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THE PATRIARCHAL SEES
THE PATRIARCHAL SEE OF ANTIOCH - DAMASCUS
www.pgc-lb.org
History:
Antioch, Theoupolisor ?The City of God?, was inaugurated by Seleucus I on 22nd May 300 B.C. He proclaimed it the capital of Greek Syria and named it Antioch in memory of his father Antiochus. Under the Seleucids, Antioch attained its greatest prosperity. The Roman Governor-General of Syria resided there, depending directly from the Emperor. Antioch was the third greatest city of the Roman Empire, coming after Rome and Alexandria, and was the capital of the ?diocese? of the East.
St Peter founded his see there in the year 36, and up to the early 5th century, the Patriarchate of Antioch had 153 bishops under its jurisdiction.
With the taking of Antioch by the Crusaders in 1098, the Melkite Patriarch John IV had to leave. From then on, the patriarchs of Antioch resided in Constantinople until 1268, date of the capture of Antioch by the Mamluk Sultan Baybars I.
Having been destroyed by Baybars in 1268, Antioch was replaced by the city of Damascus as patriarchal seat, probably under Patriarch Pachomius between 1375 and 1386.
H.B. Maximos V Hakim is the 171st Patriarch of Antioch since St Peter, and the 20th since the setting up the Greek-Melkite Hierarchy in 1724.
List of the Patriarchal Vicars:
After being shouldered with responsibility for the three patriarchates of Antioch, Alexander and Jerusalem in 1838, Patriarch Maximos III Mazloum assured himself the assistance of a Vicar-General in each one of them. Those of Damascus were generally bishops. Here is the list of them to date:
1847-1851 Meletius Fendeh
1852-1881 Macarius Haddad
? - ? Joannitius Massamiri
1882-1895 Paul Messadieh
1895-1898 Nicolas Kadi
1898-1899 Pere Raphael Abi Mourad
1899-1901 Pere Basile Amara
Pere Kyrill Kfoury
1901 -1908 Ignatius Homsi
1908-1909 Nicolas Kadi (second term)
1909-1919 Pere Dimitri Soukkarieh
1920 Pere Nicolas Dahhan
1920-1928 Nicolas Kadi (third term)
1928-1947 Anthony Faraj
1947-1953 Archim. John Shiniara
1953-1960 Anthony Faraj (second term)
1960-1970 Joseph Tawil
1970-1971 Paul Ashkar
1971-1973 Butros Ra'i
1973-1978 Elias Najmeh
1978- Francis Abu Mokh
Short biographical notice concerning the present Vicar:
Abp Francis Abu Mokh was born at Maaloula near Damascus in 1923. He pursued his secondary and higher studies at the Monastery of the Holy Saviour at Joun, Lebanon, and was ordained in 1946. From 1949 he was running the Patriarchal College in Damascus and then studied canon law in Rome 1952 to 1955. He was then named Superior of the College at Damascus in 1956 and held this post until 1967.
In 1969 he returned to St Saviour's at Joun as Superior of the senior seminary of his order. In 1972 he became its Procurator-General in Rome and at the same time Patriarchal Procurator to the Holy See, as well as Head of the Islamic Bureau at the Secretariate for non-Christians and Secretary of the Pontifical Commission for Relations with Islam.
Abp Abu Mokh was consecrated Titular Bishop of Palmyra on 17th March 1978 by H.B. Maximos V, with the assistance of Archbishops Saba Youakim and Nicholas Hajj.
Address of the Patriarchate of Damascus: P.O. Box 22249, Damascus,
Telephone: Switchboard 433129 -
Patriarchal wing 433131 ?
Patriarchal Vicar 433344.
Organization of The Patriarchal Diocese of Damascus:
The present buildings of the PATRIARCHATE OF DAMASCUS, next to the cathedral, date from 1864, and replace the ones put up in 1838 and destroyed during the massacres of 1860. In 1984, while the old ground floor was conserved, the upper floor was replaced by a modern and practical structure, with a special wing for the Patriarch, another for the Patriarchal Vicar and a dozen modern rooms for the priests and for guests. The premises are in the Bab Sharki quarter, at the eastern end of the Via Recta or ?Street Called Straight? mentioned in the Acts of the Apostles.
The CATHEDRAL OF DAMASCUS, also renovated in 1864, is one of the most beautiful monuments of the city. Having also a spacious paved courtyard, the Cathedral is over 56 metres long if one includes the arcades and gynaeceum or women's gallery, otherwise 46 metres long and 20 metres wide, with high stone vaulting. The superb ikonostasis is in white marble, finely worked by the Greek-Catholic craftsmen of Damascus. The ikons were imported from Russia. The royal doors are of chased copper with silver rays. The Cathedral seats 800, with room for as many standing.
The DIOCESAN COUNCIL, presided by the Patriarch, is made up of Abp Francis Abu Mokh, Exarch Gabriel Maalouf, Archimandrites Michael Rezk, Michael Hallaq and Khalil Khanashet and Fathers Michael Butros and Anthony Glayel.
THE CHURCH COURTS:
Lower Court: Fr. Michael Butros, Presiding Judge; Fathers Khalil Kanashet and Peter Khodari, Assessors; Fr. Anthony Glayel, Defender of the Bond, and Fr. Michael Hallaq, Clerk of the Court.
Appeal Court: Mgr Anthony Ein, presiding judge; Fathers Michael Rezk and Elias Baladi, Assessors; Fr. Anthony Glayel, Defender of the Bond; and Fr. Michael Hallaq, Clerk of the Court.
High Court of Appeal: membership by nomination of the Patriarch, case by case.
THE MAJLES MILLI or HIGHER COUNCIL:
This is presided over by the Patriarch or by his Vicar General and is made up of thirty persons: Mr Adel Batal - Naji Shawi - Paul Shiniara - John Shaccour - Michael Sioufi - Sami Wardeh - Albert Masri - Mitri Hajjar -Andrew Fallah - Atef Samman - Joseph Nasrallah - Riad Maatouk - Emile Anini - Ibrahim Abu Hamad - Albert Sayegh - Anthony Diab - Joseph Diab -George Farah - Khalil Sara - Emile Shahine - George Bdawi - John Arwashan - Marwan Anhouri - Najib Haddad - Joseph Akzam - Anthony Shalhoub - Baha Dabbous - John Siage - Ghassan Shahine - Ammar Shalash.
The executive committee is composed of the first ten members on the list, with Fr. Michael Rezk as ecclesiastical counsellor.
THE PARISHES AND THEIR PRIESTS :
CITY OF DAMASCUS:
Bab Sharki Cathedral: Our Lady Archim. Elias Sargi
of the Dormition, Fr. Elias Baladi
Tel. 433129 Fr. Anthony Glayel
Kassaa St Cyril Fr.Michael Butros S.B.
Tel. 448552 Fr. Fayez Freijate S.B.
Fr. Abdallah Hamidieh S.B.
Koussour Our Lady of Damascus Exarch Gabriel Malouf
Tel. 445242 Archim. Michael Hallaq
450999 Fr. Elias Zehlawi
Midan St George Fr. Nicholas Sowub S.B.
Tel. 210710
Salhieh St John Damascene Fr. Mitri Hajji Athanasiou
Tel. 337631
Tabbaleh St Joseph Fr. Abdel Massih Shehayed
Tel. 431223
Jaramana St George Fr. Ibrahim Mousleh
Tel. 433129
DAMASCUS REGION :
Sednaya St Sophia Archim. Khalil Khanashet
Tel. 722382
Maarra St Elias Fr. Elias Nacouz
Tel. 751300 Fr. Alam Alam
Barzeh St Abraham Archim. Paul Shiniara
Tel. 434128
Harasta Our Lady of Peace Fr. Peter Khodary
Tel. 433129
Maarouneh St John the Baptist Fr. Moussa Salem
Tel. 742100
Maalula St George Fr. Michael Tabra
Tel. 0192-27009
Daraya St Paul Fr. Khalil Laham
Tel. 814343/37
Jdeidet Artouz St Geroge Fr. Sherif Farah
Tel. 662003/344
Hine- St Elias Fr. Ibrahim Mousleh
Ain esh Shara Tel. 442052
Zabadani St Elias Fr. Jiries Shehayed
Bloudan Dormition
OTHER CLERGY:
Fr. Elias Hayek (M.S.P.) : Director of the Junior Semirary - Tel. 433130
Fr. Paul Fadel (M.S.P.) : Assitant for the Junior Seminary
Fr. Rizkallah Siman (M.S.P.) : Assistant for the Junior Seminary
Fr. Fuad Sayegh : Director of St Anne's Senior Seminary,
Rabweh, Lebanon.
Fr. Jihad Jalhoum : Temporary Parish Priest in Brussels,
Belgium. Fr. Michael el Kaed : retired.
SEMINARISTS:
- 17 at the Junior Seminary of Damascus.
- 6 at St Anne's Senior Seminary of Rabweh.
Religious Communities serving the Patriarchal Diocese:
- Salvatorian Basilian Fathers:
* Parochial work (marked S.B. in above list).
* Library of the Patriarchate.
- Missionary Fathers of St. Paul
* Junior Seminary of Damascus.
- Aleppine Basilian Sisters:
* Catechism and parish work at Our Lady of Damascus at Koussour.
- Sisters of Our Lady of Perpetual Succour:
* Old people's home at Damascus.
* Catechism and parish work at St. Cyril's, Kassaa.
* Catechism and parish work at St. Sophia's, Sednaya, and in Maarra
- Sisters of Charity of Besan?on:
* Patriarchal School of Damascus.
* Catechetical and social centre, St. Joseph's, Tabbaleh.
* Welfare workshop.
- Sisters of Our Lady of Good Service:
* Auxiliaries at the Junior Seminary of Damascus.
- Sisters of Jesus and Mary:
* In charge of the Centre for university girl students in the restored wing of the Patriarchate at Damascus.
- Sisters of the Good Shepherd: Young girl's reception centre.
- The little Sisters of Jesus:
* House of prayer.
Non-Melkite-Greek Catholic Communities working in the Diocese:
- Sisters of Charity.
- Franciscan Missionary Sisters of Mary.
Diocesan Activities:
- Parochial:
* Sunday bulletin
* Choirs
* Marian Congregations, teams of Our Lady, Scouts, Legion of Mary
* Parochial centres in increasing numbers, together with Youth Clubs
- General Catechetical:
* LA FLAMME, reaching into the countryside from Damascus, with a membership of priests, nuns and numerous laity.
- Social works:
* SOCIETY OF St. PAUL to ensure respect for the departed, especially the poor.
* WELFARE ASSOCIATION and several sections of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul.
* St. PAUL'S ORPHANAGE, founded in 1952 and run by tthe Aleppine Basilian Sisters, at present in the charge of Sister Monica Djandji, helped by Sister Miriam. The financial side is looked after by a lay committee at present chaired by Mr. Emil Shawi, who replaced the late Michael Zayat in 1985.
Near the Orphanage is a 15 -room home for the elderly.
The Orphanage is situated near the place where St. Paul was lowered over the city wall in a basket, the wall being perfectly conserved here.
Address: Bab Sharki. Tel. 433405.
* CENTRE FOR YOUNG UNIVERSITY GIRLS, built in 1984 near the reconstructed Patriarchate.
Run by the Sisters of Jesus and Mary, this centre can receive some fifty young ladies in modern and spacious rooms with all necessary conveniences.
For material matters, the Sisters are helped by a lay committee made up of Mrs. Hind Batal, Mrs. Mimi Gennawi and Mr. Michael Sioufi.
Ain Traz, founded in 1811 by Patriarch Agapios III Matar, was originally meant to be a Melkite-Greek Catholic seminary, and such it in fact was during the calmer periods of the nineteenth century. After having been looted by the Druze in 1841 and in 1845, it was re-opened in 1870.
After the foundation of the Seminary of St. Anne at Jerusalem, Ain Traz was no longer of any use as a seminary for the community. Nevertheless, between that event and the 1940's, several attempts were made to keep it open, particularly for late vocations and for married men preparing for the priesthood.
Up till 1981, Ain Traz was the ideal summer residence for the Patriarch, with its climate and surrounding countryside, library and progressive adaptation of the property for the holding of the Synods, which from 1948 under Maximos IV became yearly events. The great artisan of Ain Traz in this latter role was Abp N. Hajj, Patriarchal Auxiliary and Superior of Ain Traz.
But alas! in 1982 the residence of Ain Traz found itself once again in the heart of fighting and in 1983 came catastrophe, with looting and destruction by fire and the impossibility of reaching the place, as well as the probable loss of the library and archives of the Patriarchate, a precious treasure so carefully arranged by the late Abp Peter Kamel Medawar.
RESIDENCE OF RABWEH, Amelias - Metn- LEBANON
Today the Patriarchal Residence, completed in 1977 at Rabweh ,replaces Ain Traz in Lebanon. Synods, reunions and congresses are held there, when circumstances permit.
Further, the Patriarchate has set aside a big plot of land near the Residence for the construction of seven apartment blocks for young couples of limited means and the complex is now almost finished; very soon, the young owners, to whom every possible facility is extended, will be able to move in.
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PATRIARCHAL SEE OF ALEXANDRIA - CAIRO,
ALEXANDRIA AND SUDAN
History:
The Diocese, which covers Egypt and the Sudan, has only about 9,000 Melkite-Greek Catholic faithful, out of a total of 69 million inhabitants (49 million inhabitants for Egypt and 20 million for the Sudan).
Tradition gives St Mark the Evangelist as first Bishop of Alexandria, while of his successors Saints Athanasius and Cyril were the most illustrious. The first played a leading role at Nicaea in 325 A.D., or more exactly in the defence of the doctrine of the Council of Nicaea; the second was the leading light at the Council of Ephesus in 431.
With effect from 1772, as Oriental/urn Dignitas reminds us, the Patriarch of Antioch became the ?Administrator of Alexandria)) for the Melkites. It was when H.B. Maximos III Mazloum was recognized as Patriarch of Antioch and of all the East, of Alexandria and of Jerusalem, that there began the autonomous existence of the Melkite-Greek Catholic Patriarchate of Alexandria, in 1838.
Its past was glorious enough. But the number of its faithful, which in 1940 still stood at 35.000, is now much reduced as a result of the instability of the Middle East as a whole.
Patriarchal Vicars since the Mandate of H.B. Maximos III Mazloum:
1835-1836 Thomas Qoyoumgi, Salvatorian Basilian priest
1837-1859 Basil Kfoury
1865-1866 Ambrosios
1867- ? Joannitius Massamiri n.b. During the intervals which are
1879-1902 Athanasios Nasser indicated, it must be understood that
1903-1919 Macanos Saba there was no Patriarchal
1920-1921 Stephen Sukkanyeh vicar properly speaking,
1922-1928 Anthony Faraj but one or other of our
1932-1954 Dionysios Kfoury diocesan Hierarchs was
1954-1968 Elias Zoghby responsible for the See of Alexandria.
1968- Paul Antaki
Short Biographical Notice about the Present Patriarchal Vicar:
Abp Paul Antaki was born in Cairo in 1927. After passing both the French and Egyptian baccalaureates, he did his theological studies at St Anne's Seminary, Jerusalem, between 1945 and 1951. He was ordained priest on 2nd July 1950 and was parish priest at Alexandria from 1951 to 1954, then Superior of the Patriarchal College of Cairo from 1954 to 1957, secretary to the Patriarchate of Alexandria from 1957 to 1960 and Patriarchal Vicar at Alexandria from 1960 to 1966.
In 1966 he was appointed Superior of the Junior Seminary of Rayak, a post which he occupied until his episcopal consecration, which took place in the cathedral of Beirut, performed by H.B. Maximos V assisted by the Archbishops Zoghby and Tawil on 1st December 1968.
Address of the Patriarchate: 16 Daher Street, Cairo, Egypt-
Telephone: 903790.
Organization of the Diocese:
DIOCESAN COUNCIL:
Members: S.E. Paul Antaki, Exarch John Nashaty, Archimandrite Xavier
Eid, Archimandrite Ignatius Sarkis, Archimandrite Joseph
Sukkariyeh, Iconomos George Bakar.
OFFICIAL OF THE TRIBUNAL: Archimandrite Edward Shedoudi.
THE PARISHES AND THEIR PRIESTS:
CAIRO:
Faggalah Cathedral of the Resurrection Archim. Ed. Shedoudi
Radwaniyeh St George Archim. P. Geadah
Shoubra Annunciation Fr. A. Sharki
Heliopolis St Cyril Exarch I. Sarkis
Heliopolis Immaculate Conception Fr. A. Ghali
Zeitoun St Joseph Icon .J. Zerei
Garden City St Mary of Peace Archim. X. E'id
Fr. G. Khalil
ALEXANDRIA: Cathedral of the Dormition
(Sao Pedro or Church of Debbaneh) Fr. P. Haddad
Ibrahimiyeh The Immaculate Archim. J. Sukkarieh
Fleming St Joseph Fr. J. Gh. Farhat
MANSOURA Dormition Fr. J. Saidah
TANTA Annunciation Fr. J. Saidah
PORT SAID St.Elias Archim. P. Geadah
Priests with Other Charges:
Exarch John Nashaty, in retirement after a life of great service. Iconomos George Bakar, Superior of the Patriarchal College in Cairo. Iconomos Julius Zeret, Superior of the Patriarchal College of Heliopolis
(Formely the Brothers').
Fr. Constantine Belisarius, teaching at the Patriarchal College of Heliopolis.
Fr. Anthony Sayegh, retired.
Activities and Apostolate:
- Schools: 5 in Cairo and 1 in Alexandria.
* Patriarchal College, Cairo, Infants, Primary, Preparatory, Secondary.
* Patriarchal College, Heliopolis, Infants, Primary, Preparatory,
* Youssufia School, Faggala, Infants, Primary, Preparatory.
* Mixed Patriarchal School, Heliopolis, Infants, Primary.
* School of the Perpetual Succour, Infants, Primary, Preparatory, Secondary (Sisters of Perpetual Succour).
* Greek Catholic School, Alexandria, Infants, Primary.
- Charitable Works:
* Charity of Cairo.
* Charity of Alexandria.
* Charity of Mansoura.
* Holiday Centre at Basel Bar, permanent building.
* Society of St Vincent de Paul, named Society of St. John Chrysostom, Cairo 6 branches, Alexandria 2 branches.
* The Greek Catholic Dispensary of Cairo has become the Dar es-Shifa Dispensary, where 15,000 cases were treated in 1984.
* The Good Shepherd Home at Shoubra. Throughout 1985 progress was made with fitting up this home for the elderly, which as from September 1986 will be able to receive a hundred boarders. It is to be noted that for its part the Dar es-Shifa Dispensary has prepared Evergreen, also a home for the elderly, a little over 20 miles from Cairo.
- Ecumenical Activities:
* The Religious Brotherhood (Muslims and Christians working to create a spirit of understanding) generally meets in our church of St Mary of Peace, and several members of our community take part.
- Teaching:
* Classes to prepare for First Communion in all parishes.
* Bulletin of the Greek Catholic Community appearing thrice yearly in Alexandria.
- Liturgy:
* Choirs in 6 parishes in Cairo and 2 in Alexandria.
- Confraternities and Charities:
* Congregation of Ladies at Cairo Cathedral, at the Immaculate at Heliopolis and at the cathedral of Alexandria.
* Parish Centres in all parishes except Fleming, Tanta, Mansoura, Port Said and Khartoum.
* St Vincent de Paul Conferences at Cairo Cathedral, St Mary of Peace, St Cyril, the Immaculate of Heliopolis and the cathedral of Alexandria.
* Youth Clubs in all the parishes of Cairo, at Alexandria Cathedral and of late at the parish of the Immaculate at Ibrahimiyeh, Alexandria.
SUDAN
- The Patriarchal Vicariate of the Sudan has been in existence for nearly 100 years and has eight churches and chapels.
* The Church of the Annunciation, Khartoum, still in use.
* The Church of St John the Apostle at Haifa, now submerged under the waters of the Nile since the construction of the Asswan Dam.
* The Church of St Michael at El Obbayed, at present used by the Latins.
* The Church of Our Lady of the Dormition at Wad Midani, at present rented by the Latins.
* The Church of St George at Oum Dourman at present closed and out of use.
Three chapels at Nouhoud, Fasher and Atbara have been ceded to the Latins.
- Now there is one church in use, that of Khartoum, with a parish priest resident there since Easter 1986. Formerly, priests came in turn from Egypt and Aleppo to serve the parish. The Greek Catholic parishioners of Sudan have been regrouped at Khartoum and Syrian Catholics and Chaldeans also belong to our parish. At Khartoum there are nearly 200 Greek Catholic families, and 50 Syrian and 2 Chaldean families. Outside Khartoum there are another 15 families at Obayed and still another 15 scattered here and there across the Sudan.
- Projects under consideration are the enlarging of the church in Khartoum and the construction of a building to provide revenue at Oum Dourman, both of which have been awaiting a priest in residence in order for them to be put into effect
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PATRIARCHAL SEE OF JERUSALEM
History:
Jerusalem, the Holy City, ?Mother of the Churches?, had St James the Less as first Bishop. Among his famous successors were St Cyril of Jerusalem and St Sophronios.
In 1772, the Patriarch of Antioch became Administrator for the Melkites of Jerusalem, and since 1838 H.B. Maximos III Mazloum and his successors have borne the title of Patriarch of Jerusalem as well as of Antioch and all the East and of Alexandria.
Patriarchal Vicars since 1838 (not all of whom have been bishops).
1838-1846 Meletios Fendeh
1846- ? Elias Cattan, secular priest
?
1860-1866 Ambrose Abdo
?
1875-1876 Ambrose Abdo (second term)
1877-1880 Joseph Khawam, Salvatorian Basilian Priest
1880-1886 Ignatius Moaccad, Salvatorian Basilian priest
1886 Ruphael Zulhof, Salvatorian Basilian priest
1886-1890 Basil Amara, secular priest
1890-1896 Philip Mallouk, secular priest
1896-1898 Joseph Cadi, secular priest
1898-1903 Philip Mallouk (second term)
1904-1914 Paul Abu- Mourad
1914-1920 Alexios Akel, secular priest
1921 Stephen Doummar, secular priest
1921 -1926 Cyril Rezk, secular priest
1926-1944 Athanasius Moghabghab, secular priest
1944- ? Peter Saba, secular priest
1948-1965 Gabriel Abu Saada, bishop since
1961 1965- Hilarion Capucci
1974- Loutfi Laham, bishop since 1981
Short Biographical Notice about the Present Patriarchal Vicar :
Abp Lutfi Laham was born in 1933 at Deraya, near Damascus, known as the scene of the conversion of St Paul. In 1943 he entered the seminary at the monastery of St Saviour's near Joun in Lebanon, made his perpetual vows there in 1954 and terminated his studies in Rome. He was ordained priest in 1959 and then taught theology and literature at St Saviour's and at the University of the Holy Spirit at Kaslik. In 1962 he founded the review ?Unity in Faith?, followed by two social undertakings, the Centre for young Girls and the Providence Centre for Boys, near Sidon.
In 1974, with the arrest of Abp Capucci, he became first assistant and then Patriarchal Administrator of Jerusalem, and is now finishing the projects undertaken there, which include the restoration of the patriarchal residence and of the adjacent pilgrim's hostel. Abp Laham was consecrated in Damascus in 1981 by H.B. Patriarch Maximos V, assisted by the Archbishops Saba Youakim and Francis Abu Mokh.
N,B. As for Abp Hilarion Capucci, expelled by the Israeli authorities in 1977, he now resides in Europe and is Visitor Apostolic for the Greek-Melkite Catholics of Western Europe (see page 31).
Address of the Patriarchate: P.O. Box 14130, Jerusalem, Israel ?
Telephone: 282023.
Organization of the Patriarchal Diocese:
THE PARISHES AND THEIR PRIESTS:
Jerusalem Cathedral of the Annunciation Fr. Joseph Saghbini SB.
Ramallah Fr. Godfril Dick M.S.P.
Jaffa + Ramleh and Lod Archim. George Rizek
Beit Sahur Fr. Mtanios Haddad S.B.
Bethlehem + Beit-Jala Fr. Yaacoub Abu Saada
Taibeh Fr. Yaacoub Abu Saada
Rafidia Fr. Youssef Saadeh
PRIESTS WITH OTHER FUNCTIONS:
Fathers Mtanios Haddad, Amadea Brulnella and Michael Nicholas S.B., in charge of the seminary at Belt Sahur and the adjacent school.
Fr. Nazih Hayek M.S.P., in charge of the school at Ramallah.
Fr. Philip Youakim S.B., in charge of the Home ar Kubeibeh.
Fr. Nabih Safi S.B., Superior at the House of Tantour.
Monasteries within the Patriarchate:
St. John of the Desert, of French origin, see page 236.
Benedictine Nuns of the Emmanuel, of Belgian origin, see page 233.
Salvatorian Monastery of Tantour, with ecumenical aims.
Nuns Serving in the Patriarchate:
- Little Sisters of Jesus (Charles de Foucauld) at the 6th Station, Bethania, Jerusalem (new city), Bethlehem, Gaza and Ramallah.
- German Sisters of ?Salvator Mundi at the school and junior seminary at Beit Sahour.
Lay Auxiliaries in the Patriarchate:
- International Feminine Auxiliaries at the school of Ramallah, Association of the Families and Hospitals of Jerusalem.
- Other Auxiliaries at the Pilgrims' Hostel next to the Patriarchate.
Some Activities of the Patriarchate:
- THE ANNUNCIATION WELFARE ASSOCIATION, in the Old City of Jerusalem since 1950. It has organized:
* a pediatric medical centre, with an educational programme for mothers,
* a dental clinic for people of modest income,
* a centre for basic literacy,
* a students' fund,
* distribution of medicine, food and clothing for the needy. The Laboratory, conceived in 1981, is now in operation.
- COURSES OF RELIGIOUS AND APOSTOLIC FORMATION for the laity helping the parish priests in various Church activities, founded in 1975. A two-year course of studies is given in Arabic covering dogma, the Bible, moral principles and liturgy, the whole being centred on the history of Man's salvation.
- HOUSING for large and homeless families in difficulty. In an account given by Abp Laham in 1981 one finds the following:
?Very large Christian families live in deplorable conditions, ten to a room in delapidated houses. There is a strong temptation for them to emigrate. The number of Christians in Jerusalem is down to a danger point:
1947...... 45,000 Christians in Jerusalem.
1967...... 25,000 Christians in Jerusalem.
1979...... 10,000 Christians in Jerusalem.
What, then, would Jerusalem be for the Christians of the whole world if the local Church, the living body of Christ, were to disappear? As Pope Paul VI declared, it would be no more than a museum, stones without life?...
Hence the patriarchal Housing Project. 36 homes built on land belonging to the Patriarchate at Beit Hanina (Jerusalem), each unit having five rooms and 110 square metres of floor-space. It may be noted that work, begun in 1981, was completed in 1983.
- THE CENTRE FOR THE CHRISTIAN EAST, an ecumenical undertaking. Inaugurated in 1984, this Centre has as its aim to make known everything bearing a relation to the Christian East - theological thought, liturgy, history, spirituality, art, ikons, discipline, etc. The means used will include:
* a library and reading-room for both local people and pilgrims,
* exhibitions bearing on different aspects of the eastern heritage,
* courses or lectures on the eastern heritage in various languages, open to young and old, men and women, regular clergy and nuns.
* the publication of booklets on the eastern heritage, particularly on the history of the different communities and on ikons, history and documents concerning the Christian East. As examples of what has been achieved already one may cite:
* the exhibition of Arabic religious books in October 1984,
* the exhibition of ikonograpny in March 1985,
* the exhibition of monastic habits (dress) in October 1985, in coordination with the theme of the academic year of 1985-86, ?Eastern Monachism?.
The courses have been planned in three terms, covering in turn the history of Palestinian monastic life, the spiritual writings of the Fathers of the Desert and finally monastic spirituality, with eight visits to old monasteries to give direct contact with the monks, their traditions and their present way of life. In this way the Centre for the Christian East wishes to pass on the message of the monks to the Christians of the present day, for the Fathers, the monks and the elders have in every time and age something about the SPIRIT to say to the Church! |
