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Melkite Greek Catholic Church |
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Melkite Greek Catholic Church
Holy Synod
Patriarch Gregorios III’s Address
to the Holy Synod 18 June 2007
Dearly Beloved Brothers,
May the blessing of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God the Father and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
With this greeting, the priest commends the faithful at the beginning of the Eucharistic prayer, asking them to lift up their hearts and thank God for his special blessings both visible and invisible, and especially for the mystery of redemption through which our Lord, Jesus Christ united the things of earth and of heaven in his body in Holy Communion. “For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; …and came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.” (Ephesians 2: 14, 17) This salvation culminated in the descent of the Holy Spirit in tongues of fire upon the Apostles on the Day of Pentecost, commissioning them to carry the preaching of the Gospel of Love to the whole world. So the Apostles went out into the whole world and the Holy Spirit gave them the power “to proclaim his ordinances and dispensation to the nations, like a lyre mystically moved by the divine plectrum.” (Kathisma, Tone 8, Vespers of Pentecost) This is the nature of our Church in the Arab East, whence the Christian Church, born on the Day of Pentecost, spread out through history over the whole world. So we are together here today in our Holy Synod, from all the Arab countries and from countries of the whole world, to live together a New Pentecost. We thank God for our unity and our gathering together in our Patriarchal Church, of which we are proud.
I was invited at the beginning of this month, June 2007, to a very old monastery dating from the eighth century, built by Emperor Charlemagne in Corvey, near the German city of Paderborn and I gave a talk there on 3rd. June about the miracle of Pentecost, the event described by those who arranged the conference as the beginning of global dialogue (Dialogus Mundi): God talking to the world! the Church talking to the world, in the language of the people, and in the cultures of the people, and conveying to them, through the power of the Holy Spirit, the Holy Gospel, which is the Gospel of dialogue, of love and of unity. In it, we can see Jesus, the supreme man of dialogue, nay, we can see God himself in the person of Jesus Christ, our Lord God and Saviour, talking to people, loving them, telling them stories of God the Father’s love for them, and renewing them by his Holy Spirit, making from two one; from God and man, and from man and his brother man.
Dearly Beloved,
it is very good to live this unity in this Patriarchal Synod, and discover the importance of living this unity in a divided world: the world is divided! Our Arab world is divided! Lebanon is divided, destroyed! Palestine, the Holy Land, the saved and redeemed land, lies bleeding, ruined! And Iraq, the land of our common father, the land of Abraham, father of all believers, Christians, Muslims and Jews, Iraq is divided, bloodied, a holocaust. In this divided world, we see the mystery of iniquity, the power of sins and the culture of sin, affecting the very mystery of Christ, and affecting the mystery of love and the culture of love and life…in this world, which is far from God and in need of God, in hunger and thirst for God and for Christ for survival…
In this world we discover the importance of our Gospel’s spiritual values, in a world that has lost these values and is in need of the Holy Spirit’s refreshing breath, and the Spirit’s messengers to restore these values to it, and carry the words of life to it.
It is very good to live this unity in our blessed annual Synod: we live this unity for a beautiful week, praying together and thinking together, having in our midst the Gospel spirit, brotherly love and ecclesial unity. We live the unity of vision through the variety and quantity of opinions!
We live the unity of vision in all its breadth; we live this unity in our Church through the unity of the Liturgikon and the Mysteries and ministry, especially youth ministry, and these are the subject of our Patriarchal Synod, which we shall hold in the coming September (24-29).
We have to live the unity of love and hope and belief, live our unity with God, with the Master, Christ, in the Holy Eucharist and amongst ourselves, as we never cease from saying in the celebration of the Holy Liturgy: “Christ is among us! He is and will be!”
We are living in this Synod and outside it the unity of the future for our united Melkite Greek Catholic Church - success, effective witnessing, service, integrity, leadership…
The unity of the Church as Greek Catholic is very important for our Arab unity, and through the fact that we are numerous in Lebanon, Syria, Palestine, Jordan and Egypt, and fewer in Iraq, Kuwait and the other Arab countries, like Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Oman…
Let us not forget the importance of our unity in the whole world: especially Europe, Canada, the United States of America, Latin America, especially Mexico, Brazil, Argentina and in Australia and New Zealand…
Our unity in all these areas, the Arab region and the whole world, is very important. On the Arab side, Christians and Islam…and on the universal side…our unity is important “so that the world may believe…” as our Lord Jesus Christ prayed before his Passion. Yes, the unity of our Church in its services, its institutions, its churches and parishioners, the unity of bishops, priests, monks, nuns and believers among our people, this unity is a major component in the unity and faith of the world, proclaiming hope and growing love among its peoples, since the survival of the world depends on its unity! For when the world is divided, it is sick unto death.
Yes! Let us make the unity of our Church a pattern of unity in a divided world, our unity as clergy and people, a spiritual support to all our sons and daughters in their faith, to awaken their spirit of responsibility for their countries, their social and political responsibility as believers…
Our unity is a support to keep our believers in this Arab East! Our unity produces in them a reason not to emigrate, making them stay here and understand their duties in their communities, here and everywhere. That was the subject of my Christmas Letter of 2006, entitled: “Peace, Living Together and the Christian Presence in the Arab East.”
Dear Brothers, your presence is making me even more aware and adding to my already wide knowledge of your parishes, and my respect for your projects and the effectiveness of our sons and daughters. These topics will be further presented to us through our important talks. We have sent you in advance a list of the topics which we are going to discuss. You have in your hands the file on these subjects, relating specially to the organisation of ecclesiastical justice according to canon law and the method of formation of monastic clergy at St. Anne, Rabweh, established by my blessed predecessor, Patriarch Maximos V, Then besides those things, I wish to mention especially the preparation of the Patriarchal Synod, which will take place in the coming September, as I remarked above. Then we shall prepare for the ordinary session of the Synod of Bishops in Rome in October 2008, entitled: “The Word of God in the Life and Mission of the Church,” which will be guided by His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI. I will be present at it alongside my Eastern Catholic brother Patriarchs, and a large number of bishops of the Latin Church from all over the world and from our Church. A bishop from our Synod will accompany me. We will elect him through the usual procedure, and he must have a good knowledge and practice of the Holy Gospel. After our Synod’s vote in the prescribed manner, we shall proceed to put forward the names of candidates to the episcopate, to prepare good shepherds for our Church.
Lebanon
Lebanon has been hosting Melkite Greek Catholic Synods for the last three hundred years, because it is a safe, secure, independent, leading country. The servant of God, Pope John Paul II gave it another wonderful name, saying: “Lebanon is a mission.” The uncertain times and the series of assassinations that have swept away some exemplary figures, frighten every Lebanese everywhere. The internal divisions and sectarianism, each group in a district of Beirut holding its partisan viewpoint, with their leaders, each backing his own political theory, like the feudal lords in their castles in bygone centuries, all this has destroyed this historical, wonderful portrait of cedared Lebanon, so the Lebanese became afraid for their lives, for their work, for their universities, schools, districts and their present and future!
We appeal, in my name and the name of all the Bishops, Fathers of the Holy Synod, to all the Lebanese people, the three Presidents, and the leaders of all parties, reminding them of the word of the Holy Gospel (Matthew 12:25): “every … house divided against itself cannot stand!” That is what we are seeing with great sorrow in Lebanon. Lebanon is a rare mission! It is a special mission to all its children with all their religions; it is an Arabic mission among Arab countries. It is the face of the Middle East to the whole world.
This mission is a yoke on the Lebanese people, and from the logic of Lebanese history, it tells them not to be afraid! Lebanon will remain a mission. All of us, with our unity and gathering together, are protecting our Lebanon, as Lebanon is a mission! Our condolence for those families whose members have died protecting their country. We pray daily for our army and our soldiers, as, thanks to the security they provide, we may live a safe and comfortable life.
Palestine
We appeal with a word to our Palestinian brothers and children, whom we served for twenty-six years, reminding them in the words of the holy Psalm 54 (55): “For if an enemy had reproached me, I would have endured it; and if one who hated me had spoken boastfully against me, I would have hidden myself from him. But thou art a man, like-minded, my guide and mine acquaintance...” We add to that, that you, Palestinian, are my brother and my friend in the struggle and the Intifada, but this violence of mutual killing and infighting is a shame on us. It is an evil thing, which is destroying our people’s hopes for the whole world to admit the case for their having historical, legal rights to their lands, their homes and holy religions. We say to them, “Stop fighting,” and let us spread the word, “Unite with each other for the success of your case.”
Iraq
We say to our Iraqi brothers that they are adding to the suffering of the occupation the suffering of their own fighting, and to the bloody series of crimes which destroys property and all people’s lives, Christians and Muslims, Sunni and Shi’ite and others! The unity of Iraq is the future of Iraq.
We are ready to give more help to our brother Iraqi refugees, and make the effort in all our churches and organisations for their spiritual welfare, offering facilities for their worship and places for their Christian education and parish events. And for them we pray that their way of the cross and passion will end with the joy of freedom, independence and resurrection.
Syria
We have to say a word to Syria, which is our Antiochian Patriarchal See: we know that there is a lot of pressure upon beloved Syria and we know the depth of the wounds in the relationship between Syria and Lebanon and we know the big challenges to peace plans in the area, and as Lebanon and Syria are the only countries with their borders in the front-line of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, both of them are paying a high price.
Because of that, we ask God to make the relationship of the two brother-countries better, because they are brothers by culture, family, economic, geographic and historic ties, which guarantee the peace-plan, to which our young generations especially are looking.
We ask for our parishioners everywhere to raise prayers for Lebanon, and for those Arab countries each of which is going through a very critical stage in its history, and especially in Palestine, Iraq and Syria, for friendly forgiveness, love and respect for life, as it is a gift for the whole people.
Conclusion
We pray for the souls of our brothers who have departed to their Father’s house, thrice-blessed Bishop John Mansour and Bishop Michel Hakim and our sister, the nun, Lucien van der Plas, who served the Patriarchate for fifty years, and we welcome the new members, Bishop Michael Abrass, the Patriarchal Auxiliary and Bishop Abduh Arbash, Patriarchal Exarch for Argentina and Bishop Elia Haddad, Bishop of Saida and Deir al Kammar and we wish them all success in their new places of service.
I would like to salute His Beatitude, Patriarch Cardinal Mar Ignatius Moussa Daoud, whose resignation as President of the Synod of Eastern Churches His Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI has accepted because he has reached the canonical retirement age. We welcome his successor, Archbishop Leonardo Sandri, and we shall send to both a letter of thanks in the name of the all the Fathers of the Holy Synod.
Finally, thank you for your love and I hope this Synod’s projects and our work will be for the glory of the Saviour and for the good of his Church and our sons and daughters, our parishioners and especially the youth in their Christian mission, their faith and choices and responsibility in their countries and their societies.
Finally, we remember our Holy Virgin Mary, Mother of God, Hodegitria, and the patron of this Holy Monastery, we remember the patrons and founders of our parishes, and we commend to Christ our God the work of our Holy Synod, ourselves and our whole lives.
May Christ be among us! He is and will be!
With my love and blessing,
Gregorios III,
Patriarch of Antioch and all the East, of Alexandria and of Jerusalem
Translation from the Arabic: Maher Labbad
English language editor: V. Chamberlain
Final Communiqué of the Synod of the Melkite Greek Catholic Church Ain Traz 18 – 23 June 2007
The Holy Synod of the Melkite Greek Catholic Church opened on Monday, 18 June 2007 at the Patriarchal summer residence of Ain Traz (Shouf) presided over by His Beatitude Patriarch Gregorios III and in the presence of the bishops of the Melkite Greek Catholic Church from around the world:
Mgr. Boulos Borkhosh, Metropolitan of Bosra and Hauran
Mgr. André Haddad, Archbishop of Furzol, Zahlé and the Beqaa
Mgr. John Adel Elia, Bishop emeritus, of Newton – USA
Mgr. Ibrahim Nehmé, Metropolitan emeritus of Homs, Hama and Yabrud
Mgr. Georges Riachi, Archbishop of Tripoli – Lebanon
Mgr. Yuhanna (John) Haddad, Metropolitan emeritus of Tyre
Mgr. Cyril (Selim) Bustros, Archbishop of Newton
Mgr. Boutros Moallem, Archbishop emeritus of Saint John of Acre, Haifa, Nazareth and all Galilee
Mgr. Isidore Battikha, Metropolitan of Homs, Hama and Yabroud
Mgr. Georges el Murr, Archbishop of Petra, Philadelphia (Amman) and of all Transjordan
Mgr. Jean Jeanbart, Metropolitan of Aleppo, of Seleucia, of Cyr
Mgr. Farès Maakaron, Archbishop of São Paulo – Brazil
Mgr. Georges Kahhalé, Apostolic Exarch of Venezuela
Mgr. Issam Darwish, Bishop of Australia and New Zealand
Mgr. Youssef Kallas, Metropolitan of Beirut and Jbeil
Mgr. Nicolas Sawaf, Archbishop of Lattakieh and Christian Valley – Syria
Mgr. Selim Ghazal, Patriarchal Auxiliary emeritus
Mgr. Joseph Absi, Patriarchal Vicar in Damascus
Mgr. Youssef-Jules Zerey, Patriarchal Vicar in Egypt and Sudan
Mgr. Georges Haddad, Archbishop of Paneas and Marjayyoun (Caesarea Philippi)
Mgr. Ibrahim Ibrahim, Bishop of Canada
Mgr. Elias Rahhal, Bishop of Baalbek
Mgr. Georges Bakouni, Metropolitan of Tyre
Mgr. Elias Shakkour, Archbishop of Saint John of Acre, Haifa, Nazareth and all Galilee
Mgr. Georges Bakar, Patriarchal Vicar in Jerusalem
Mgr. Michel Abrass, Patriarchal Auxiliary
Mgr. John-Abdo Arbash, Apostolic Exarch in Argentina
Mgr. Elia Beshara Haddad, Archbishop of Saida and Deir-el-Kamar
Also present the Superiors General:
Archimandrite Boulos Nazha, Superior General of the Soarite Basilian Order
Father Elia Aghia, Superior General of the Society of Missionaries of Saint Paul
The function of secretary was carried out by:
Mgr. Michel Abrass, Patriarchal Auxiliary, assisted by the Economos Elia Shatawi and Fr. Elia Kanbar.
Absent were the following bishops:
Mgr. Elias Zoghbi, Archbishop emeritus of Baalbek
Mgr. Hilarion Cappucci, Patriarchal Vicar emeritus in Jerusalem
Mgr. Gregory Haddad, Metropolitan emeritus of Beirut and Jbeil
Mgr. Boulos Antaki, Patriarchal Vicar emeritus in Egypt and Sudan
Mgr. Georges Kwaiter, Archbishop emeritus of Saida and of Deir-el-Kamar
Mgr. Nicolas Samra, Auxiliary emeritus of the Eparchy of Newton
Mgr. Antoine Hayek, Archbishop emeritus of Paneas and Marjayyoun (Caesarea Philippi)
Archimandrite Gabriel Ghannoum, Patriarchal Administrator in Mexico
Archimandrite Sleiman Abou-Zeid, Superior General of the Salvatorian Basilian Order
Archimandrite Seraphim Kassabji, Superior General of the Aleppine Basilian Order.
The Synod opened, after the initial prayer, with the address of His Beatitude Patriarch Gregorios III who compared this gathering of bishops to a new Pentecost bringing together all those present in the Holy Spirit through Love; he wished this same unity might be realised among all those who are fighting each other, in Iraq, in Palestine, in the Lebanon…in the hope of seeing peace reign everywhere. (See the whole text in Arabic on our web-site.)
Spiritual retreat:
By way of spiritual retreat, His Beatitude presented the encyclical letter “Deus Caritas Est” of Pope Benedict XVI (25 December 2006). Several paragraphs were read and commented upon. In the same way other passages were the subject of the spiritual reading at lunch-time.
First session:
At the first session of the Synod, His Beatitude commemorated the bishops who had passed into celestial bliss: Mgr. Jean Mansour, Paulist, Patriarchal Auxiliary in the Lebanon, who died on 17 November 2006, and Mgr. Michel Hakim, Salvatorian, Archbishop emeritus of Canada, who passed away in Montreal on 23 November 2006.
He welcomed the new bishops: Mgr. Michel Abrass, Aleppine Basilian, titular Archbishop of Myra in Lycia, Auxiliary in the Patriarchal Curia (consecrated 10 Dec. 2006), Mgr. John-Abdo Arbash, Soarite Basilian, titular Bishop of Palmyra, Apostolic Exarch in Argentina (consecrated 3 Feb. 2007) and Mgr. Elia-Beshara Haddad, Salvatorian Basilian, Archbishop of Sidon and Deir-el-Kamar (consecrated on 24 March 2007).
A word of thanks was addressed by His Beatitude to Cardinal Ignatius Moussa Daoud, for his efforts as Prefect of the Congregation for Eastern Churches, and of welcome to Mgr. Leonardo Sandri, recently named as Prefect of the Congregation for Eastern Churches. A letter to this effect was addressed to them.
Participants:
The number of Fathers present at the Synod was – besides His Beatitude- 28 prelates (out of 35) and two superiors general (out of four).
Proceedings:
The Secretary General of the Synod, Mgr. Michel Abrass, presented the days’ agenda in the name of His Beatitude. At the request of His Beatitude, a committee formed of three Bishops (Mgr. André Haddad, Mgr. Elia Haddad and Mgr. Issam Darwish) was elected to edit the final communiqué. Other decisions of an administrative nature were taken.
Synodal Ecclesiastical Tribunal:
The second day, Tuesday 19 June, was dedicated to the study of the statutes of the Synodal Tribunal of our Church, which will have to be approved by the Synod itself. After discussion of the plans presented by the canonical commission, and after having noted different points of law, the Fathers decided to form a committee to go over the text again; they elected for this committee Bishops Elia Haddad, Georges Haddad and Yuhanna Haddad to resolve the points at issue and to redraft the wording of the final text.
Besides them, there were also elected to the Synodal Tribunal:
Mgr. Elia Haddad, Justice Moderator
Mgr. Joseph Absi, member
Mgr. Yuhanna Haddad, member.
Their mandate is for five years; and all three will form the Synodal Tribunal.
Also elected were Mgr. Elia Haddad Promoter of Justice, Mgr. Georges Bacouni Defender of the Bond and Mgr. Elia Haddad President of the Tribunal’s Appellate Court.
The retirement (pension) of bishops emeriti:
On this same day, Mgr. Selim Ghazal explained the topic of the support of retired bishops. Several solutions were proposed (life insurance, special retirement fund, personal savings accounts…etc.). His Beatitude proposed his own solution:
a) Every bishop should save from his income to provide for his needs once retired.
b) His eparchy should treat him as an active priest and pay him a supplementary percentage.
c) In difficult cases (poor eparchies), there is a common fund that can help.
d) Failing that, the Patriarchate will subsidise.
At the following sitting, it was proposed to carry out a serious scientific economic study to name the sum necessary definitively to resolve this problem. It was also proposed to raise the pension of retired bishops from 400 $ to 600 $.
The Rabweh Seminary:
Three reports were presented concerning the Saint Anne Seminary at Rabweh
• The annual report drawn up by the Superior of the Seminary, Rev. Fr. Simon Constantin, and read by Mgr. Yuhanna Haddad, Moderator of the seminary.
• Study proposed by Mgr. Issam Darwish about the seminary.
• Report drawn up by Mgr. Michel Abrass, Fr. Simon Constantin and Fr.Hanna Dagher, responsible for vocations in the eparchy of Beirut and Jbeil.
At the end of a long discussion and different proposals, the Fathers of the Synod decided to revisit this subject in more depth at the next Synod; meanwhile they elected a committee of three bishops to manage the seminary next year (2007-2008): Mgr. Michel Abrass, Mgr. Ibrahim Nehmé and Mgr. Elia Haddad. His Beatitude chose Mgr. Abrass as Moderator.
Visit of the Apostolic Nuncio:
The visit of the Apostolic Nuncio to Lebanon, Mgr. Luigi Gatti, to the Fathers of the Synod encouraged the assembly; evidently the dialogue touched on the difficult situation of the Church, especially in Lebanon.
Division of the Eparchy of Beirut and Jbeil:
On Friday 22 June, Mgr. Selim Ghazal set out the topic “Should the Eparchy of Beirut and Jbeil be divided into two eparchies or not?” giving the pros and cons of such a division. The problem was not discussed by the Fathers of the Synod, who elected a committee of three prelates to pursue the study of this subject in greater depth and explain it to the Synod next year. The committee is composed of Mgr. Selim Ghazal as moderator, and Mgr. Ibrahim Nehmé and Mgr. Yuhanna Haddad, as members.
Patriarchal Assembly:
At the ninth session of the Synod, on Friday 22 June, Rev. Fr. Elia Kanbar, tasked by His Beatitude with preparing the Patriarchal Assembly for 24 to 29 September 2007, laid before the Fathers of the Synod all the preparations that had already been made; this Patriarchal Assembly would be held at the Patriarchal Residence at Rabweh and has as its theme “Youth Ministry and Sacramental Ministry”; he ran quickly through the speakers and the subject chosen by each. He gave out copies of the hymn composed for the occasion by Mgr. Joseph Absi. This hymn will be translated into French by Mgr. Youssef-Jules Zerey and into English by Mgr. John Elya.
World Youth Days:
Mgr. Issam Darwish explained in his turn the preparations being made for these Days to be held in Sydney in Australia from 15 to 20 July 2008, and explained the steps and all the facilities for participating.
G.M.A.:
In the same way he explained to the Fathers of the Synod the development and extension of the G.M.A website (Global Melkite Association inc.) and sought all possible help to support the development of such a useful website for our Church.
Common Fund:
Next, Mgr. Yuhanna Haddad gave an account of the Common Fund, showing the previous year’s statements: “It is obvious,” he said, “that the more funds there are, the more we are able to help people.”
New Archbishop for Jordan:
During the meetings reserved for bishops, His Beatitude announced that the permanent Synod had accepted the resignation of Mgr. Georges al-Murr on grounds of age, and that a new archbishop had to be elected.
His Beatitude warmly thanked Mgr. el-Murr and the Fathers of the Synod proceeded to the election on Thursday 21 June: Rev. Fr. Yasser Ayyash, a Jordanian, was elected to the see of Petra, Philadelphia (Amman) and all Jordan. Mabrouk.
Various:
Several other subjects concerning our Melkite Greek Catholic Church were discussed quickly because of the short time available, such as: our Church and emigration, the annual reports of eparchies, the Episcopal Synod in Rome and our participation, the list of possible candidates for episcopal office, the canonical visit of His Beatitude to eparchies, our Church in the Holy Land, in Argentina, in Mexico…etc.
Conclusion:
On the morning of Saturday 23 June, the Divine Liturgy concelebrated by the bishops around His Beatitude Patriarch Gregorios III closed the Synod with a prayer from the heart to Almighty God to keep his Church safe and sound so that it might announce the Good News to the whole world.
The desire for peace everywhere and especially in Lebanon was the prevailing theme in the final communiqué of the Holy Synod this year 2007.
Issued at the Patriarchal summer residence, Ain Traz, 23 June 2007
Communiqué Final du Synode de l’Eglise Grecque Melkite Catholique Aïn Traz 18 – 23 Juin 2007.
Le Saint Synode de l’Eglise Grecque Melkite Catholique s’est ouvert le lundi 18 Juin 2007 à la résidence patriarcale estivale de Aïn Traz (Chouf) sous la présidence de Sa Béatitude le Patriarche Grégorios III et la présence des évêques de l’Eglise Grecque Melkite Catholique du monde entier :
Mgr. Boulos Borkhoche, métropolite de Bosra et du Hauran
Mgr. André Haddad, archevêque de Furzol, Zahlé et de la Békaa
Mgr. John Adel Elia, évêque émérite, de Newton – USA
Mgr. Ibrahim Nehmé, métropolite émérite de Homs, Hama et Yabrud
Mgr. Georges Riachi, archevêque de Tripoli – Liban
Mgr. Yuhanna (Jean) Haddad, métropolite émérite de Tyr
Mgr. Cyrille (Sélim) Bustros, archevêque de Newton
Mgr. Boutros Moallem, archevêque émérite de Saint-Jean d’Acre, Haïfa, Nazareth et toute la Galilée
Mgr. Isidore Battikha, métropolite de Homs, Hama et Yabroud
Mgr. Georges el Murr, archevêque de Petra, Philadelphie (Amman) et de toute la Transjordanie
Mgr. Jean Jeanbart, métropolite d’Alep, de Sélucie, de Cyr
Mgr. Farès Maakaron, archevêque de Sao Paulo – Brésil
Mgr. Georges Kahhalé, Exarque apostolique du Vénézuela
Mgr. Issam Darwish, évêque d’Australie et de Nouvelle Zélande
Mgr. Youssef Kallas, métropolite de Beyrouth et de Jbeil
Mgr. Nicolas Saouaf, archevêque de Lattakieh et de la Vallée des chrétiens – Syrie
Mgr. Sélim Ghazal, auxiliaire patriarcal émérite
Mgr. Joseph Absi, Vicaire patriarcal à Damas
Mgr. Youssef-Jules Zerey, vicaire patriarcal en Egypte et au Soudan
Mgr. Georges Haddad, archevêque de Panéas et de Margeyoun (Césarée
de Philippe)
Mgr. Ibrahim Ibrahim, évêque du Canada
Mgr. Elias Rahhal, archevêque de Baalbeck
Mgr. Georges Bakouni, métropolite de Tyr
Mgr. Elias Chakkour, archevêque de Saint-Jean d’Acre, de Haïfa, Nazareth et de toute la Galilée
Mgr. Georges Bakar, vicaire patriarcal à Jérusalem
Mgr. Michel Abrass, auxiliaire patriarcal
Mgr. Jean-Abdo Arbache, Exarque apostolique en Argentine
Mgr. Elie Béchara Haddad, archevêque de Saïda et de Deir-el-Kamar
Furent présents de même les Supérieurs Généraux :
Archimandrite Boulos Nazha, supérieur général de l’Ordre Basilien Chouérite Père Elie Aghia, supérieur général de la société des Missionnaires de Saint Paul La fonction de secrétaire a été assurée par:
Mgr. Michel Abrass, axillaire patriarcal, aidé par l’Economos Elie Chatawi et le P. Elie Kanbar.
Étaient absents les évêques suivants :
Mgr. Elias Zoghbi, archevêque émérite de Baalbeck
Mgr. Hilarion Cappucci, vicaire patriarcal à Jérusalem
Mgr. Grégoire Haddad, métropolite émérite de Beyrouth et de Jbeil
Mgr. Boulos Antaki, vicaire patriarcal émérite en Egypte et au Soudan
Mgr. Georges Koueiter, archevêque émérite de Saïda et de Deir-el-Kamar
Mgr. Nicolas Samra, auxiliaire émérite de l’éparchie de Newton
Mgr. Antoine Hayek, archevêque émérite de Panéas et de Margeyoun (Césarée de Philippe)
L’archimandrite Gabriel Ghannoum, administrateur patriarcal au Mexique
L’archimandrite Sleiman Abou-Zeid, supérieur général de l’Ordre Basilien Salvatorien
L’archimandrite Séraphim Kassabji, supérieur général de l’Ordre Basiliens Alépins.
Le synode s’ouvrit, après la prière initiale, par le discours de Sa Béatitude le Patriarche Grégorios III qui compara cette réunion des évêques à une nouvelle Pentecôte qui réunit dans l’Esprit Saint par l’Amour tous les présents ; Il souhaiterait que cette même union se réalise entre tous ceux qui se combattent entre eux, en Irak, en Palestine, au Liban… dans l’espoir de voir la paix régner partout. (Voir le texte intégral en arabe dans notre web site).
Retraite spirituelle :
En guise d’une retraite spirituelle, Sa Béatitude présenta la lettre encyclique « Deus caritas est » du Pape Benoît XVI (25 Décembre 2006). Plusieurs paragraphes furent lus et commentés. D’autres furent de même l’objet de la lecture spirituelle du repas de midi.
Première séance :
A la première séance du synode, Sa Béatitude fit la mémoire des
évêques passés à la béatitude céleste: Mgr. Jean Mansour, pauliste, auxiliaire patriarcal au Liban, décédé le 17 Novembre 2006, et Mgr Michel Hakim, salvatorien, archevêque émérite du Canada, trépassé à Montréal le 23 Novembre 2006.
Il souhaita la bienvenue aux nouveaux évêques : Mgr. Michel Abras, basilien alépin, archevêque titulaire de Myre en Lycie, auxiliaire dans la curie patriarcale (sacré le 10 Déc. 2006), Mgr Jean-Abdo Arbach, basilien chouérite, évêque titulaire de Palmyre, exarque apostolique en Argentine (sacré le 3 Févr. 2007) et Mgr. Elie-Béchara Haddad, basilien salvatorien, archevêque de Sidon et de Deir-el-Kamar (sacré le 24 Mars 2007).
Un mot de remerciement fut adressé par Sa Béatitude au Cardinal Ignace Moussa Daoud, pour ses efforts comme Préfet de la Congrégation pour les Eglises Orientales et souhaita le bienvenue à Mgr. Leonardo Sandri, récemment nommé Préfet de la Congrégation pour les Eglises Orientales. Une lettre en ce sens leur fut adressée
Participants:
Le nombre des Pères présents au synode était -outre Sa Béatitude- 28 prélats (de 35) et deux supérieurs généraux (de quatre).
Déroulement:
Le secrétaire général du synode, Mgr. Michel Abrass, présenta au nom de Sa Béatitude le programme quotidien. A la demande de Sa Béatitude, une commission formée de trois évêques (Mgr. André Haddad, Mgr. Elie Haddad et Mgr. Issam Darwish) fut élue pour la rédaction du communiqué final. D'autres décisions de type administratif y furent prises.
Tribunal ecclésiastique synodal:
Le second jour, mardi 19 juin, fut consacré à l'étude du règlement du tribunal synodal de notre Eglise, qui devra être approuvé par le synode lui-même. Après discussion du projet présenté par la commission canonique, et après avoir relevé différents points de litige, les Pères décidèrent de former une commission pour reprendre le texte ; Ils élisent pour cette commission les évêques : Elie Haddad, Georges Haddad et Yuhanna Haddad pour résoudre ces points discutés et reconstituer la rédaction du texte final.
En outre, furent élus pour le tribunal synodal aussi:
Mgr. Elie Haddad, modérateur de justice.
Mgr. Joseph Absi, membre
Mgr. Yuhanna Haddad, membre.
Leur mandat sera pour cinq ans; et tous les trois formeront le Tribunal Synodal.
Furent élus aussi Mgr. Elie Haddad promoteur de justice, Mgr Georges Bacouni défenseur du lien et Mgr Elie Haddad Président du tribunal d’appel.
La retraite (pension) des évêques émérites:
Ce même jour, Mgr Sélim Ghazal exposa le thème de la subvention des
évêques émérites. Plusieurs solutions furent proposées (Assurance de vie, caisse spéciale pour les retraités, épargnes personnelles…etc.). Sa Béatitude proposa sa solution :
a) Tout évêque devrait économiser de ses rentes pour pouvoir satisfaire à ses besoins une fois émérite.
b) Son éparchie devrait le traiter comme un prêtre en fonction et lui payer en plus un pourcentage.
c) Dans les cas difficiles (éparchies pauvres), il y a la caisse commune qui peut venir en aide.
d) Le cas échéant, le patriarcat subventionnera.
A la séance suivante, on proposa de faire une étude scientifique économique sérieuse pour pouvoir préciser la somme nécessaire et résoudre ce problème définitivement. On proposa aussi de relever la pension des évêques émérites de 400 $ à 600 $.
Le Séminaire de Raboué:
Trois rapports furent présentés concernant le Séminaire Sainte-Anne à Raboué
• Rapport annuel rédigé par le supérieur du séminaire, le R.P. Simon Constantin, et lu par Mgr Yuhanna Haddad, modérateur du séminaire.
• Etude proposée par Mgr Issam Darwish concernant le séminaire.
• Rapport rédigé par Mgr Michel Abrass, P. Simon Constantin et P.Hanna Dagher, chargé des vocations dans l’éparchie de Beyrouth et Jbeil.
A la suite d’une longue discussion et différentes propositions, les Pères du synode décidèrent de revoir ce sujet d’une manière plus approfondie au synode prochain ; en attendant ils élirent une commission de trois évêques pour diriger le séminaire l’année prochaine (2007-2008) : Mgr Michel Abrass, Mgr Ibrahim Nehmé et Mgr Elie Haddad. Et Sa Béatitude choisit Mgr Abras comme modérateur.
Visite du Nonce Apostolique :
La visite du Nonce Apostolique au Liban, Mgr Luigi Gatti, aux Pères du synode encouragea l’assemblée ; Evidement le dialogue traita de la situation difficile de l’Eglise spécialement au Liban.
Division de l’éparchie de Beyrouth et Jbeil :
Vendredi 22 juin, Mgr Sélim Ghazal exposa le thème « Faut-il diviser l’éparchie de Beyrouth et Jbeil en deux éparchie ou non ? », donnant le pour et le contre d’une telle division. Le problème ne fut pas discuté par les Pères du synode qui élisent une commission de trois prélats pour poursuivre l’étude de ce sujet d’une manière plus approfondie et l’exposer au synode de l’année prochaine. La commision se composa de Mgr Sélim Ghazal comme modérateur, et de Mgr Ibrahim Nehmé et Mgr Yuhanna Haddad, membres.
Assemblée patriarcale :
A la neuvième session du synode, le vendredi 22 juin, le R.P. Elie Kanbar, chargé par Sa Béatitude de préparer l’Assemblée patriarcale du 24 au 29 Septembre 2007, exposa aux Pères du synode tous les préparatifs déjà faits ; Cette Assemblée patriarcale se tiendra à la résidence patriarcale à Raboué et a pour thème « Pastorale des jeunes et pastorale des Sacrements » ; il présenta rapidement les conférenciers et le sujet traité par chacun. Il distribua l’hymne composé pour l’occasion par Mgr Joseph Absi. Cet hymne sera traduit en français par Mgr Zerey, et en anglais par Mgr John Elya.
Journées mondiales des jeunes :
Mgr Issam Darwish exposa à son tour les préparatifs pour ces Journées qui se tiendront à Sydney en Australie du 15 au 20 Juillet 2006, et expliqua les démarches et toutes les facilités pour y participer.
G.M.A. :
De même il expliqua aux Pères du synode le développement et l’extension du website G.M.A (Global Melkite Association inc.) et souhaita toute l’aide possible pour faire avancer un tel web utile à notre Eglise.
Caisse commune :
Ensuite, Mgr Yuhanna Haddad donna un compte-rendu de la Caisse Commune, montrant le budget de l’année passée ; « il va de soi, dit-il, plus la Caisse est pleine plus nous avons la possibilité d’aider. »
Nouvel archevêque pour la Jordanie :
Pendant les réunions réservées aux évêques, Sa Béatitude annonça que le synode permanent a accepté la démission de Mgr Georges al-Murr pour raison d’âge, et qu’il est nécessaire d’élire un nouvel archevêque.
Sa Béatitude remercia vivement Mgr el-Murr et les Pères du synode procédèrent à l’élection le jeudi 21 Juin ; Le R.P. Yasser Ayyash, jordanien, a été élu pour le siège de Petra, Philadelphie (Amman) et de toute la Jordanie. Mabrouk.
Varia :
Plusieurs autres sujets concernant notre Eglise Grecque Melkite Catholique furent discutés rapidement à cause de la brièveté du temps, entre autres : Notre Eglise et l’Emigration, les rapports annuels des éparchies, le synode des évêques à Rome et notre participation, la liste des épiscopables, la visite canonique de Sa Béatitude aux éparchies, notre Eglise en Terre Sainte, en Argentine, au Mexique…etc.
Conclusion :
Samedi 23 juin matin, la Sainte Liturgie concélébrée par les évêques autour de Sa Béatitude le Patriarche Grégorios III clôtura le synode par une prière du cœur à Dieu Tout Puissant de garder son Eglise saine et sauve afin qu’elle puisse annoncer la Bonne Nouvelle au monde entier.
Le désir de la paix partout et spécialement au Liban était la note prédominante du communiqué final du saint synode de cette année 2007.
Donné à la résidence patriarcale d’été, Aïn Traz, le 23 Juin 2007