[1] The patriarchal biography of Michael III comes from the writings of Michael of Damrū (Mīkhāʾil al-Damrāwī), bishop of Tinnis, in History of the Patriarchs of Alexandria.
The deposed and vengeful bishop then convinced ibn Tulun that the patriarch had vast wealth, and so ibn Tulun imprisoned Pope Michael for one year.
The Coptic lay notables eventually negotiated for his release as paying 20,000 dinars in two installments.
Michael of Damrū notes that the patriarch raised funds after his release from prison to pay the debt to ibn Tulun and also built a private latrine for himself in prison, at the cost of 300 dinars.
[4] This building was at one time believed to have later become the site of the Cairo Geniza.