Ignatius Joseph III Yonan

His Beatitude
  • Moran Mor Ignatius Joseph III Yonan
  • ܐܓܢܛܝܘܣ ܝܘܣܦ ܬܠܝܬܝܐ ܝܘܢܢ
Patriarch of Antioch and all the East of the Syriacs
Church Syriac Catholic Church
See Antioch
Elected 20 January 2009
Installed 15 February 2009
Predecessor Ignatius Peter VIII Abdalahad
Other posts Bishop of Beirut
Orders
Ordination 12 September 1971
Consecration 7 January 1996
by Antony II Hayyek
Personal details
Birth name Ephrem Joseph Yonan
Born (1944-11-15) 15 November 1944
Hassaké, Syria
Denomination Syrian Catholic
Previous post Bishop of Our Lady of Deliverance of Newark (1995–2009)

Ignatius Ephrem Joseph III Yonan (or Younan, Syriac: ܐܓܢܛܝܘܣ ܝܘܣܦ ܬܠܝܬܝܐ ܝܘܢܢ, born November 15, 1944) is the Patriarch of Antioch and all the East of the Syriacs for the Syriac Catholic Church since his election on January 20, 2009.[1]

Life

Ephrem Joseph Yonan was born at Hassaké, Syria on November 15, 1944 and was ordained a priest on September 12, 1971. He served as director of the Seminary of Charfet for two years, as Director of Catechesis of the diocese of Hassaké for seven years and as pastor of the Church of the Annunciation in Beirut up to 1986.

In 1986 he was sent to the United States to establish missions for the Syrian Catholic faithful. He founded a mission in Newark, New Jersey (Our Lady of Deliverance) and others in North Hollywood (Sacred Heart) in 1991 and in San Diego (Our Mother of Perpetual Help) in 1994.

On November 6, 1995, Pope John Paul II erected the Syrian Catholic Eparchy of Our Lady of Deliverance in Newark for all the Syrian Catholics of the United States and Canada,[2] and appointed Ephrem Joseph Yonan as first eparch (bishop).[3] He was thus consecrated bishop on January 7, 1996 by Ignatius Antony II Hayyek and served in the United States until his election as Primate and Patriarch of the Syriac Catholic Church on January 20, 2009. Pope Benedict XVI granted him ecclesiastical communion on January 22, 2009,[4] in accordance with Canon 76 § 2 of the Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches.

Along with Cardinal Leonardo Sandri, Prefect of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches, Patriarch Ignatius Joseph III Yonan served as a co-president of the October 2010 Special Assembly of the Synod of Bishops for the Middle East in the Vatican.

Travel

Patriarch Ignatius Joseph III Yonan has visited members of his flock in various areas of the diaspora, including Australia and the United States.[5]

Work in the Church

Patriarch Ignatius Joseph III Yonan has been very active in the request of the beatification for Flavianus Michael Malke.[6]

Political views

Syrian situation

He has continuously called on Western countries to not support insurgents in Syria "just to make the regime of Assad fall", and to find another way to resolve the conflict.[7] He has also condemned them for not caring enough about Middle Eastern Christians.[8][9]

See also

References

Media related to Ignatius Joseph III Younan at Wikimedia Commons

Positions

Catholic Church titles
Preceded by
Ignatius Peter VIII Abdalahad
Patriarch of Antioch of the Syrian Catholic Church
20 January 2009 –
Succeeded by
Incumbent
Preceded by
New Eparchy
Eparch of Our Lady of Deliverance of Newark
1986–2009
Succeeded by
Bishop Joseph (Youssif) Habash
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