He was initially a monk at the Monastery of Saint Macarius the Great in Scetes.
He later went to a place near Singar, where he lived in a cave for more than 20 years.
On 12 Paopi, 809 A.M. (9 October 1092 AD), he was ordained Pope of Alexandria.
[1] The Arabic historian al-Makin is quoted by later historians as recounting that Pope Michael IV made a journey to Ethiopia to ask that country's Emperor to allow the Nile to flood to its normal levels, which would end the current famine.
[2] Michael IV departed on 30 Pashons, 818 A.M. (25 May 1102 AD) He remained on the Throne of Saint Mark for 9 years, 7 months, and 17 days.