Melkite Greek Catholic Archeparchy of Alexandria
| Patriarchal Archeparchy of Alexandria (Melkite Greek) Archeparchy Alexandrina Melchitarum | |
|---|---|
| Location | |
| Country | Egypt, Sudan and South Sudan |
| Ecclesiastical province | Patriarchate of Antioch |
| Statistics | |
| Population - Catholics |
(as of 2012) 6,200 |
| Parishes | 13 |
| Information | |
| Denomination | Melkite Greek Catholic Church |
| Rite | Byzantine Rite |
| Established | 1835 |
| Cathedral | Dormition of Mary Cathedral |
| Current leadership | |
| Pope | Francis |
| Patriarch | Gregory III Laham |
| Eparch | Georges Bakar |
Melkite Greek Catholic Archeparchy of Alexandria of the Melkites (Latin: Archeparchy Alexandrina Melchitarum) is a branch of the Catholic Church immediately subject to the Patriarch of Antioch of the Melkites. In 2012 there were 6,200 baptized. It is currently governed by the patriarchal vicar Georges Bakar.
Territory
The archeparchy extends to the faithful Melkites of Egypt and Sudan and the Archeparchial seat is the city of Alexandria, where is the Dormition of Mary Cathedral. The territory is divided into 13 parishes.[1] The number of the faithful, who in 1940 ascended to 35,000, is now much diminished, having 6,200 Melkite Catholics in 2010.
History
In 1772, as remembered by the Orientalium Dignitas of Pope Leo XIII, the Patriarch of Antioch became "administrator of Alexandria" for the Melkites in Egypt, and in 1838, the Melkite Patriarch assumes the title of Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, Alexandria and Jerusalem.
As the seat of its patriarch, the archeparchy is governed by a patriarchal vicar,[2] who governs on behalf of the Patriarch, which depends on the venue.
Patriarchal Vicars of Alexandria
- Thomas Qoyoumgi, B.S. (1835 - 1836)(later General Superior of the Basilian in 1846)
- Basil Kfoury (1837 - died April 5, 1859)
- Augustin Fattal, B. A. (1859 - 1864)
- Ambroise Basile Abdo (1864 - November 15, 1866 appointed prefect of Zahleh and Furzol)
- Joannitius Massamiri (1866 - 1870)
- Augustin Fattal, B. A. (1870 - 1876) (for the second time)
- Thomas Mazloum (1876 - 1879)
- Athanasios Nasser (1879 - October 24, 1902 deceased)
- Pierre-Macario Saba (November 29, 1903 - June 25, 1919 appointed Archeparch of Aleppo)
- Etienne Soukkarie (April 25, 1920 - November 25, 1921 deceased)
- Anthony Farage (1 January 1922 to 1928 resigned)
- Dionysios Kfoury, B.S. (1932 - 1954 resigned)
- Elias Zoghby (September 2, 1954 - September 9, 1968 appointed Archeparch of Baalbek)
- Paul Antaki (9 September 1968 - June 22, 2001 resigned)
- Joseph Jules Zerey (22 June 2001 - June 4, 2008 appointed Patriarchal Vicar of Jerusalem)
- Georges Bakar, from June 4, 2008