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THE PATRIARCHAL SEES
THE PATRIARCHAL SEE OF ANTIOCH - DAMASCUS
www.pgc-lb.org
History:
Antioch,
Theoupolisor ?The City of God?, was inaugurated by Seleucus I on 22nd
May 300 B.C. He proclaimed it the capital of Greek Syria and named it
Antioch in memory of his father Antiochus. Under the Seleucids, Antioch
attained its greatest prosperity. The Roman Governor-General of Syria
resided there, depending directly from the Emperor. Antioch was the
third greatest city of the Roman Empire, coming after Rome and
Alexandria, and was the capital of the ?diocese? of the East.
St
Peter founded his see there in the year 36, and up to the early 5th
century, the Patriarchate of Antioch had 153 bishops under its
jurisdiction.
With
the taking of Antioch by the Crusaders in 1098, the Melkite Patriarch
John IV had to leave. From then on, the patriarchs of Antioch resided
in Constantinople until 1268, date of the capture of Antioch by the
Mamluk Sultan Baybars I.
Having
been destroyed by Baybars in 1268, Antioch was replaced by the city of
Damascus as patriarchal seat, probably under Patriarch Pachomius
between 1375 and 1386.
H.B.
Maximos V Hakim is the 171st Patriarch of Antioch since St Peter, and
the 20th since the setting up the Greek-Melkite Hierarchy in 1724.
List of the Patriarchal Vicars:
After
being shouldered with responsibility for the three patriarchates of
Antioch, Alexander and Jerusalem in 1838, Patriarch Maximos III Mazloum
assured himself the assistance of a Vicar-General in each one of them.
Those of Damascus were generally bishops. Here is the list of them to
date:
1847-1851 Meletius Fendeh
1852-1881 Macarius Haddad
? - ? Joannitius Massamiri
1882-1895 Paul Messadieh
1895-1898 Nicolas Kadi
1898-1899 Pere Raphael Abi Mourad
1899-1901 Pere Basile Amara
Pere Kyrill Kfoury
1901 -1908 Ignatius Homsi
1908-1909 Nicolas Kadi (second term)
1909-1919 Pere Dimitri Soukkarieh
1920 Pere Nicolas Dahhan
1920-1928 Nicolas Kadi (third term)
1928-1947 Anthony Faraj
1947-1953 Archim. John Shiniara
1953-1960 Anthony Faraj (second term)
1960-1970 Joseph Tawil
1970-1971 Paul Ashkar
1971-1973 Butros Ra'i
1973-1978 Elias Najmeh
1978- Francis Abu Mokh
Short biographical notice concerning the present Vicar:
Abp
Francis Abu Mokh was born at Maaloula near Damascus in 1923. He pursued
his secondary and higher studies at the Monastery of the Holy Saviour
at Joun, Lebanon, and was ordained in 1946. From 1949 he was running
the Patriarchal College in Damascus and then studied canon law in Rome
1952 to 1955. He was then named Superior of the College at Damascus in
1956 and held this post until 1967.
In
1969 he returned to St Saviour's at Joun as Superior of the senior
seminary of his order. In 1972 he became its Procurator-General in Rome
and at the same time Patriarchal Procurator to the Holy See, as well as
Head of the Islamic Bureau at the Secretariate for non-Christians and
Secretary of the Pontifical Commission for Relations with Islam.
Abp
Abu Mokh was consecrated Titular Bishop of Palmyra on 17th March 1978
by H.B. Maximos V, with the assistance of Archbishops Saba Youakim and
Nicholas Hajj.
Address of the Patriarchate of Damascus: P.O. Box 22249, Damascus,
Telephone: Switchboard 433129 -
Patriarchal wing 433131 ?
Patriarchal Vicar 433344.
Organization of The Patriarchal Diocese of Damascus:
The
present buildings of the PATRIARCHATE OF DAMASCUS, next to the
cathedral, date from 1864, and replace the ones put up in 1838 and
destroyed during the massacres of 1860. In 1984, while the old ground
floor was conserved, the upper floor was replaced by a modern and
practical structure, with a special wing for the Patriarch, another for
the Patriarchal Vicar and a dozen modern rooms for the priests and for
guests. The premises are in the Bab Sharki quarter, at the eastern end
of the Via Recta or ?Street Called Straight? mentioned in the Acts of
the Apostles.
The
CATHEDRAL OF DAMASCUS, also renovated in 1864, is one of the most
beautiful monuments of the city. Having also a spacious paved
courtyard, the Cathedral is over 56 metres long if one includes the
arcades and gynaeceum or women's gallery, otherwise 46 metres long and
20 metres wide, with high stone vaulting. The superb ikonostasis is in
white marble, finely worked by the Greek-Catholic craftsmen of
Damascus. The ikons were imported from Russia. The royal doors are of
chased copper with silver rays. The Cathedral seats 800, with room for
as many standing.
The
DIOCESAN COUNCIL, presided by the Patriarch, is made up of Abp Francis
Abu Mokh, Exarch Gabriel Maalouf, Archimandrites Michael Rezk, Michael
Hallaq and Khalil Khanashet and Fathers Michael Butros and Anthony
Glayel.
THE CHURCH COURTS:
Lower
Court: Fr. Michael Butros, Presiding Judge; Fathers Khalil Kanashet and
Peter Khodari, Assessors; Fr. Anthony Glayel, Defender of the Bond, and
Fr. Michael Hallaq, Clerk of the Court.
Appeal
Court: Mgr Anthony Ein, presiding judge; Fathers Michael Rezk and Elias
Baladi, Assessors; Fr. Anthony Glayel, Defender of the Bond; and Fr.
Michael Hallaq, Clerk of the Court.
High Court of Appeal: membership by nomination of the Patriarch, case by case.
THE MAJLES MILLI or HIGHER COUNCIL:
This
is presided over by the Patriarch or by his Vicar General and is made
up of thirty persons: Mr Adel Batal - Naji Shawi - Paul Shiniara - John
Shaccour - Michael Sioufi - Sami Wardeh - Albert Masri - Mitri Hajjar
-Andrew Fallah - Atef Samman - Joseph Nasrallah - Riad Maatouk - Emile
Anini - Ibrahim Abu Hamad - Albert Sayegh - Anthony Diab - Joseph Diab
-George Farah - Khalil Sara - Emile Shahine - George Bdawi - John
Arwashan - Marwan Anhouri - Najib Haddad - Joseph Akzam - Anthony
Shalhoub - Baha Dabbous - John Siage - Ghassan Shahine - Ammar Shalash.
The executive committee is composed of the first ten members on the list, with Fr. Michael Rezk as ecclesiastical counsellor.
THE PARISHES AND THEIR PRIESTS :
CITY OF DAMASCUS:
Bab Sharki Cathedral: Our Lady Archim. Elias Sargi
of the Dormition, Fr. Elias Baladi
Tel. 433129 Fr. Anthony Glayel
Kassaa St Cyril Fr.Michael Butros S.B.
Tel. 448552 Fr. Fayez Freijate S.B.
Fr. Abdallah Hamidieh S.B.
Koussour Our Lady of Damascus Exarch Gabriel Malouf
Tel. 445242 Archim. Michael Hallaq
450999 Fr. Elias Zehlawi
Midan St George Fr. Nicholas Sowub S.B.
Tel. 210710
Salhieh St John Damascene Fr. Mitri Hajji Athanasiou
Tel. 337631
Tabbaleh St Joseph Fr. Abdel Massih Shehayed
Tel. 431223
Jaramana St George Fr. Ibrahim Mousleh
Tel. 433129
DAMASCUS REGION :
Sednaya St Sophia Archim. Khalil Khanashet
Tel. 722382
Maarra St Elias Fr. Elias Nacouz
Tel. 751300 Fr. Alam Alam
Barzeh St Abraham Archim. Paul Shiniara
Tel. 434128
Harasta Our Lady of Peace Fr. Peter Khodary
Tel. 433129
Maarouneh St John the Baptist Fr. Moussa Salem
Tel. 742100
Maalula St George Fr. Michael Tabra
Tel. 0192-27009
Daraya St Paul Fr. Khalil Laham
Tel. 814343/37
Jdeidet Artouz St Geroge Fr. Sherif Farah
Tel. 662003/344
Hine- St Elias Fr. Ibrahim Mousleh
Ain esh Shara Tel. 442052
Zabadani St Elias Fr. Jiries Shehayed
Bloudan Dormition
OTHER CLERGY:
Fr. Elias Hayek (M.S.P.) : Director of the Junior Semirary - Tel. 433130
Fr. Paul Fadel (M.S.P.) : Assitant for the Junior Seminary
Fr. Rizkallah Siman (M.S.P.) : Assistant for the Junior Seminary
Fr. Fuad Sayegh : Director of St Anne's Senior Seminary,
Rabweh, Lebanon.
Fr. Jihad Jalhoum : Temporary Parish Priest in Brussels,
Belgium. Fr. Michael el Kaed : retired.
SEMINARISTS:
- 17 at the Junior Seminary of Damascus.
- 6 at St Anne's Senior Seminary of Rabweh.
Religious Communities serving the Patriarchal Diocese:
- Salvatorian Basilian Fathers:
* Parochial work (marked S.B. in above list).
* Library of the Patriarchate.
- Missionary Fathers of St. Paul
* Junior Seminary of Damascus.
- Aleppine Basilian Sisters:
* Catechism and parish work at Our Lady of Damascus at Koussour.
- Sisters of Our Lady of Perpetual Succour:
* Old people's home at Damascus.
* Catechism and parish work at St. Cyril's, Kassaa.
* Catechism and parish work at St. Sophia's, Sednaya, and in Maarra
- Sisters of Charity of Besan?on:
* Patriarchal School of Damascus.
* Catechetical and social centre, St. Joseph's, Tabbaleh.
* Welfare workshop.
- Sisters of Our Lady of Good Service:
* Auxiliaries at the Junior Seminary of Damascus.
- Sisters of Jesus and Mary:
* In charge of the Centre for university girl students in the restored wing of the Patriarchate at Damascus.
- Sisters of the Good Shepherd: Young girl's reception centre.
- The little Sisters of Jesus:
* House of prayer.
Non-Melkite-Greek Catholic Communities working in the Diocese:
- Sisters of Charity.
- Franciscan Missionary Sisters of Mary.
Diocesan Activities:
- Parochial:
* Sunday bulletin
* Choirs
* Marian Congregations, teams of Our Lady, Scouts, Legion of Mary
* Parochial centres in increasing numbers, together with Youth Clubs
- General Catechetical:
* LA FLAMME, reaching into the countryside from Damascus, with a membership of priests, nuns and numerous laity.
- Social works:
* SOCIETY OF St. PAUL to ensure respect for the departed, especially the poor.
* WELFARE ASSOCIATION and several sections of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul.
*
St. PAUL'S ORPHANAGE, founded in 1952 and run by tthe Aleppine Basilian
Sisters, at present in the charge of Sister Monica Djandji, helped by
Sister Miriam. The financial side is looked after by a lay committee at
present chaired by Mr. Emil Shawi, who replaced the late Michael Zayat
in 1985.
Near the Orphanage is a 15 -room home for the elderly.
The
Orphanage is situated near the place where St. Paul was lowered over
the city wall in a basket, the wall being perfectly conserved here.
Address: Bab Sharki. Tel. 433405.
* CENTRE FOR YOUNG UNIVERSITY GIRLS, built in 1984 near the reconstructed Patriarchate.
Run
by the Sisters of Jesus and Mary, this centre can receive some fifty
young ladies in modern and spacious rooms with all necessary
conveniences.
For
material matters, the Sisters are helped by a lay committee made up of
Mrs. Hind Batal, Mrs. Mimi Gennawi and Mr. Michael Sioufi.
Ain
Traz, founded in 1811 by Patriarch Agapios III Matar, was originally
meant to be a Melkite-Greek Catholic seminary, and such it in fact was
during the calmer periods of the nineteenth century. After having been
looted by the Druze in 1841 and in 1845, it was re-opened in 1870.
After
the foundation of the Seminary of St. Anne at Jerusalem, Ain Traz was
no longer of any use as a seminary for the community. Nevertheless,
between that event and the 1940's, several attempts were made to keep
it open, particularly for late vocations and for married men preparing
for the priesthood.
Up
till 1981, Ain Traz was the ideal summer residence for the Patriarch,
with its climate and surrounding countryside, library and progressive
adaptation of the property for the holding of the Synods, which from
1948 under Maximos IV became yearly events. The great artisan of Ain
Traz in this latter role was Abp N. Hajj, Patriarchal Auxiliary and
Superior of Ain Traz.
But
alas! in 1982 the residence of Ain Traz found itself once again in the
heart of fighting and in 1983 came catastrophe, with looting and
destruction by fire and the impossibility of reaching the place, as
well as the probable loss of the library and archives of the
Patriarchate, a precious treasure so carefully arranged by the late Abp
Peter Kamel Medawar.
RESIDENCE OF RABWEH, Amelias - Metn- LEBANON
Today
the Patriarchal Residence, completed in 1977 at Rabweh ,replaces Ain
Traz in Lebanon. Synods, reunions and congresses are held there, when
circumstances permit.
Further,
the Patriarchate has set aside a big plot of land near the Residence
for the construction of seven apartment blocks for young couples of
limited means and the complex is now almost finished; very soon, the
young owners, to whom every possible facility is extended, will be able
to move in.
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PATRIARCHAL SEE OF ALEXANDRIA - CAIRO,
ALEXANDRIA AND SUDAN
History:
The
Diocese, which covers Egypt and the Sudan, has only about 9,000
Melkite-Greek Catholic faithful, out of a total of 69 million
inhabitants (49 million inhabitants for Egypt and 20 million for the
Sudan).
Tradition
gives St Mark the Evangelist as first Bishop of Alexandria, while of
his successors Saints Athanasius and Cyril were the most illustrious.
The first played a leading role at Nicaea in 325 A.D., or more exactly
in the defence of the doctrine of the Council of Nicaea; the second was
the leading light at the Council of Ephesus in 431.
With
effect from 1772, as Oriental/urn Dignitas reminds us, the Patriarch of
Antioch became the ?Administrator of Alexandria)) for the Melkites. It
was when H.B. Maximos III Mazloum was recognized as Patriarch of
Antioch and of all the East, of Alexandria and of Jerusalem, that there
began the autonomous existence of the Melkite-Greek Catholic
Patriarchate of Alexandria, in 1838.
Its
past was glorious enough. But the number of its faithful, which in 1940
still stood at 35.000, is now much reduced as a result of the
instability of the Middle East as a whole.
Patriarchal Vicars since the Mandate of H.B. Maximos III Mazloum:
1835-1836 Thomas Qoyoumgi, Salvatorian Basilian priest
1837-1859 Basil Kfoury
1865-1866 Ambrosios
1867- ? Joannitius Massamiri n.b. During the intervals which are
1879-1902 Athanasios Nasser indicated, it must be understood that
1903-1919 Macanos Saba there was no Patriarchal
1920-1921 Stephen Sukkanyeh vicar properly speaking,
1922-1928 Anthony Faraj but one or other of our
1932-1954 Dionysios Kfoury diocesan Hierarchs was
1954-1968 Elias Zoghby responsible for the See of Alexandria.
1968- Paul Antaki
Short Biographical Notice about the Present Patriarchal Vicar:
Abp
Paul Antaki was born in Cairo in 1927. After passing both the French
and Egyptian baccalaureates, he did his theological studies at St
Anne's Seminary, Jerusalem, between 1945 and 1951. He was ordained
priest on 2nd July 1950 and was parish priest at Alexandria from 1951
to 1954, then Superior of the Patriarchal College of Cairo from 1954 to
1957, secretary to the Patriarchate of Alexandria from 1957 to 1960 and
Patriarchal Vicar at Alexandria from 1960 to 1966.
In
1966 he was appointed Superior of the Junior Seminary of Rayak, a post
which he occupied until his episcopal consecration, which took place in
the cathedral of Beirut, performed by H.B. Maximos V assisted by the
Archbishops Zoghby and Tawil on 1st December 1968.
Address of the Patriarchate: 16 Daher Street, Cairo, Egypt-
Telephone: 903790.
Organization of the Diocese:
DIOCESAN COUNCIL:
Members: S.E. Paul Antaki, Exarch John Nashaty, Archimandrite Xavier
Eid, Archimandrite Ignatius Sarkis, Archimandrite Joseph
Sukkariyeh, Iconomos George Bakar.
OFFICIAL OF THE TRIBUNAL: Archimandrite Edward Shedoudi.
THE PARISHES AND THEIR PRIESTS:
CAIRO:
Faggalah Cathedral of the Resurrection Archim. Ed. Shedoudi
Radwaniyeh St George Archim. P. Geadah
Shoubra Annunciation Fr. A. Sharki
Heliopolis St Cyril Exarch I. Sarkis
Heliopolis Immaculate Conception Fr. A. Ghali
Zeitoun St Joseph Icon .J. Zerei
Garden City St Mary of Peace Archim. X. E'id
Fr. G. Khalil
ALEXANDRIA: Cathedral of the Dormition
(Sao Pedro or Church of Debbaneh) Fr. P. Haddad
Ibrahimiyeh The Immaculate Archim. J. Sukkarieh
Fleming St Joseph Fr. J. Gh. Farhat
MANSOURA Dormition Fr. J. Saidah
TANTA Annunciation Fr. J. Saidah
PORT SAID St.Elias Archim. P. Geadah
Priests with Other Charges:
Exarch
John Nashaty, in retirement after a life of great service. Iconomos
George Bakar, Superior of the Patriarchal College in Cairo. Iconomos
Julius Zeret, Superior of the Patriarchal College of Heliopolis
(Formely the Brothers').
Fr. Constantine Belisarius, teaching at the Patriarchal College of Heliopolis.
Fr. Anthony Sayegh, retired.
Activities and Apostolate:
- Schools: 5 in Cairo and 1 in Alexandria.
* Patriarchal College, Cairo, Infants, Primary, Preparatory, Secondary.
* Patriarchal College, Heliopolis, Infants, Primary, Preparatory,
* Youssufia School, Faggala, Infants, Primary, Preparatory.
* Mixed Patriarchal School, Heliopolis, Infants, Primary.
* School of the Perpetual Succour, Infants, Primary, Preparatory, Secondary (Sisters of Perpetual Succour).
* Greek Catholic School, Alexandria, Infants, Primary.
- Charitable Works:
* Charity of Cairo.
* Charity of Alexandria.
* Charity of Mansoura.
* Holiday Centre at Basel Bar, permanent building.
* Society of St Vincent de Paul, named Society of St. John Chrysostom, Cairo 6 branches, Alexandria 2 branches.
* The Greek Catholic Dispensary of Cairo has become the Dar es-Shifa Dispensary, where 15,000 cases were treated in 1984.
*
The Good Shepherd Home at Shoubra. Throughout 1985 progress was made
with fitting up this home for the elderly, which as from September 1986
will be able to receive a hundred boarders. It is to be noted that for
its part the Dar es-Shifa Dispensary has prepared Evergreen, also a
home for the elderly, a little over 20 miles from Cairo.
- Ecumenical Activities:
*
The Religious Brotherhood (Muslims and Christians working to create a
spirit of understanding) generally meets in our church of St Mary of
Peace, and several members of our community take part.
- Teaching:
* Classes to prepare for First Communion in all parishes.
* Bulletin of the Greek Catholic Community appearing thrice yearly in Alexandria.
- Liturgy:
* Choirs in 6 parishes in Cairo and 2 in Alexandria.
- Confraternities and Charities:
* Congregation of Ladies at Cairo Cathedral, at the Immaculate at Heliopolis and at the cathedral of Alexandria.
* Parish Centres in all parishes except Fleming, Tanta, Mansoura, Port Said and Khartoum.
*
St Vincent de Paul Conferences at Cairo Cathedral, St Mary of Peace, St
Cyril, the Immaculate of Heliopolis and the cathedral of Alexandria.
*
Youth Clubs in all the parishes of Cairo, at Alexandria Cathedral and
of late at the parish of the Immaculate at Ibrahimiyeh, Alexandria.
SUDAN
- The Patriarchal Vicariate of the Sudan has been in existence for nearly 100 years and has eight churches and chapels.
* The Church of the Annunciation, Khartoum, still in use.
*
The Church of St John the Apostle at Haifa, now submerged under the
waters of the Nile since the construction of the Asswan Dam.
* The Church of St Michael at El Obbayed, at present used by the Latins.
* The Church of Our Lady of the Dormition at Wad Midani, at present rented by the Latins.
* The Church of St George at Oum Dourman at present closed and out of use.
Three chapels at Nouhoud, Fasher and Atbara have been ceded to the Latins.
-
Now there is one church in use, that of Khartoum, with a parish priest
resident there since Easter 1986. Formerly, priests came in turn from
Egypt and Aleppo to serve the parish. The Greek Catholic parishioners
of Sudan have been regrouped at Khartoum and Syrian Catholics and
Chaldeans also belong to our parish. At Khartoum there are nearly 200
Greek Catholic families, and 50 Syrian and 2 Chaldean families. Outside
Khartoum there are another 15 families at Obayed and still another 15
scattered here and there across the Sudan.
-
Projects under consideration are the enlarging of the church in
Khartoum and the construction of a building to provide revenue at Oum
Dourman, both of which have been awaiting a priest in residence in
order for them to be put into effect
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PATRIARCHAL SEE OF JERUSALEM
History:
Jerusalem,
the Holy City, ?Mother of the Churches?, had St James the Less as first
Bishop. Among his famous successors were St Cyril of Jerusalem and St
Sophronios.
In
1772, the Patriarch of Antioch became Administrator for the Melkites of
Jerusalem, and since 1838 H.B. Maximos III Mazloum and his successors
have borne the title of Patriarch of Jerusalem as well as of Antioch
and all the East and of Alexandria.
Patriarchal Vicars since 1838 (not all of whom have been bishops).
1838-1846 Meletios Fendeh
1846- ? Elias Cattan, secular priest
?
1860-1866 Ambrose Abdo
?
1875-1876 Ambrose Abdo (second term)
1877-1880 Joseph Khawam, Salvatorian Basilian Priest
1880-1886 Ignatius Moaccad, Salvatorian Basilian priest
1886 Ruphael Zulhof, Salva |
