Ignatius Joseph III Yonan
Ignatius Ephrem Joseph III Yonan (or Younan, Syriac: ܐܓܢܛܝܘܣ ܝܘܣܦ ܬܠܝܬܝܐ ܝܘܢܢ, born November 15, 1944) is the Syriac Catholic Patriarch of Antioch and all the East of the Syriacs for the Syriac Catholic Church since his election on January 20, 2009.[1]
His Beatitude
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Patriarch of Antioch and all the East of the Syrians | |
Patriarch Ignatius Joseph III Yonan in Lodi | |
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 | Hassaké, Syria | 15 November 1944
Denomination | Catholic Church |
Previous post | Bishop of Our Lady of Deliverance of Newark (1995–2009) |
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
The patriarch has visited members of his flock in various areas of the diaspora, including Australia and the United States.[5]
Work in the Church
Yonan has been very active in the request for the beatification for Flavianus Michael Malke, who was beatified in 2015.[6]
Criticism of the West
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]
Gallery
- Patriarch Ignatius Joseph III Yonan in Lodi, February 20, 2017.
- Mons. Maurizio Malvestiti and patriarch Ignatius Joseph III in Lodi, February 20, 2017.
See also
- Dioceses of the Syrian Catholic Church
- List of Syriac Catholic Patriarchs of Antioch
- Lists of patriarchs, archbishops, and bishops
References
- "Interview with Patriarch Yonan". Real Catholic TV. Retrieved February 11, 2013.
- "Eparchy of Our Lady of Deliverance of Newark (Syrian)". catholic-hierarchy.org. Retrieved August 22, 2010.
- Sharon Bernstein (November 19, 1995). "Valley Priest to Be Bishop of New Diocese". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved August 22, 2010.
- "Pontiff Urges Syriac Leader to Remember Diaspora". ZENIT News Agency. January 23, 2009. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved January 27, 2009.
- "Patriarchal Visit in the USA and Canada". Syriac Catholic Patriarchate.
- "Syriac Catholic Church investigation concludes in a report for the Bishop Mar Flapejanos Mikhail Malki to be beatified". Syriac Catholic Patriarchate.
- Video on YouTube
- http://www.catholicweekly.com.au/article.php?classID=1&subclassID=84&articleID=10628&class=&subclass=Breaking%20News%5B%5D
- http://www.catholicweekly.com.au/article.php?classID=3&subclassID=9&articleID=11700&class=Features&subclass=A%20conversation%20with
External links
- "Archbishop Ignace Joseph III (Ephrem) Younan". Catholic-Hierarchy.org. Retrieved 2009-01-27.
- (German)
Positions
Catholic Church titles | ||
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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 |