St. Anthony's Monastery.
The Crusaders' sack of Alexandria roused the ruling prince and his men against the local Christians (including) Copts.
Escorted to Alexandria, he was consecrated as Pope, and gave himself the title El Meskin ("The Poor").
Through his cordial relation with Sultan Barquq, he was able to stop the mob from burning Al-Muallaqa church and the Shahran monastery, because the Muslims were claiming that new constructions were taking place in those two locations.