Melkite Greek Catholic Patriarchal Archeparchy of Jerusalem
| Patriarchal Archeparchy of Jerusalem (Melkite Greek) Archieparchia Hierosolymitana Melchitarum | |
|---|---|
| Location | |
| Country | Palestine |
| Ecclesiastical province | Patriarchate of Antioch |
| Statistics | |
| Population - Catholics |
(as of 2012) 3,300[1] |
| Parishes | 8 |
| Information | |
| Denomination | Melkite Greek Catholic Church |
| Rite | Byzantine Rite |
| Established | 1838 |
| Current leadership | |
| Pope | Francis |
| Patriarch | Gregory III Laham |
| Vicar Apostolic | Joseph Jules Zerey |
| Emeritus Bishops | Georges Bakar |
The Archeparchy of Jerusalem of the Melkites (in Latin: Archieparchia Hierosolymitana Melchitarum) is a branch of the Melkite Greek Catholic Church immediately subject to the Patriarch of Antioch of the Melkites. In 2005 there were 3,300 baptized. The current Vicar of the Patriarch Gregory III Laham is Joseph Jules Zerey.
Territory and statistics
The archeparchy includes the city of Jerusalem, where is the Cathedral of the Annunciation. The territory is divided into eight parishes. In the archeparchy at the end of 2005 there were 3,300 baptized, 12 priests and 8 parishes.
History
Starting in 1772, as noted by the Orientalium dignitas of Pope Leo XIII, the Patriarch of Antioch became "administrator of Jerusalem" for the Melkites of Palestine. Since 1838, the Melkite Patriarch took the title of Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, of Alexandria and of Jerusalem. As the seat of their patriarch of Jerusalem, the archeparchy is governed by a patriarchal vicar, who governs in the name of the patriarch. Often the vicars were simple priests. Patriarch Maximos III Mazloum consecrated the Cathedral of the Annunciation on 24 May 1848. Among the patriarchal vicars especially remembered is Hilarion Capucci, who was arrested by the authorities in Israel in 1974 for smuggling weapons for the Palestine Liberation Army and sentenced to jail, but who was later released in 1978 after insistent pressure from the Holy See.
Affiliated patriarchal vicars
- Elias (Meletios) Fendeh (2 February 1838 consecrated - 14 November 1851 appointed arcieparca of Baalbek )
- Ambroise Abdo (1860 - 15 November 1866 appointed prefect of Zahleh and Furzol)
- Ambroise Abdo (1875-1876) (for the second time)
- Gabriel Abu Saada (1948 - 1 March 1965 died)
- Hilarion Capucci, BA (July 30, 1965 - 1974 resigned)
- Loutfi Laham (1974 - 29 November 2000 elected Patriarch of Antioch)
- Mtanios Haddad, BS (2000 - 2006 resigned)
- Georges Bakar (9 February 2006 - 5 January 2008 resigned)
- Joseph Jules Zerey, (from 4 June 2008)
References
- ↑ "Patriarchal Dependent Territory of Jerusalem {Gerusalemme} (Melkite Greek)". Catholic-Hierarchy.org. David M. Cheney. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
External links
- http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/diocese/dgeme.html
- http://www.pgc-lb.org/fre/melkite_greek_catholic_church/Jerusalem-Sieges-Patriarcaux
- http://www.gcatholic.org/dioceses/diocese/jeru1.htm
Coordinates: 31°46′43″N 35°13′46″E / 31.7786°N 35.2294°E