HISTORY

The Greek Melkite Catholic Church in the Holy Land shares a common history with the Greek Orthodox Church. This common history lasted until 1724 when the hierarchy was split in two in the three Melkite Patriarchates of Antioch, Alexandria, and Jerusalem.  Since that date, there have been parallel lines of Orthodox and Catholic Patriarchs, which explains why the Melkite Church is in full communion with the Church of Rome and, at the same time, deeply rooted in the Eastern tradition.

In 1772, the Greek Melkite Catholics of Jerusalem asked Patriarch Theodosius V Dahan of Antioch to come under his jurisdiction.  Pope Clement XIV responded favorably to their request.  Since 1938, the Greek Melkite Catholic Patriarch of Antioch carries the personal title of Alexandria and Jerusalem.

Patriarchal Vicars since 1834:

Rev. Lazare Fasfous 1834
Most Rev. Meletios Fanda 1838 – 1846
Rev. Elias Kattan 1846 – 1874
Most Rev. Ambrosios Abdo 1875 – 1876
Rev. Joseph Khawam 1877 – 1880
Rev. Ignace Moakad 1880 – 1886
Rev. Raphael Zolhof 1886
Rev. Basile Amara 1886 – 1889
Rev. Philippe Mallouk 1890 – 1895
Rev. Joseph Cadi 1895 – 1898
Rev. Philippe Mallouk 1899 – 1903
Most Rev. Paul Mourad 1904 – 1914
Rev. Alaxios Akel 1914 – 1920
Rev. Etienne Doumar 1921
Rev. Cyrille Rizek 1921 – 1926
Rev. Athanase Moghabghab 1926 – 1944
Rev. Pierre Saba 1944 – 1948
Rev. Michel Assaf 1948
Most Rev. Gabriel Abu Saada 1948 – 1965
Most Rev. Augustin Farah (Patriarchal Administrator) 1965
Most Rev. Hilarion Capucci 1965 – 1974
Most Rev. Paul Achkar (Patriarchal Administrator) 1974 – 1975
Most Rev. Lutfi Laham (elected Patriarch) 1975 – 2000
Most Rev. Maximos Salloum (Patriarchal Administrator) 2000 – 2001
Rev. Mtanios Haddad 2001 – 2006
Most Rev. Georges Bakar 2006 – 2007
Rt. Rev. Joseph Saghbini 2008
Most Rev. Joseph Jules Zerey 2008 at present

 

Patriarchal Vicar: 

Most Rev. Joseph Jules Zerey

 

     Address: Greek Melkite Catholic Patriarchate 
                  P.O.B. 14130
9114101 Jerusalem (Old City)
  Tel.: (02) 628 20 23
Tel.: (02) 627 19 69
Tel.: (02) 646 01 11
Fax: (02) 628 66 52