www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life Prayer Pray for Patriarchial Election in Antioch

The Synod of Bishops of the Patriarchate of Antioch and All the East, of Alexandria and of Jerusalem has formally accepted the resignation of His Beatitude Patriarch Maximos V Hakim due to poor health. Patriarch Maximos V is 92. [See the news pages on this site for the press release.]

The Synod meets again today in prayer to elect a new patriarch. Please pray that the Synod chooses a worthy successor who will well serve the Church at Antioch.

Please also pray that the Lord grant to his servant, His Beatitude Maximos V, restored health, peace and a long life. Many years!

Thank you, Moose, for your prayer request. I will gladly, and with a tear or two of gratitude, pray for a Patriarch of the Catholic and Orthodox Faith, who gladly accepted the challenge that all Christians are offered by the Triune God, at least once, during a lifetime: The challenge and blessing to put Christ our True Savior above all other considerations, including personal desires, and stick by that commitment to the blessed end. Axios! Axios! Axios!...True Shepherd of the People of God.

The following was sent by Fr. J.P. Martin A. Hyatt b.s.o. on the CINEAST listserver:
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Glory be to the Name of Jesus the Savior !

We have a new Patriarch for our Melkite Church. He is Archbishop Lutfi
Laham from Jerusalem. Praise God ! He is a wonderful and holy man, and
will be a great leader.

Brief Biography: Archbishop Lutfi Laham

Archbishop Lutfi Laham was born near Damascus, Syria in 1933 at the
village of Daraya known as the place of the conversion of St. Paul. He
entered the seminary of the Salvatorian Fathers at Joun, Lebanon in 1943
and pronounced his final vows in 1954. He later continued his studies
in Rome. Ordained a priest in 1959, he earned a doctorate in Oriental
theology in Rome and returned to Lebanon in 1961. He was superior of
the major seminary of the Salvatorian Order from 1961 to 1964 and where
taught theology, Greek and French both at the major seminary and as
professor of the University of the Holy Spirit at Kaslik, Lebanon.

In 1962, he founded the journal Unity in the Faith, an
ecumenical and eastern review in Arabic. He established two social
action centers: Le Foyer de la jeune fille with many sites
in the various villages of South Lebanon and in collaboration with
Fathers George Kwaiter and Salim Ghazal, he established Le Foyer de la
Providence in Salhieh just East of Saida.

In 1974, during the absence of Archbishop Capucci, he
functioned as Administrator then Patriarchal Vicar at Jerusalem where he
completed several projects including the restoration of the Patriarchal
residence and the renovation of the cathedral in Jerusalem.

He was consecrated a bishop in 1981 at Damascus by Patriarch
Maximos V assisted by Archbishops Saba Youakim and Francois Abou Mokh.
Elected Patriarch November 29,
2000
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God grant Him many years!
Lector El Pekarik

Eis polla eti, Despota!

Many years, Master!