Melkite Catholic Patriarchate of Antioch

Melkite Greek Catholic Patriarchate of Antioch
Catholic
Patriarch Youssef Absi
Coat of arms of the Melkite Greek Catholic Patriarchate of Antioch
Coat of arms
Incumbent:
Youssef Absi
elected June 21, 2017
Location
HeadquartersDormition, Damascus, Syria
Information
First holderCyril VI Tanas
DenominationEastern Catholic
Established1724 (Current Form)
CathedralCathedral of Our Lady of the Dormition
Bishops emeritusGregory III Laham
Website
www.melkitepat.org
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The Melkite Catholic Patriarchate of Antioch is the only actual residential Patriarchate of the Melkite Greek Catholic Church (Eastern Catholic, Byzantine Rite). It was formed in 1724 when a portion of the Orthodox Church of Antioch went into communion with Rome, becoming an Eastern Catholic Church, while the rest of the ancient Patriarchate continues in full communion with the rest of the Eastern Orthodox Church.

The Melkite Greek Catholic Patriarch of Antioch's present complete title is Patriarch of Antioch and of All the East, of Alexandria and of Jerusalem of the Melkite Greek Catholic Church, incorporating both of the church's other titular patriarchates.[1]

Its archiepiscopal see is the Cathedral of the Dormition of Our Lady (Arabic: كاتدرائية سيدة النياح للروم الملكيين في دمشق) in Damascus, Syria. It was visited by Pope John Paul II in 2001.[2]

The Melkite Greek Catholic Church claims to be one of five churches that are continuations of the original See of Antioch. Thus, the Melkite Greek Catholic Church believes it traces its existence back to Saint Peter in a line of apostolic succession acknowledged by both Catholic and Orthodox canons. This claim is accepted by the Holy See and is not disputed by the other two Eastern Catholic Churches that also claim descent from the ancient See of Antioch, namely the Maronite Church[3] and the Syriac Catholic Church,[4] which both also have Patriarchs of Antioch.

  1. ^ "Melkite: Patriarch".
  2. ^ "Pope John Paul II in Greece, Syria, and Malta (4-9 May 2001) | EWTN". EWTN Global Catholic Television Network.
  3. ^ "The Maronites First Patriarch". January 30, 2009. Archived from the original on 30 January 2009.
  4. ^ The Syriac Catholic Church: History Archived 2008-06-03 at the Wayback Machine