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Melkite Greek Catholic Church |
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Melkite Greek Catholic Church
Holy Synod
Final Communiqué
of the Synod of the Melkite Greek Catholic Church
Ain Traz, 9 – 14 October 2006
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The Synod of the Melkite Greek Catholic Church met at the patriarchal summer residence of Ain Traz in Lebanon from 9th. to 14th. October 2006 under the presidency of His Beatitude Patriarch Gregorios III, Patriarch of Antioch and all the East, of Alexandria and of Jerusalem.
Bishops present :
H.E. Paul Borkhosh, Metropolitan of Bosra, Khabab and Jabal el Arab
H.E. André Haddad, Archbishop of Furzol and Zahlé
H.E. John Adel Elya, Bishop Emeritus of Newton in the United States of America
H.E. Ibrahim Nehmé, Metropolitan Emeritus of Homs, Hama and Yabroud
H.E. Georges Riachi, Archbishop of Tripoli
H.E. Georges Kwaiter, Archbishop of Saida and Deir el Kamar
H.E. Jean Haddad, Metropolitan Emeritus of Tyre
H.E. Cyril Bustros, Archbishop-Bishop of Newton in the United States of America
H.E. Antoine Hayek, Archbishop of Banias and Marjayoun
H.E. Boutros Mouallem, Archbishop Emeritus of Acre, Haifa and Galilee.
H.E. Isidore Battikha, Metropolitan of Homs, Hama and Yabroud
H.E. Georges El Murr, Archbishop of Petra, Philadelphia and Jordan
H.E. Jean Jeanbart, Metropolitan of Aleppo and Apostolic Visitor in Western Europe
H.E. Fares Maakaroun, Archbishop-Bishop of São Paulo, Brazil
H.E. Issam Darwish, Bishop of Australia and New Zealand
H.E. Joseph Kallas, Metropolitan of Beirut and Jbeil
H.E. Nicolas Sawaf, Archbishop of Lattakieh.
H.E. Salim Ghazal, Patriarchal Auxiliary Emeritus
H.E. Joseph Absi, Patriarchal Auxiliary
H.E. Jules Joseph Zerey, Patriarchal Vicar in Cairo and the Sudan
H.E. Georges Haddad, Patriarchal Exarch Emeritus in Argentina and Former Apostolic Administrator of the eparchy of Acre, Haifa and Galilee.
H.E. Elias Rahal, Archbishop of Baalbek
H.E. Georges Bacouni, Metropolitan of Tyre
H.E. Elias Chaccour, Archbishop of Acre, Haifa and Galilee
H.E. Georges Bakar, Patriarchal Vicar in Jerusalem
Archimandrite Gabriel Ghanoum, Patriarchal Administrator in Mexico.
Superiors general of the following religious orders present:
Archimandrite Sleiman Abou Zeid, Superior General of the Basilian Salvatorian Order
Archimandrite Paul Nazha, Superior General of the Basilian Shweirite (Choueirite) Order
Archimandrite Seraphim Kassabji, Superior General of the Basilian Aleppine Order
Bishops not present:
H.E. Elias Zoghbi, Archbishop Emeritus of Baalbek
H.E. Hilarion Capucci, Patriarchal Vicar in Jerusalem
H.E. Grégoire Haddad, Metropolitan Emeritus of Beirut and Jbeil.
H.E. Paul Antaki, Patriarchal Vicar Emeritus in Cairo and the Sudan
H.E. Michel Hakim, Archbishop-Bishop Emeritus of Canada
H.E. Spiridon Matar, Bishop Emeritus of São Paulo in Brazil
H.E. Jean Mansour, Patriarchal Auxiliary Emeritus
H.E. Nicolas Samra, Auxiliary Bishop Emeritus of Newton in the United States of America
H.E. Georges Kahaly, Apostolic Exarch of Venezuela
H.E. Ibrahim Ibrahim, Bishop of Canada
Rev. Father Elias Aghia, Superior General of the Paulist Society
I- Opening session
His Beatitude Gregorios III opened the Synod’s work with a press conference, during which he touched upon the war which had stricken the very foundations of the Lebanon, praying to God for all those who died as martyrs for their country and for those who suffered. His Beatitude particularly emphasised the damage to human life and property suffered by our eparchies of Tyre, Marjayoun and Baalbek. Patriarch Gregorios III appealed to His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI, to the European Episcopal Conferences, to kings and présidents, especially those of Arab countries, asking them to watch over the ending of hostilities in Lebanon and the sending of relief. The Patriarch ended by inviting the Fathers of the Synod to a day of spiritual retreat, for which the preacher was H.E. Metropolite Jean Haddad who called the Fathers to work together in Synod around the theme of “Christ is in our midst.”
II- Work of the Synod
1- Global network – www.melkites.org
His Beatitude presented the project of an Internet site common to our whole Church, initiated by H.E. Bishop Issam Darwish the aim of which is the creation of links between the sons and daughters of the Melkite Greek Catholic Church. The Internet site www.melkites.org will gather together spiritual and social archives from our Church, highlighting the role of the laity in all fields.
2- World Youth Day (WYD)
H.E. Bishop Issam Darwish gave a detailed explanation of the World Youth Day (WYD) which will take place in July 2008 in Sydney in Australia. Bishop Darwish called for massive participation by our young people.
3- Elections
The Fathers of the Synod proceeded to the election of bishops for sees currently vacant:
a- The successor of H.E. Archbishop Georges Kwaiter to the see of Saida and Deir el Kamar was elected. His name will be revealed in due course.
b- H.E. Archbishop Georges Haddad succeeds H.E. Mgr Antoine Hayek, retiring due to age, to the see of Banias and Marjayoun (Caesarea Philippi).
c- S.E. Archbishop Joseph Absi, patriarchal auxiliary, was elected patriarchal vicar in Damascus where he succeeds H.E. Isidore Battikha elected on February 2006 Metropolitan of Homs, Hama and Yabroud.
d- The Rev. Father Michel Abrass was elected bishop for the Patriarchal Curia.
4- Standing Synod
The term of office of the standing Synod’s members having reached its canonical limit, their replacement was decided.
Under the chairmanship of His Beatitude, the new standing Synod was formed by their Excellencies Metropolite Isidore Battikha, Metropolite Georges Baccouni, Metropolite Joseph Kallas et Archevêque André Haddad. Their deputies are Metropolite Jean-Clément Jeanbart, Archbishop Georges Haddad, Archbishop Elias Rahal and Metropolite Emeritus Jean Haddad.
5- Moderator of the Supreme Court
The term of office of Archbishop Georges Riachi, Moderator of the Supreme Court, was renewed for a year, until the next Synod.
IV- Conclusion
The Fathers of the Synod appealed to all Lebanese, government and people, to work together in good faith and sincerity to eradicate the causes of internal divisions, to close ranks and for peace and justice to reign at last over dear Lebanon.
On the occasion of the Fast of Ramadan and the approach of “Eid El Fitr”, the Fathers of the Synod offer their best wishes to their Muslim brothers so that together they may raise prayers to God, for him to enlighten the minds of all to labour in love for the building up of our lands and for safeguarding the future of generations to come.
The Fathers of the Synod implored Our Lord for the cessation of the terrible massacres in Palestine, in Iraq and other Arab countries and for the establishment of peace, security and justice in those countries dear to us, beseeching the blessings of our almighty Lord.
Issued at the Patriarchal summer residence, Ain Traz, 14 October 2006
Communiqué Final
du Synode de l’Eglise Grecque Melkite Catholique
Aïn Traz, 9 – 14 Octobre 2006
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Le Synode de l’Eglise Grecque-Melkite Catholique s’est réuni à la résidence patriarcale d’été à Aïn Traz au Liban entre le 9 et le 14 Octobre 2006 sous la présidence de Sa Béatitude le Patriarche Gregorios III, Patriarche d’Antioche et de tout l’Orient, d’Alexandrie et de Jérusalem.
Les Evêques Présents :
S.E. Paul Borkhoche, Métropolite de Bosra, Khabab et Jabal el Arab
S.E. André Haddad, Archevêque de Furzol et Zahlé
S.E. Jean Adel Elya, Evêque Emérite de Newton aux Etats Unies d’Amérique
S.E. Ibrahim Nehmé, Métropolite Emérite de Homs, Hama et Yabroud
S.E. Georges Riachi, Archevêque de Tripoli
S.E. Georges Kwaiter, Archevêque de Saida et Deir el Kamar
S.E. Jean Haddad, Métropolite Emérite de Tyr
S.E. Cyril Bustros, Archevêque-Evêque de Newton aux Etats Unies d’Amérique
S.E. Antoine Hayek, Archevêque de Banias et Marjeoun
S.E. Boutros Mouallem, Archevêque Emérite d’Akka, Haifa et Galilée.
S.E. Isidore Batikha, Métropolite de Homs, Hama et Yabroud
S.E. Georges El Murr, Archevêque de Petra, Philadelphie et Jordanie
S.E. Jean Jeanbart, Métropolite d’Alep et Visiteur Apostolique en Europe Occidentale
S.E. Fares Maakaroun, Archevêque-Evêque de Sâo Paulo – Brésil
S.E. Issam Darwish, Evêque d’Australie et de Nouvelle Zélande
S.E. Joseph Kallas, Métropolite de Beyrouth et Jbeil
S.E. Nicolas Sawaf, Archevêque de Lattakieh
S.E. Salim Ghazal, Auxiliaire Patriarcal Emérite
S.E. Joseph Absi, Auxiliaire Patriarcal
S.E. Jules Joseph Zerey, Vicaire Patriarcal au Caire et au Soudan
S.E. Georges Haddad, Exarque Patriarcal Emérite en Argentine et Ancien Administrateur Apostolique de l’éparchie d’Akka, Haifa et Galilée.
S.E. Elias Rahal, Archevêque de Baalbeck
S.E. Georges Bacouni, Métropolite de Tyr
S.E. Elias Chaccour, Archevêque d’Akka, Haifa et la Galilée
S.E. Georges Bakar, Vicaire Patriarcal à Jérusalem
Archimandrite Gabriel Ghanoum, Administrateur Patriarcal au Mexique.
Les supérieurs généraux des ordres religieux suivants :
Archimandrite Sleiman Abou Zeid, Supérieur général de l’Ordre Basilien Salvatorien
Archimandrite Paul Nazha, Supérieur général de l’Ordre Basilien Choueirite
Archimandrite Séraphim Kassabji, Supérieur général de l’Ordre Basilien Alépin
Les Evêques Absents :
S.E. Elias Zoghbi, Archevêque Emérite de Baalbeck
S.E. Hilarion Capucci, Vicaire Patriarcal à Jérusalem
S.E. Grégoire Haddad, Métropolite Emérite de Beyrouth et Jbeil.
S.E. Paul Antaki, Vicaire Patriarcal Emérite au Caire et au Soudan
S.E. Michel Hakim, Archevêque-Evêque Emérite du Canada
S.E. Spiridon Matar, Evêque Emérite de Sâo Paulo au Brésil
S.E. Jean Mansour, Auxiliaire Patriarcal Emérite
S.E. Nicolas Samra, Evêque Auxiliaire Emérite de Newton aux Etats Unies d’Amérique
S.E. Georges Kahaly, Exarque Apostolique du Vénézuela
S.E. Ibrahim Ibrahim, Evêque du Canada
Rev. Père Elias Aghia, Supérieur général de la Société Pauliste
I- Séance inaugurale
Sa Béatitude Gregorios III a inauguré les travaux du Synode par une conférence de presse au cours de laquelle il a abordé la guerre qui a frappé les fondements mêmes du Liban, priant Dieu pour tous ceux qui sont morts martyrs de la Nation et pour tous ceux qui ont souffert. Sa Béatitude a particulièrement souligné les dégâts, tant matériels qu’en vies humaines, subis par nos éparchies de Tyr, Marjeyoun et Baalbeck. Gregorios III a lancé un appel à Sa Sainteté le Pape Benoît XVI, aux Conférences épiscopales européennes, aux rois et aux présidents en particulier à ceux des pays arabes, leur demandant de veiller à la fin de la guerre au Liban et à l’envoi des secours. Enfin, le Patriarche a convié les Pères du Synode à une journée de retraite spirituelle qui a été prêchée par S.E. Mgr Jean Haddad qui a appelé les Pères au travail en commun au sein du Synode autour du thème : « Le Christ est parmi nous ».
II- Travaux du Synode
1- Global network – www.melkites.org
Sa Béatitude a présenté le projet d’un site Internet commun à toute notre Eglise initié par S.E. Mgr Issam Darwich dont le but est de créer des liens entre les fils et les filles de l’Eglise grecque-melkite. Le site Internet www.melkites.org
regroupera aussi les archives, sociales et spirituelles, de notre Eglise mettant en
relief le rôle des laïcs dans tous les domaines.
2- Journée Mondiale de la Jeunesse (JMJ)
S.E. Mgr Issam Darwich a donné un exposé précis de la Journée Mondiale de la Jeunesse (JMJ) qui se déroulera en juillet 2008 à Sydney en Australie. Mgr Darwich a lancé un appel à une participation massive de notre jeunesse.
3- Elections
Les Pères du Synode ont procédé à l’élection d’évêques pour les sièges actuellement vacants :
a- Le successeur de S.E. Mgr Georges Kwaiter au siège de Saida et Deir el Kamar a été élu. Son nom sera divulgué en temps voulu.
b- S.E. Mgr Georges Haddad succède à S.E. Mgr Antoine Hayek, démissionnaire pour raison d’age, au siège de Banias et Marjeyoun (Césarée de Philippe).
c- S.E. Mgr Joseph Absi, auxiliaire patriarcal, a été élu vicaire patriarcal à Damas où il prend la succession de S.E. Mgr Isidore Battikha élu le 9 février 2006 Métropolite de Homs, Hama et Yabroud.
d- Le R.P. Père Michel Abrass a été élu évêque de la Curie Patriarcale.
4- Synode permanent
Le mandat des membres du Synode permanent ayant atteint la fin de la durée canonique, il a été procédé à leur remplacement.
Sous la présidence de Sa Béatitude, le nouveau Synode permanent est formé de Leurs Excellences Mgr Isidore Battikha, Mgr Georges Baccouni, Mgr Youssef Kellas et Mgr André Haddad. Les suppléants sont Mgr Jean-Clément Jeanbart, Mgr Georges Haddad, Mgr Elias Rahal et Mgr Youhanna Haddad.
5- Modérateur général de l'administration de la Justice
Le mandat de Mgr Georges Riachi, modérateur général de l'administration de la Justice, a été renouvelé d’un an jusqu'au prochain Synode.
IV- Conclusion
Les Pères du Synode ont lance un appel à tous les Libanais, aux gouvernants comme au peuple, pour que tous travaillent ensemble et en toute confiance et sincérité pour éliminer les causes de divisions internes, unir les rangs et pour que la paix et la justice règnent enfin sur le cher Liban.
A l’occasion du jeûne de Ramadan et de l’arrivée de la fête du Fitr, les Pères du Synode présentent à leurs frères musulmans leurs vœux pour qu’ensemble s’élèvent leurs prières à Dieu afin qu’Il éclaire les esprits de tous pour qu’ils oeuvrent dans l’amour pour la construction de nos patries et assurer l’avenir des nouvelles générations.
Les Pères du Synode ont prié avec ferveur Notre Seigneur pour que s’arrêtent les massacres effroyables en Palestine, en Irak et dans les autres pays arabes et pour que règnent la paix, la sécurité et la justice dans ces pays qui nous sont chers. Demandant pour tous les bénédictions de Notre Seigneur tout puissant.
Fait au siège Patriarcal d’été, Aïn Traz, le 14 octobre 2006
THE HOLY SYNOD
OF THE MELKITE GREEK CATHOLIC CHURCH
February 6-10, 2006
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(Unofficial report by Bishop John A. Elya, Eparch Emeritus of Newton, Member of the Synod)
Twenty six Hierarchs of the Melkite Greek Catholic Church attended the extraordinary Holy Synod convened and presided by His Beatitude Gregorios III (Laham}, Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, of Alexandria and of Jerusalem, from February 6 to February 10, 2006. The Holy Synod of the Patriarchal Melkite Greek Catholic Church meets regularly every year during the Summer. This extraordinary Synod met at the Monastery of Our Lady of the Annunciation, the Patriatchal summer Residence, in Ain Traz, in the Mount Lebanon Region.
The Fathers of the Synod came to the new "Antioch" from all over the world.
Divided by their sees or residence, including those retired, they had come from:
Lebanon (8), Syria (8), Israel (2), Jordan (1), Egypt and the Sudan (2), the United States (1), Venezuela (1) and Australia (1) Brazil (1) & Canada (1).
It is worth mentioning that, among the members of this year’s Synod, five were retired bishops. In contrast to some other Bishops' gatherings such as the National Conference of Catholic Bishops of the United States of America (USCCB), the retired bishops in attendance at the Melkite Synod enjoy full rights of voting (and being voted for some functions) until the full age of 80, on a par with the other bishops. This is a good illustration of the traditional high esteem and piety in which Easterners hold the wisdom of old age. According to the Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches, a bishop must present his resignation from office to the Patriarch and to the Permanent Synod at the completion of 75 years of age. The Permanent Synod with the Patriarch may accept the resignation or postpone it for one year at a time. However nothing is mentioned about the retiring of the Patriarch.
All the sessions of this Synod were exclusively attended by the bishops and closed to the Media.
The Synod elected as Archbishop of Akka, Haifa, Nazareth and All Galilee, the Right Reverend Archimandrite Elias Chacour, Founder and President of the Mar Elias University in Abelline, Israel, well known international speaker, Author of many books including “Blood Brothers” relating his personal experience about the relations between Arabs and Jews in the Holy Land. The new Archbishop was born in Kfarborom, a village in Northern Galilee destroyed by the Israeli Army in 1948.
The Episcopal Ordination of the new Archbishop took place at the Church of “the Sermon on the Mount” at Mar Elias University in Abelline, on Saturday, Bebruary 25 and the Enthronement as Archbishop in his Cathedral of St. Elias in Haifa, on Sunday, February 26, 2006.
The Synod elected Isidore Batikha, Patriarchal Vicar in Damascus to Metropolitan of Homs, Hama & Yabroud in Syria. Archbishop Isidore was born in Aleppo, Syria on July 28, 1950. He is a member of the Basilian Aleppian Order and he had been Patriarchal Vicar in Damascus since 1992. The former Metropolitan of Homs, Hama and Yaabroud, the Most Rev. Ibrahim Nehmeh, of the Basilian Choueirite Order, had tendered his resignation at his 75th Birthday as required by the Canon Law of the Eastern Catholic Churches. He was elected by the Sacred Synod as Metropolitan of Homs on October 26, 1986.
The Synod elected also a Bishop to be a Patriarchal Vicar in Jerusalem, Archimandrite Georges Bakar, of the Patriarchal Clergy of Alexandria and Cairo..
The Synod elected also a Terna (three candidates) to be sent to the Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI for a Melkite Bishop for Argentina.
The Fathers of the Synod considered in their deliberations the dramatic situation of several Arabic countries which they are serving. They discussed the instability and lack of security in Lebanon, especially in the recent months, after the chain of assassinations and the violent events in Achrafieh (Aggressive manifestations of Moslems in a Christian section of Beirut, on Sunday, February 5, protesting the offensive cartoons against Prophet Mohammed published last September in Danish newspapers and later on in other Western media. The manifestations permitted originally as “peaceful” turned into a violent riot because of ill intentioned infiltrators. The demonstrators attacked and damaged a Maronite church and an Antiochian Orthodox church and caused also extensive damage to private property in that Christian area. The Fathers commended the magnificent attitude of the Christians of Achrafieh and of many leaders both Christian and Muslim who condemned the disorderly attacks and spared Lebanon from possible disturbances with deplorable consequences. They also condemned strongly in a special statement sent to the media the unpleasant cartoons offensive to Islam and the Muslim people. In a previous statement to the media, His Beatitude the Patriarch had declared that these cartoons were a great offense to Muslims and Christians alike. He declared that the authors of those cartoons are irreligious and do not represent any Christian. He appealed to both Christians and Muslims to be attached to the faith. (From the final Report of the Synod)
The Fathers “pleaded also for the establishment of solid relations between Syria and Lebanon based on mutual trust and respect.” It is worth noticing that the Melkite hierarchy is not politically oriented. Several Syrian Melkite bishops serve in Lebanon, as well as Lebanese Bishops serving in Syria. The present Melkite Patriarch, Gregorios III (Laham), Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, of Alexandria and of Jerusalem, was born in Syria and educated in Lebanon. He served for many years as Patriarchal Vicar in Jerusalem. His predecessor, Patriarch Maximos V (Hakim) was born in Tanta, Egypt and educated in Jerusalem. He served as Archbishop of Akka, Haifa, Nazareth and All Galilee before being elected as Patriarch in 1967. The previous Patriarch, Maximos IV (Sayegh) was born in Aleppo, Syria and the previous one, Cyril IX (Moghabghab) was born in Ain Zhalta, Lebanon.