Archeparchy of Damascus (Melkite Greek) Archeparchy Damascena Graecorum Melkitarum | |
---|---|
Location | |
Country | Syria |
Statistics | |
Population - Catholics | (as of 2010) 150,000 |
Parishes | 20 |
Information | |
Denomination | Melkite Greek Catholic Church |
Rite | Byzantine Rite |
Established | 3rd century |
Cathedral | Our Lady of the Dormition Cathedral |
Current leadership | |
Pope | Francis |
Patriarch | Youssef Absi |
Patriarchal Vicar | Nicolas Antiba |
Melkite Greek Catholic Archeparchy of Damascus [1] of the Melkites (in Latin: Archeparchy Damascena Graecorum Melkitarum) is a metropolitan and patriarchal see. In 2010 there were 150,000 baptized. The current vicar of Patriarch Youssef Absi is Archbishop Nicolas Antiba.
The archeparchy is headquartered in the city of Damascus, where the seat is held at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Dormition.
The territory is divided into 20 parishes and there were 150,000 Melkite Catholics in 2010.
The headquarters in Damascus has ancient origins (3rd century). From the 14th century, with the decline of the city of Antioch, Damascus became the seat of the Greek Orthodox patriarchs.
Following the schism within the Greek Orthodox Church of Antioch in 1724 was erected a seat of Melkite Greek Catholic Church.
Since 1838 Melkite Greek Catholic Archeparchy of Damascus is subject to the Melkite Patriarch of Antioch, who is represented by a patriarchal vicar, almost always with the dignity of bishop. Archbishop Nicolas Antiba, B.A. is the current Patriarchal Vicar of Damascus.
The Melkite Greek Catholic Church, or Melkite Byzantine Catholic Church, is an Eastern Catholic church in full communion with the Holy See as part of the worldwide Catholic Church. Its chief pastor is Patriarch Youssef Absi, headquartered at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Dormition in Damascus, Syria. The Melkites, who are Byzantine Rite Catholics, trace their history to the early Christians of Antioch, formerly part of Syria and now in Turkey, of the 1st century AD, where Christianity was introduced by Saint Peter.
The Melkite Catholic Patriarchate of Antioch is the only actual residential Patriarchate of the Melkite Greek Catholic Church. It was formed in 1724 when a portion of the Orthodox Church of Antioch went into communion with Rome, becoming an Eastern Catholic Church, while the rest of the ancient Patriarchate continues in full communion with the rest of the Eastern Orthodox Church.
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The Cathedral of Our Lady of the Dormition, also called the Melkite Greek Catholic Patriarchal Cathedral of the Dormition of Our Lady, is the cathedral of the Melkite Greek Catholic Church in the city of Damascus, Syria. It is the seat of the Greek-Melkite Archeparchy of Damascus dependent on the Melkite Catholic Patriarchate of Antioch, which includes about 150,000 baptized adherents and twenty parishes with fifty priests. Its faithful, assigned from the 18th century to the Holy See in Rome, employ the Arabic language and the Byzantine rite.