Patriarchal Exarchate of Istanbul (Melkite Greek Catholic) | |
---|---|
Location | |
Country | Turkey |
Ecclesiastical province | Patriarchate of Antioch |
Statistics | |
Parishes | 1 |
Information | |
Denomination | Melkite Greek Catholic Church |
Rite | Byzantine Rite |
Current leadership | |
Pope | Francis |
Patriarch | Youssef Absi |
Patriarchal Exarch | Sede vacante |
Melkite Greek Catholic Patriarchal Exarchate of Istanbul is an immediate Patriarchal Exarchate of the Melkite Greek Catholic Church in Istanbul. It reports directly to the Melkite Patriarch of Antioch. [1]
Since 1946, Melkite Parish in Istanbul (Constantinople) was administrated by priest Maximos Mardelli (born 1913 – died 2000) who was appointed Patriarchal Vicar (exarch) in Istanbul, as representative of Melkite Patriarch Maximos IV Sayegh of Antioch. Exarch Maximos was elevated to the honour of Archimandrite in 1953 for his successful church administration. During Anti-Greek riots in 1955 (Istanbul pogrom), the Melkite Church building in Istanbul was destroyed. Because Archimandrite Maximos was not a Turkish citizen, he had to leave Istanbul and went to the United States. [2]
The term exarch comes from the Ancient Greek ἔξαρχος, exarchos, and designates holders of various historical offices, some of them being political or military and others being ecclesiastical.
An exarchate is any territorial jurisdiction whose ruler is described as an exarch.
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. It is headed by Patriarch Youssef Absi, headquartered in Cathedral of Our Lady of the Dormition, Damascus, Syria. The Melkites, 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.
Gregory III Laham, B.S., Emeritus Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, of Alexandria and Jerusalem, is the former spiritual leader of the Melkite Greek Catholic Church. He was elected on November 29, 2000, succeeding Patriarch Maximos V Hakim. He retired on May 6, 2017.
Maximos IV Sayegh was Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, and Alexandria and Jerusalem of the Melkite Greek Catholic Church from 1947 until his death in 1967. One of the fathers of Second Vatican Council, the outspoken patriarch stirred the Council by urging reconciliation between the Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches. He accepted the title of cardinal in 1965 after Pope Paul VI clarified the significance of that title in the case of an Eastern Patriarch.
Melkite Greek Catholic Eparchy of Newton is an eparchy of the Melkite Greek Catholic Church, an Eastern Catholic church in communion with the Holy See and therefore part of the worldwide Catholic Church. The eparchy encompasses the entire United States.
Archbishop Joseph Tawil was the Melkite Greek Catholic eparch for the United States, teacher and theologian. He is remembered for his participation in the Second Vatican Council, expanding the Melkite Church in the United States, and articulating the unique role of the Eastern Catholic Churches in his 1970 pastoral letter The Courage To Be Ourselves.
Justin Najmy was the first bishop for the United States in the Melkite Greek Catholic Church. Appointed exarch for the newly created Melkite diocese in the United States, Bishop Najmy served for two years before his death at age 70.
Demetrius I Qadi was Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, and Alexandria and Jerusalem of the Melkite Greek Catholic Church from 1919 until 1925.
Patriarch Cyril VI Tanas, also known as Cyril VI of Antioch, became the first Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, and Alexandria and Jerusalem of the Melkite Greek Catholic Church following the schism of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch in 1724. Cyril re-established full communion with the Catholic Church.
Clement Michael Bahouth, was patriarch of the Melkite Catholic Church from 1856 until his resignation in 1864.
Paul Antaki was the Melkite Greek Catholic titular archeparch of Nubia and auxiliary bishop.
Melkite Greek Catholic Archeparchy of Akka is an Eastern Catholic diocese of Melkite Greek Catholic Church, directly subject to the Melkite Patriarch of Antioch. Its Cathedral episcopal see is St. Elijah Greek-Melkite Cathedral, in Haifa.
The Melkite Greek Catholic Patriarchal Dependent Territory of Jerusalem 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. Yasser Ayyash is the current Vicar Apostolic of the Patriarch Youssef Absi.
The Melkite Patriarchal Dependent Territory of Egypt, Sudan, and South Sudan is the presence of the Melkite Greek Catholic Church in the Northern African countries of Egypt, Sudan, and South Sudan. It is currently headed by the patriarchal vicar, Protosyncellus Georges Bakar.
Georges Kahhalé Zouhaïraty, BA is a prelate of the Melkite Catholic Church and served as Apostolic Exarch for the Melkite Greek Catholic Apostolic Exarchate of Venezuela, from 1995 until his retirement c. 2019.
Melkite (Greek) Catholic Patriarchal Exarchate of Iraq is a Patriarchal exarchate of the Melkite Greek Catholic Church sui iuris (Byzantine Rite in Greek language for part of Iraq.
Melkite (Greek) Catholic Patriarchal Exarchate of Kuwait is a Patriarchal Exarchate of the Melkite Greek Catholic Church sui iuris.
The Armenian Catholic Patriarchal Exarchate of Jerusalem and Amman is the missionary pre-diocesan jurisdiction of the Armenian Catholic Church sui iuris in the Holy Land (Palestine/Israel) and (Trans)Jordan.
The Syriac Catholic Patriarchal Exarchate of Turkey is the presence of the Syriac Catholic Church in Turkey.