List of Maronite Patriarchs since 1110
Maronite Patriarchs (1796 - present)
Patriarcha Antiochenus Maronitarum
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| His Beatitude Mar Nasrallah Boutros Cardinal SFEIR MARONITE PATRIARCH OF ANTIOCH AND ALL THE EAST |
Patriarch Yousif Tyan (1796-1808)
Patriarch Yousif Tyan was born in Beirut and belonged to a prominent Maronite family, who sent him to Rome at an early
age where he was educated in the Maronite College and ordained priest in 1784. In the year 1786 he was consecrated bishop
of Damascus, and in 1788 he became Patriarchal Vicar. April 28th 1796 he became Patriarch Yusif Tyan. When in 1799 Napoleon
Bonaparte besieged Akka, being now Patriarch he asked the Prince of Lebanon Bashir II to rally to Napoleon with his Lebanese
soldiers. Bachir did not respond, but Patriarch Tyan urged the Maronites to volunteer for the French forces. The Patriarch
also sent ammunition and supplies to the French army. But despite this help Napoleon failed to capture Akka. The Patriarch
decided to abdicate and sent a letter to the Roman See to this effect on 3rd October 1807. On June 8th 1809, Bishop Yuhanna
El-Helou succeeded him. Patriarch Tyan then retired in the hermitage of Saint Ephrem in Dar'un, Kesrawan. A few years later
he moved to a newly established Seminary college of St. John Marun in Kefar-Hay Batrun, where he taught theology. Patriarch
Tyan lived and died in the odour of sanctity. After his retirement from the Patriarchate, he practically lived a hermit's
existence, dedicating himself to prayer, meditation, asceticism and the contemplative life. He died on February 20th, 1820
at the Patriarchal Seat of Qannubeen. His body was found to be still incorrupt a hundred years after his death.
Patriarch Youhanna El-Helou (1809-1823)
Patriarch Youhanna El-Helou's achievements were by no means inconsiderable. He repaired and restored the Patriarchal See of
Qannubeen that had been abandoned by the Patriarchs for a hundred years. Patriarch El-Helou inhabited Qannubeen from 1811.
He regained much of the church's property that had been taken away injustly. He converted the Monastery of St. John Marun
in Kefar-Hay Batrun and that of Rumieh Qolay'at in Kesrawan into Patriarchal Colleges and seminaries in 1812 and 1817
respectively. In 1818, he convoked the Maronite general Council of Luayzeh. He died on the 12th of May 1823, and was
buried at Qannuneen. Patriarch John el-Helou and the Synod of Loaiseh of 1818
Patriarch John el-Helou (1809-23) made his residence in the ancient patriarchal monastery of Qannoubin, which was run
down from being abandoned for many years. He tried to rebuild and restore it. He also converted the monastery of John
Maron of Kfarhai into a seminary.
A significant event in the reign of Patriarch el-Helou was the holding of the Synod of Loaiseh. Pope Pius VII had called for
a synod to deal with the matters of the fixed residence of bishops and of mixed monasteries (that is, the practice where house
for men and women religious stood side by side). The Synod opened on April 12, 1818 at the Monastery of Our Lady of Loaiseh.
The first session dealt with the question of monasteries. There were four categories: seminaries, monasteries for men,
monasteries for women, and monasteries for women leading a common life without pronouncing vows.
A special commission was designed to deal with the arguments concerning the right of patronage, that is, certain wealthy
families had given land or money to establish religious houses and had rights over how they were to be administered.
In the second session, the monasteries which were to serve as residences for the Patriarch and bishops were indicated.
There was also a decision to have the Monastery of Roumiyeh as a national seminary. Pope Pius VII approved the acts
of the Synod in 1819.
Although mandated by the Synod of Mount Lebanon, the practice of mixed monasteries came to an end only after the Synod
of Loaiseh, during the reign of Patriarch Hobaich in 1826. In the case of residences for bishops, which was also mandated
by the Synod of Mount Lebanon, because of the lack of episcopal residences, newly elected bishops would reside in monasteries
placed under the patronage of their relatives or a family which they knew, even outside their territory. The Synod of Loaiseh
fixed the monastery where each would live, but it fell to Patriarch Hobaich (1823-45) to see to the definitive application
of the decrees concerning residence.
Patriarch Yousif Hobeish (1823-1845)
Patriarch Hobeish insisted upon the application of the Code of the Lebanese Council in 1736, Especially as regards to the religious
instruction and preaching, and the encouragement of seminaries for the education of the clergy. He founded two new seminaries,
those of Mar 'Abdas Herheraya and St. Serge of Rayfun. In these two seminaries and in those of Kefar-Hay Rumieh, and
'Ayn-Warqa he made the teaching of Syriac, Arabic, Italian, Latin, philosophy, theology and physical sciences obligatory. In 1840,
he founded a religious congregation of missionaries for the purpose of teaching religion in the villages and towns. Patriarch Hobeish
was a true apostle. He use to visit the parishes of his Patriarchate, instructing the priests in their functions and obligations,
teaching them theology, settling local quarrels and reuniting families. In the turbulent years of the Egyptian invasion between
1831 and 1840, Lebanon became the arena of international conflicts involving France, Britain, Turkey, Austria, Prussia and other
powers. In the midst of the turmoil, Patriarch Hobeish succeeded in unifying both the Maronite community and the Lebanese
multiconfessional population.
Patriarch Joseph Hobaich was elected May 25, 1823. He had neither the canonical age (40 years), nor the two-thirds' majority
required for patriarchal election. The Sacred Congregation for the Propagation of the Faith wished to declare the election null,
but the Pope validated and confirmed the election on May 3, 1824.
Patriarch Hobaich sought to implement the reforms of the Synod of Mount Lebanon and to provide for the education of the clergy.
The Maronite College in Rome had been closed by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1798, and its holdings were liquidated in 1808. Patriarch
Hobaich wished to revive it, but circumstances hindered him. Therefore, he reorganized the seminary of Ain-Warka and erected two
new ones, that of Mar Abda Harharaia in 1830 and that of Mar Sarkis and Bakhos in 1832. Patriarch Hobaich urged the priests and
monks to follow the synodal articles, and during his reign parish organization made progress.
Patriarch Hobaich was highly regarded by the Ottoman authorities. The Sultan accorded him the favor of having a charge d'affaires
at Istanbul, and sent him the medal of mejidie of the first class, a rare distinction for this time.
To be more accessible to the people, Patriarch Hobaich established two residences. The winter residence was at Bkerke, and the
summer one in the region of the Cedars. However, instead of residing at Qannoubin in the "Holy Valley", which was of
difficult accessibility, he chose to live at nearby Dimanwhich dominated the valley. Here he built a church and along side it a
cloister.
Patriarch Hobaich and the Maronites had to suffer through the tragedies of 1840-45 (which we will discuss below). During that
period he sought to provide strength and leadership. The burdens of this sad time resulted in his death on May 23, 1845.
Patriarch Yousif Al-Khazen (1845-1854)
Patriarch Yusif Al-Khazen was elected at Dayr Mayfuq, on the 8th of August 1845. In 1845 the Turkish army ignoring the autonomy
of Mount Lebanon, invaded the Mountain, to disarm the population. In Northern Lebanon the Maronites, particularly those of
'Aqura, Tannurine, Besharry and Ehden, opposed the Turks with the army of several thousand under the leadership of Hosn al-Khazen
and Abu-Samra Ghanem. The Maronites had nothing to face the Turkish artillery, Patriarch al-Khazen intervened and persuaded
the Turks to call a halt to the war and to agree to a settlement negotiated between the Patriarch and the Turkish government
with indemnities paid by the latter. A new code of regulations called "code of Shakeeb Afandy" was drawn up for Lebanon.
After his death he was buried at Deeman, the new Patriarchal Residence in the Qadeesha Valley, on 3rd November 1854,
he was succeeded by Patriarch Bulos Mass'ad.
Patriarch Boulos Mass'ad (1854-1890)
In the first few years of the Patriarchate of Boulos Mass'ad (1857-1859), the people of Kesrawan revolted against the
al-Khazen family, whose members had been strengthening Christianity in Kesrawan since the time of Fakhr-al-Din. The darkest
period of the Maronite Nation, occurred during the Patriarchate of Boulos Mass'ad, with the civil war between Maronites and
Druzes, in the 1860. The Patriarch could not effectively bring peace and unity during this period. Patriarch Mass'ad died
on April 18th 1890, at Bkerke and was buried in St Peter's school, in Ashqout, his native village.
After the nine-year reign of Patriarch Joseph el-Khazen, Paul Masad was elected by acclamation on November 12, 1854.
The new Patriarch inaugurated his reign by preparing for a national synod to be held at Bkerke in 1856. He, himself drafted
the text, which was intended not only to assure the application of the Synod of Mount Lebanon, but also to introduce
modifications as the circumstances required. However, the acts of the synod were never confirmed officially, and remained
a dead letter.
Patriarch Masad provided leadership during the tragic events of 1860. In 1867, he went to Rome to assist at the 1800th
anniversary of the martyrdom of Saints Peter and Paul. This was perhaps the second time a reigning Maronite Patriarch had
visited Rome. He did not attend the First Vatican Council (1869-70), but was represented by a mission headed by Peter
Bustany, Archbishop of Tyr and Saida.
From Rome, the Patriarch went to Paris where Napoleon III welcomed him with all the honors due his rank. He traveled to
Istanbul, where the Sultan Abdul-Aziz offered him hospitality in a palace where care had been taken to install a chapel.
Patriarch Masad died on April 18, 1890. Besides having been a strong and resourceful leader, he was a person of great
intellect and had written many theological works.
Patriarch Youhanna El-Haj (1890-1898)
In the first years of his Patriarchate, Patriarch Yuhanna al-Haj built the beautiful patriarchal residence of Bkerke, acquired
extensive property at Moghayre Jebayl for the benefit of a Maronite seminary. During the Patriarchate of Yuhanna El-Haj,
archbishop Elias Hoyek (the future Patriarch) acquired a building in Jerusalem to serve as residence for the representative of
the Maronite comminutes in the holy city. The Maronite population in Palestine and Lebanon contributed the necessary money.
Archbishop Hoyek also acquired a building in Rome in which the new Maronite College of Rome was installed in 1893.
Patriarch El-Haj died on December 24th 1898, and was buried in Bkerké. He was succeeded by one of our greatest and most
spiritually minded Patriarchs, Monsignor Elias Hoyek. Patriarch John Hadj
On April 28, 1890, the Maronite Bishops unanimously elected John Hadj as Patriarch. He was an alumnus of the seminary of Ain-Warka.
He also had studied civil law, and his reputation was such that he was named Judge for the Christians of Lebanon in 1844 at a
time of deep crisis for his countrymen. He was courageous in defending their just rights.
As Patriarch, John Hadj embellished the residences of Bkerke and Diman, giving them proper stature. He was decorated by France
with the Legion of Honor and received from the Ottoman sultan the medjidie of the first class and the Grand Osmanic cordon.
Patriarch Hadj gave a vigorous impetus to the establishment of schools, to the discipline of the clergy, to diverse works which
would raise the level of his people. He showed himself to be a devoted, skilled defender of both Latin and Maronite foundations
for the instruction of youth, for the help of the poor, and for the development of the Christian life.
While at this time there were four national seminaries in Lebanon, they were under rights of patronage in their organization of
studies, discipline and temporal matters. Patriarch Hadj wished for a seminary that would belong only to Patriarchal authority.
For this purpose, he constituted a patrimony whose revenues would suffice for the project. Patriarch Hadj also wished to
establish resources outside of Lebanon so that the Maronite seminarians could study at renowned institutions. He hoped for a
center at Rome and another at Paris. Through the efforts of his Vicar, the future Patriarch Elias Hoyek, the Maronite College in
Rome was re-established in 1891. This was achieved through his raising funds in France and even from the sultan in Istanbul.
In addition to donations he collected from Maronites, he was given a gift of 150,000 francs from the Pope. He bought a large
estate in Rome on the Via di Porta Pinciana and established the Maronite College there.
The College remained in operation until 1939.
Through his efforts in France, Archbishop Hoyek was able to establish a Maronite church and a procurator for the Maronites in
Paris. He also solicited scholarships for clerics to study in France. Patriarch Hajj also desired to have a center in Palestine.
Again, through the work of Archbishop Hoyek, a procurator and a church were established in Jerusalem in 1895. Patriarch Hadj
died on December 24, 1898. On January 6, 1899, he was succeeded by Elias Hoyek.
Patriarch Elias Hoyek (1899-1931)
Elias Hoyek was born at the village of Helta, Batrun, in December 1843. He did his primary and elementary studies in the Seminary
College of St. John Maron, in Kefar-Hay near Helta. He was admitted to the seminary of Ghazir, run by Jesuit, priests, in
October 1859. There he studied French, Arabic, Syriac, Latin, Greek and Philosophy.
During his years as Patriarchal Secretary and Vicar, Patriarch Hoyek had already established a record of great achievement both
in the civil and religious spheres. In many ways he could be considered the Father of modern Lebanon. One of the first-class
acts of Hoyek as Patriarch was to build an imposing summer residence at Diman. The land he chose for this building was a hill
from which one could view the "Valley of the Saints."
To commemorate the fiftieth anniversary of the dogma of the Immaculate Conception, Patriarch Hoyek established a new center of
pilgrimage at Harissa in 1905. He also fostered devotion to the Sacred Heart, and raised funds to establish a national monument
on one of the summits of Lebanon.
Patriarch Hoyek also founded the Maronite Congregation of the Holy Family in 1895, the first congregation of women of the Eastern
churches in Lebanon and Syria. Their mission was to educate young girls especially of the poorer classes according to the customs
and principles of the Christian faith. These sisters established boarding and day schools, especially in the villages ,
where along with Christian education, they provided practical instruction. This congregation experienced a great growth in numbers
and institutions. Patriarch Hoyek also established a Patriarchal Vicariate for Egypt in 1904, which later became an Eparchy in 1946.
He obtained from the Holy See the division of the Eparchy of Tyr and Saida. When he led the delegation to the Paris Peace Conference
of 1919, Patriarch Hoyek was already 76 years old. He lived to see the early development of the new Lebanon, which he had had such
a significant role in forming. He died on December 31, 1931.
In November 1866 he entered the College of Propaganda in Rome, where he studied theology. He was ordained priest in Rome in 1870
and returned to Lebanon. His father had died when he was in Rome. He spent sometime at home to take care of his mother and his
young brothers. He spent two years teaching theology at the Seminary of St. John Maron. In 1872 he was appointed patriarchal
secretary and moved to the patriarchal residence. Of great integrity and fearless character, he was revered and respected by all.
He was consecrated Archbishop of Arqa and Patriarchal Vicar on December 14th, 1899.
He left Lebanon on May 8, 1890 for Rome for the purpose of reviving the Maronite college there, destroyed by Napoleon in 1799. This
task made great demands on all his qualities of initiative, courage, perseverance and diplomacy. He met Pope Leo XIII in the
Vatican on June 15th, July23rd, August 2nd, and August 10th of the year 1890. During these visits the Pope and Archbishop Hoyek
elaborated plans to reactivate the Maronite College in Rome. On August 12th 1890, archbishop Hoyek left Rome for France, bearing
a letter of recommendation from Pope Leo XIII, in order to collect contributions for the college. He spent nine months in France
(August 24th, 1890- May 24th, 1891), where he visited the minister of Foreign Affairs, the President of the Republic, the speaker
of the Parliament, the speaker of the Senate, the Minister of Defense and many Cardinals and archbishops. He traveled all over
France, spending his energy day and night for the realization of his project. He acquired in Paris a church and a community
center for the Maronite Community in the street " rue d’Ulm". Furthermore, he obtained from the French government subsidies for
the education of eight Maronite students at the seminary of St. Surplice in Paris. He visited Poitiers, Lille, Grenoble,
Limoges, Rouen, and other cities, preaching in churches, mobilizing friends, and persuading various societies and institutions
to help his undertaking. Finally he returned to Rome with the necessary money. From Rome he went back to Lebanon via Austria,
where he met Emperor Francois-Joseph, and Istanbul, where he met the Sultan, the Prime Minister and many prominent figures.
With the Sultan and the Turkish government he succeeded in settling many problems concerning Lebanon and the Maronite community.
He showed an apostolic fervour and a readiness to face the highest authorities in Europe and Turkey.
He combined diplomacy with zeal, integrity and practical sense. He landed at Beirut on May 13, 1892. He left Lebanon again on
April 28, 1893, for Rome via Jerusalem and Alexandria. He met the Pope on June 8, and July 9, 1893. He spent two months
searching for a suitable site for the future new Maronite college. Finally he bought the building at 18, Via Porta Pinciana,
on August 17, 1893.
The new college was opened on January 1st, 1894, to receive twelve students from the Maronite dioceses of Besharry, Aleppo,
Tripoli, Gebayl-Batrun, Ehden, Ba’albeck, Damascus, Cyprus, Beirut, Tyre and Sidon. Thus were rewarded years of gigantic
efforts and sacrifices. The founding of the congregation of the Holy Family: Great as was the triumph of Monsignor Hoyek
in completing the new Maronite college in Rome, his activity did not stop in reaching this goal. He was always launching new
undertakings. He was not one to be satisfied with the exterior pomp of his office and with preaching & presiding ceremonies.
Inspired by the examples of the apostles Peter and Paul he led a life of self denial for the building of the kingdom of Christ.
Once the Maronite churches and community centers in Paris and Jerusalem, and the Maronite college in Rome, successfully
completed, he engaged in a yet another major project, that of the creation of a new religious order for nuns, the Congregation
of the Holy Family with the help of mother Rosali Nasr who first joined the French Congregation of the sisters of Nazareth,
and then founded the Congregation of the Holy Rosary. She met Monsignor Hoyek in Lebanon in the summer of 1895 and they
decided together to found a congregation of nuns for the Christian education of village girls in Mount Lebanon. The nucleus
of the new congregation consisted of Mother Nasr and two other nuns, Estephany Kardush and Orsella Lahud. The new congregation
was launched at Jebayl-Byblos in that same summer of 1895. In 1896 the motherhouse moved to ’Ebrine near Batrun.
During his episcopate Mgr. Hoyek was animated by two main desires the solid Christian education of the young Maronites for
the strengthening of the family, and the education of priests. The first ambition was embodied in the creation of the
congregation of the Holy Family and the second in the revival of the Maronite college in Rome and in the support given to many
clerical institutions.
Hoyek undertook a third journey to Rome to inspect the running of the Maronite College. He remained in Rome from April 1897
to January 1899. Within ten years then, Hoyek undertook three journeys from Lebanon to Rome and back in order to found and
administer the Maronite College, at a time when travelling between Lebanon and Rome was an exhausting ordeal. To get the
necessary support, he visited Italy, France, Belgium, Austria, Istanbul, Palestine, Egypt and other countries of the Orient
and Occident. Such was his devotion and self-denial as apostle of Christ, and his Holy Church. The Episcopal and
patriarchal honor spurred him to act with greater zeal rather than to rest on his laurels.
Hoyek Patriarch
Patriarch Yuhanna el-Haj died on December 24th, 1898; Mgr. Hoyek left Rome for Lebanon on December 27th, and reached
Bkerke in January 5th, 1899. On January 6th, he was elected Patriarch. Thus started a new era for Lebanon and the Church.
In his private life as Patriarch Mgr. Hoyek practiced both the ascetically and contemplative aspects of the spiritual life.
Patriarch Hoyek’s apartment in Bkerke was simple and austere, consisting of three rooms, one serving as a bedroom and
office, the second as a reception room, and the third as a chapel. In this chapel he used to say Mass early in the morning
and to spend many hours every day in prayer and meditation. He fasts every Saturday his whole life through, even in time
of illness. His favorite books for meditation were the New Testament, the confessions of St. Augustine, the eternal Maxims
and the Imitation of Christ. He strictly followed his routine of spiritual exercises, whenever and wherever he was, and
he was an example to all in the way he carried out his duties as pastor, priest patriarch and national leader.
PASTORAL AND SPIRITUAL ACTIVITY OF PATRIARCH HOYEK
Patriarch Hoyek was born and raised in Helta- Kefar-Hay Batrun in the vicinity of the headquarters of the first Maronite
Patriarch, Saint John Maron whom Patriarch Hoyek resembled with his strong and energetic character, his ardent apostolic zeal,
his intellectual power, his solid evangelical virtues and his wise leadership. His strength and sympathy were reflected in his
keen gaze and leonine face. The Maronite Patriarch is the successor of the chief of the Apostle, Saint Peter, as head of the
church of Antioch, including historically and canonically the entire Roman province of the Orient. To his own name,
the Maronite Patriarch adds that of St. Peter, to signify that he is the successor of St. Peter, the first Apostle, founder
and first Bishop of Antioch.
Thus the complete name of Patriarch Hoyek is "Elias (personal name) Boutros (St. Peter) Hoyek, Patriarch of Antioch and all
the East". In fact, his zeal for the Kingdom of Christ made Patriarch Hoyek a worthy success of St. Peter. He was an active
pastor, visiting his patriarchal diocese regularly, promoting its spiritual life and progress and providing for its needs,
examining the situation of the priests, churches, monasteries and convents, giving encouragement and helping the sick, the
orphans and the poor. He organized regular yearly spiritual exercises for every parish of the Patriarchal diocese.
He encouraged such western institutes as the Jesuit order, the Brothers of the Christian schools, the Marist Brothers,
the Lazarists and others to open new schools in his diocese. Among the churches that he helped build by generous financial
contributions, let us mention those of the Cedars, Belaouza, Douma, Shatine, Tannurine, Mejdel ’Aqura, Ram, Batrun, Bejjeh,
Kefar-Seghab, ’Aqura, Qartaba, Ehmej, Abdelly, Qenat, Bar-Halyun, Mughr-el-Ahwal, Torza, Caïfa, Hasbaya, Khartum in the
Sudan and Larnaka, Famagosta and Nicosia in Cyprus.
One of his greatest achievements was the erection in cooperation with the apostolic Delegate, of the church, statue
and center of Our Lady of Lebanon in Harissa, in 1906-1908, in honor of the fiftieth anniversary of the declaration
by the Holy see of the dogma of the Immaculate Conception Mary Mother of Christ. The statue of the Blessed Virgin erected
on the hill of Harissa, is one of the most striking statues in the world, erected on the top of one of the most beautiful
hills. Patriarch Hoyek showed special solicitude for the seminaries for clerical education, such as Deir-al-Koraym,
’Ain- Warqa, Mar’Abda Her-Haraya, Rayfun, Qolai’at, St. John Maron, and the Roman College. The monastic foundations
too received an important share of his attention. The Maronite College in Rome remained the object of his unflagging
concern and he succeeded in doubling the number of its students. The building of the college, consisting of three floors
and thirty rooms was completed in 1903 and it was inaugurated on February 7th, 1904.
HOYEK and the Diaspora
Plans were made for the creation in Egypt of a Patriarchal Vicariate to care for the spiritual, social and material
welfare of the Maronites in Egypt and for the expansion of Maronite missionary activities. Archbishop Hoyek drew up
these plans when he visited Egypt in 1894-1895. But the plans were realized when he was Patriarch in 1904.
In 1902, Patriarch Hoyek delegated the Rev. Shikralla Khoury and Rev. Butros Shebly to visit the Maronites of Cyprus.
They visited the Maronites of Limassol, Larnaca, Nicosia, Kurmagit, Karpacia, Gamblin, Merkin, Asomathos, Aya Marina,
Mar-Romanos (Qono), Mar Antonios (Kefryat), Varucia, Mersine, Adana and Tarsus. During their visit, the Patriarchal
delegates spent a considerable amount of money in helping needy Maronites and their institutions in the island. They
presented the Patriarch with an exhaustive written report about the situation of the Maronites in Cyprus from the
spiritual, social and material standpoints. In 1920, Patriarch Hoyek sent a delegation to visit the Maronites in
the United States of America, in Argentina and in other parts of the New World. Following this visit, Patriarch Hoyek
took the necessary steps to create independent dioceses for the Maronites of North and South America.
Patriarch Hoyek in Rome.
The Patriarch left Bkerke for Rome on May 20th, l905, going via Jaffa in Palestine, where he blessed the foundation
stone of the building of Saint Anthony’s Maronite church. In Alexandria of Egypt he exchanged visits with the Orthodox
Coptic Patriarch. He reached Rome on June 9th, and resided at his beloved Maronite College. His audiences with Pope
Pius X took place on June 15th and July 11th. He spent the summer with the students of the Maronite College. While in
Rome Patriarch Hoyek reviewed and settled the financial situation of the Maronite College and dealt with administrative
matters. In both finance and administration, he obtained relative independence for the college, strengthening its links
with the Maronite hierarchy and its Maronite liturgy and traditions. A Maronite priest was appointed as rector instead of
a Latin one. Another Maronite priest, Fr. Elias Shedid, was appointed as financial administrator.
Patriarch Hoyek in Paris.
He left Rome on September 18th, 1905, for Paris, which he reached two days later. In Paris he exchanged visits with
the Archbishop of Paris, Cardinal Richard, the President of the Republic, Mr. Lobe, and the prime minister Mr. Rouvier.
They dealt with matters concerning Lebanon, the Maronites and the Orient.
Patriarch Hoyek in Istanbul
Patriarch Hoyek left Paris for Istanbul and passed through Munich, Vienna and Budapest. He reached the Ottoman Capital
on October 17th, and remained there from October 17th to November 2nd, 1905. In dealing with the Sultan and Turkish
authorities he was assisted by two prominent Maronites, Selim Pasha Malhame and his brother Nagib. Selim was the minister
of agriculture in the Turkish government, and was highly esteemed and favored by the Sultan and the government. The
Patriarch had an audience with Sultan on October 20th, and 31st. He succeeded in obtaining from the Sultan and the
Turkish authorities many improvements in the handling of Lebanese affairs and in the administration of the country.
It was imperative in these days for the Patriarch and the Maronites to maintain a certain wise balance in their relations
between France on one hand and those with Turkey on the other. Turkey was the ruling power in Lebanon, while France provided
protection and help. Thus it was necessary while maintaining friendly relations with France not to excite Turkish suspicion,
jealousy or anger. Patriarch Hoyek with his wisdom was providential for Lebanon in such circumstances.
WORLD WAR I
The first world war was an opportunity for the Turks to venge themselves without restraint on the Christians: A million
and half of Armenians were killed by the Turks in the first years of the war, for no other reason than their Christian
religion and superior education and ability in the sciences, arts, industry, commerce and other fields of the civilization;
but Lebanon had its share of Turkish cruelty during the war. Turkey entered the war on October 28th, 1914 on the side of
Germany; on the same date, the Constitutions of 1860-1864
guaranteeing Lebanon’s autonomy were abolished by the Turkish government, and on November 28th, 1914, the Turkish army
entered Mount Lebanon, mistreated the Lebanese people and expelled them from their homes, exposing them to exceptionally
severe winter weather. Houses were occupied by Turkish soldiers. Because of the Turkish blockade, a third of the Lebanese
population died of famine and starvation. Very many people, were sent into exile or killed because they were suspected by
the Turks, often with no justification, of relations with France and the allied nations. Jamal Pasha was appointed military
governor of Lebanon. He attempted to exile Patriarch Hoyek, but failed in his attempt:
On July 13th, 1915, Jamal Pasha requested the Patriarch to meet with him in Sawfar. The Patriarch was then at the residence
of Dimane, one hundred and fifty kilometers away; at that time the Patriarch was seventy years old and there were no
automobiles in Lebanon; thus the journey was long and exhausting; but the Patriarch complied with the desire of the
military governor, in order to avoid any vindictive measures on the part of Jamal Pasha against the Lebanese people.
The meeting between the Patriarch and the Pasha took place at Sawfar on July 21st, 1915. The Turkish governor criticized
the Patriarch’s friendship with France. The Patriarch replied that France was the Maronites benefactor and that it was
natural and fitting that they should be grateful to her and maintains consistent good and friendly relations with her.
Furthermore France had been the friend of Turkey since Francois I (1494-1547). Jamal Pasha repaid the visit
on July 31st, 1915. In the second half of 1915, the stocks of food and vital necessities were exhausted in Mount
Lebanon and exceptionally large swarms of locusts consumed the crops. This in addition to the blockade deprived the
population of every means of subsistence.
The Patriarch spent all the money that belonged to him personally and to the Patriarchal treasury helping and feeding
the poor. The patriarchal residence was thronged day and night with huge crowds coming to eat and take food from the
Patriarchal provisions for themselves and their families. The situation remained unaltered until the beginning of 1919.
The Patriarch got some financial help from the Lebanese emigrants and the French government sent through the commander of
the French army on the island of Arwad, General Trabot. A courageous priest, Father Boulos ’Aql (later made Bishop) took
it upon himself to serve as a courier between the French army in Arwad and the Patriarch. His was a most perilous task in
those days, because he was suspected of spying by the Turkish authorities; and the journey between the island and the coast
was within the reach of Turkish guns. Jamal Pasha and Patriarch Hoyek. Jamal Pasha directed a second invitation to
Patriarch Hoyek to meet him in Beirut in May 1916 and the patriarch complied with the governor’s request. The Turkish
governor to the Patriarch addressed A third invitation, this time for a meeting at Behamdoun in July 1917. Further, Jamal
Pasha asked the Patriarch to stay for some time in Behamdoun. The Patriarch accepted. A few days later, the Pasha
requested the Patriarch to leave Behamdoun for Sawfar. The patriarch accepted once again, and stayed at Sawfar from
July 25th to August 14th, 1917. The Pasha again addressed a letter to the Patriarch, requesting him to leave Sawfar
and to join him at Zahle in the Beka’. It is clear that the intention of Jamal Pasha was to induce the Patriarch to move
gradually from one place to another in the direction of Damascus or some other city out of Lebanon and to keep him in
exile there. The Patriarch, when he received Jamal’s invitation to join him in Zahle, presented excuses on account of
his health, and proposed placing himself at the disposal of the governor at the Residence of the Maronite Archbishop of
Cyprus in Qornet Shewan. The governor accepted and released the Patriarch after the intervention of the Vatican and
the Emperor of Austria. Jamal Pasha was dismissed from his office of governor of Lebanon, Syria and the Arabian countries
at the beginning of 1918.
The famine continued during 1917 and 1918, causing the death of many thousands of Lebanese. The patriarch sent
priests to distribute food and money throughout the patriarchal vicariates and other regions of Lebanon, to alleviate
the misery of his people.
THE TRIUMPH
In the afternoon of September 29th, 1918, a terrific earthquake that caused extensive damage and claimed many victims
shook Lebanon. At the same time the British army entered Damascus and the Turkish and German forces fled from Lebanon
and Syria. Thus ended four hundred and two years of Turkish cruel oppression in Lebanon, and the triumph of the allies
marked the dawn of a new era for Lebanon and the whole of mankind. A temporary governing body was appointed for Lebanon
by the allied British and French occupation Forces, the advice of the Patriarch being always respected.
The Patriarch at the Peace Congress in Versailles (1919): The Lebanese people delegated patriarch Hoyek to express Lebanese
aspirations and defend Lebanon’s interests before the Peace Congress in Versailles, and before the French government.
The main danger to Lebanon came from King Faisal son of the Hashmit Sherif of Mecca, who was attempting to create an
Arab kingdom including in one state: Lebanon, Syria, Irak, Palestine and the Arabian Peninsula. The Lebanese people
saw its independence threatened and opposed the project of Faisal in so far as Lebanon was concerned. Lebanon was now
free from the Muslim Ottoman Empire and had no desire to become part of another Muslim Empire, an Arab one. Arab and Ottoman
empires were in practice forms of one and the same thing, the Muslim Empire ruled by harsh, rigid and discriminatory
Islamic laws. In the face of this threat the Administrative Council of Lebanon representing all Lebanese communities
formulated Lebanese aspirations as follows:
The extension of the frontiers of Lebanon to include the cities of Beirut, Tyre, Sidon, Tripoli and the districts
of ’Akkar, Beqa’, and Southern Lebanon. These cities and districts were natural parts of Lebanon and had been unjustly
separated from it by Turkey. The recognition of Lebanon’s full independence and of its natural rights to exercising self
determination and choosing a suitable form of government. The institution of a Parliament to represent the different
communities. The assistance of France in consolidating Lebanon’s independence. Patriarch Hoyek was delegated by the
representatives of the Lebanese communities to obtain from France and the Peace Congress of Versailles the recognition
of Lebanon’s independence from Faisal’s Arab Kingdom and from any other Arab state, and their assistance in achieving
Lebanon’s independence according to the four principles stated.
Patriarch Hoyek left Lebanon for France and met President Clemenceau on October 5th, 1919; on October 27th he
presented the assembly of Peace Congress with a memorandum in fifteen pages demonstrating the right of Lebanon
to independence and its ability to exercise national sovereignty. The claims of the Patriarch were recognized and
approved by Clemenceau in an official document issued and delivered to the Patriarch on November 10th,1919.
LEBANON INDEPENDENT
Finally the efforts of Patriarch Hoyek were crowned with success when General Gouraud, in the name of France,
proclaimed on September 1st, 1920, an independent Lebanon including the entire territory bounded by Ras-al-Naqurah
in the South, by Nahr-el-Kabir in the North, by the summits of Anti-Lebanon in the East and by the
Mediterranean in the West.
In brief, Patriarch Hoyek, a man of strong and courageous personality, deep spirituality and original mind, exerted
a real personal influence on the events of his time. Unlike some prelates, he was not a passive observer of events
but sought to influence their course. Patriarch Hoyek was well aware of the cynicism engendered among the faithful
by religious leaders who repeat pious platitudes and expressions of personal grief before tragic events and remain
helpless and inactive. He dealt vigorously with the problems of his people in times of disaster, instead of wringing
his hands, referring to the example of Christ who cured the sick and did not merely express pity.
When sections of the Maronite community were torn by dissension, he was always able to reconcile protagonists.
When Lebanon was in danger of being absorbed by King Faisal and the united Arab kingdom, Patriarch Hoyek obtained
unanimity first among the Maronites themselves and then between the Maronites and the other Lebanese communities.
Strengthened by this united stand, he persuaded France and other nations at the Peace Congress of Versailles to favor
the Lebanese cause. With the military defeat of Faisal by Gouraud at Maysalun near Damascus, the independence of Lebanon
was materialized. With Fakhr-ad-Din II the Great, Bashir II the Great and Yousif Bek Karam, Patriarch Hoyek must be
considered one of the four founders of independent Lebanon. He left this world on December 24th, 1931, not possessing
any money, but owing the Rev. Boulos To’me the sum of three pounds. His house in his native town Helta Batrun, is
compared by visitors to the Grotto of Bethlehem, on account of its poverty.
Patriarch Antoun Arida (1932-1955)
He was known as Selim Ben Abdel Ahad ARIDA and was born in Becharre on August 2nd 1863. He studied the Arabic and Syriac
languages at a school in his region, and in 1879, at the school of St Jean-Maroun at Kfar-Hay where he spent 5 years.
He was sent to St. Sulpice School in France where he spent 6 years (1884-1890) and continued his studies in Theology.
He was ordained priest by Bishop Mostel, superior of Bishops of the Curia on September 28th, 1890. He returned to Lebanon
where Patriarch Youhanna El Hajj appointed him his secretary, advocate of the marriage sacrament and examiner of priests.
Pope Pie X elected him prelate of the church with the title of Mgr. on July 31st, 1905 before being elected Bishop of the
diocese in Tripoli, which was consecrated by Patriarch Elias Howayek in Bkerke on June 18th 1908. The Assembly of Bishops
convened at Bkerke to elect him as a successor on April 30th 1932 after the death Patriarch Elias Howayek.
He built a See at Dimane where a dignified church was erected with the assistance of his brother Rashid Arida.
He purchased a house in Marseille for the representative of the church and re-opened the seminary of St Maron in Ghazir.
He founded and supervised another seminary in Ain-Warka and presented it to the Convent of Mar Abda - Harharaya. He opposed
the Protocol of Alexandria on October 7th, 1944 and asked for its rectification, he sustained the Lebanese independence
in 1943. At the age of 85 years, the Holy See appointed an apostolic committee to assist him, composed of the Bishops:
Boulos Meouchi, Abdallah Khoury (which continued after his death) by Bishops Ghnatios Ziadé) and Boutros Dib. His last
words before his death on Holy Thursday May 19th, 1955 at Bkerke were "God protect Lebanon". Patriarch Hoyek was succeeded
by Archbishop Anthony Areeda of Tripoli in 1932. A graduate of the Sulpician Seminary in Paris, Patriarch Areeda reopened
the patriarchal seminary of St. Maron in Ghazir in 1934, and gave its administration to the Jesuits. He also built a basilica
in the summer residence of Dimane and commissioned the painter Saliba Doueihy to do the artwork.
According to Bishop Tayah in his book The Maronites, Patriarch Areeda was concerned for the Maronite communities
established overseas, and attempted to take a census among these communities while a nation-wide census was being
conducted in Lebanon. During his tenure, he and the Maronite bishops actively participated in the deliberations of
the Second Vatican Council. In 1972 and 1973, Liturgical reforms of the Maronite Missal were inaugurated with the
publication of the experimental texts both by the Vatican and by the Patriarchate .
Patriarch Boulos MEOUCHI (1955-1975)
Born in Jezzine on April 1st 1894, though his primary studies were attended at a school in his village, it followed
with the school of the Mariamite sisters at Deir el Kamar, and finally at the college of La Sagesse. He traveled to
Rome before the beginning of the First World War and continued his studies at a university. He was ordained priest on
December 7th 1917. He traveled to the United States where he spent 14 years. In April 1934 he was elected Bishop for
the region of Tyr and was ordained Bishop in December 1934. In June 1955, He was elected patriarch and participated in
the Second Vatican Council where he defended with boldness the rights of Patriarchs to keep the belief in the Middle
East who were facing storms and hurricanes. He was the first Maronite Cardinal. During his reign Father Charbel MAKHLOUF
was declared Blessed. He died on January 11th 1975 in Bkerke.
At the death of Patriarch Areeda in 1955, the Vatican bypassed an election by the Maronite bishops and appointed
the Archbishop of Tyre, Paul Meouchi, as Patriarch. Patriarch Meouchi was a strong figure and had a significant influence
on the political life in Lebanon. 1962 Patriarch Meouchi was the first Maronite Patriarch to visit the Maronites in
the United States. On that occasion, he dedicated the Maronite Seminary in Washington, D.C. Upon the death of Patriarch
Meouchi in 1975, Anthony Khoraiche, Archbishop of Saida, was elected to succeed him. Patriarch Khoraiche was confronted
with the outbreak of hostilities in the country. A man of the land and of the people, he tried valiantly to restore
harmony among all Lebanese. During his tenure, the Maronite Seminary of Ghazir was restored.
Patriarch Antonio Khreich (1975 -1986)
He was born in Ain - Ebel in the south of Lebanon in 1907. He had his primary studies at a school in the village and was sent
to Rome to continue his philosophical and theological studies at the age of 13. He received his doctorate in philosophy at
the age of 16 but due to an illness, returned to Lebanon, and continued his theological studies at the University of Saint
Joseph in Beirut. Bishop Choukrallah Khoury ordained him priest at the Cathedral of Tyr on April 11th, 1930 where he began
his priesthood life by teaching. He was appointed director of the Maronite seminary in Beirut La Sagesse. In 1936 Bishop
Boulos MEOUCHI appointed him Vicariate General in Palestine and the President of the court of churches of that region. On
28th August 1950, Pope Pie XII designated him an honorary Bishop of Tarsous. Following this he became member of the
commission of the Bishops of Vatican II, and member of the commission in charge of the statute of the clergy and the
Christian people during the length of his council. At the end of the council, he became member of the Roman Curia for
the suit of saints and remained there until his Patriarchate. In 1973, he became member of the new commission to revise
the oriental cannon law and president of the legal commission of the APECL.
Finally he became Patriarchal Curator and Assistant General to the patriarchal parish on 11th April 1974 with Bishop Nasrallah
SFEIR. He was elected Patriarch on February 3rd, 1975. He was invested in his function as a Patriarch on Sunday 9th February,
the day of the feast of St Maroun. He made official visits to Rome, Paris and the United States and attended the Synod of
Bishops, which is held in Rome every three years.
During his Patriarchate the blessed Charbel MAKHLOUF was declared Saint
of the Universal church in an imposing ceremony at the Basilica St Pierre on 9th October 1977. During his Patriarchate sister
Rafka, a Lebanese nun of Hamlaya, was also declared blessed at the Basilica St Pierre on 17th November 1985. He was the
second Lebanese Patriarch to become Cardinal the on 2nd February 1983.
During his patriarchal period, the first worldwide Maronite Convention was held in Mexico in 1979 and the second
in New York in 1980. He submitted his resignation as Patriarch to the Holy Father on 17th November 1985 at the age
of 78 years. The one light during this sad period in Lebanon was the canonization of St. Charbel Makhlouf at
St. Peter's Basilica in Rome on October 9, 1977. St. Charbel was one of only a few persons from the Eastern Churches
to be canonized by the Roman Church in modern times. What is significant about his saintly achievement is that in
our contemporary world of constant activity and material achievement, he is a witness to the life of solitude, fasting
and prayer. St Sharbel's canonization was followed by the beatification of Blessed Rafka el-Raiyiss on November 17, 1985.
Her life was a witness to redemptive suffering in Christ.
His Beatitude
Mar Nasrallah Boutros
7 May 1950 Ordained Priest
1951-1955 Priest of Rayfoun Parish.
In charge of the secretariat of the Maronite Bishopric of Damascus.
1956 Secretary of the Maronite Patriarchate - Bkerke.
Professor of translation in literature and philosophy at the Freres Maronite School - Jounieh.
19 June 1961 Titular bishop of Tarse and Patriarchal Vicar.
3 July 1961 Confirmation of his election by His Holiness Pope John XXIII.
16 July 1961 Ordained Bishop
1961-1986 Patriarchal Vicar and Secretary of the Maronite Patriarchate.
19 April 1986 Elected Maronite Patriarch for Antioch and all the East.
7 May 1986 His Holiness Pope John Paul II entrusted him the "ecclesiastic communio" .
26 November 1994 Created Cardinal by His Holiness Pope John Paul II.
1995 Delegate President of the Special Assembly of the Synod of Bishops for Lebanon.
