Melkite Greek Catholic Patriarchal Dependent Territory of Jerusalem

The Melkite Greek Catholic Patriarchal Dependent Territory of Jerusalem (Latin: 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. Yasser Ayyash is the current Vicar Apostolic of the Patriarch Youssef Absi.

Patriarchal Dependent Territory of Jerusalem (Melkite Greek)

Hierosolymitana Melchitarum
Location
CountryPalestine (region)
Ecclesiastical provincePatriarchate of Antioch
Statistics
Population
- Catholics		(as of 2012)
3,300[1]
Parishes8
Information
DenominationMelkite Greek Catholic Church
RiteByzantine Rite
Established1838
Current leadership
PopeFrancis
PatriarchYoussef Absi
Vicar ApostolicYasser Ayyash
Bishops emeritusGeorges Bakar
Joseph Jules Zerey

Territory and statistics

The patriarchal dependent territory 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 (4 June 2008 - 9 February 2018 resigned)
  • Yasser Ayyash (since 9 February 2018)

References
  1. "Patriarchal Dependent Territory of Jerusalem {Gerusalemme} (Melkite Greek)". Catholic-Hierarchy.org. David M. Cheney. Retrieved 21 January 2015.

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