www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life The Christian East & West Question re Melkite Jurisdiction

By way of background, I am new to the forum and to the eastern churches. My wife and I entered into full communion with the Catholic Church (Latin Rite) in 2004. Over the past few months, we have been attending the local Melkite Church. Discovering the Melkite Church has been a blessing and an adventure.

In doing a little research concerning the Melkite Church, I’ve found that the Melkite Patriarch is not only Patriarch of Antioch (historic home of the Melkite Church), but is also the Patriarch of Jerusalem and Alexandria. I’m curious as to how that came about and as to its practical ramifications. For example, I assume there are significant numbers of eastern Catholics in both Alexandria and Jerusalem. Are they all under the authority of the Melkite Patriarch or are there distinct Melkite communities in Alexandria and Jerusalem? Are there other eastern Catholic patriarchs with overlapping jurisdiction?

Thanks!

(My apologies if this is posted in the wrong sub-forum.)

The wide jurisdiction comes from the immigration of the antiochen melkite faithful.

But the Vatican apparently don't recognize it, although a Pope conceded the title once to the Patriarch Maximos III (Mazloum).

In Alexandria and Jerusalem, as well in Antioch, there are very many christian jurisdictions. The one comprehending more people is the Coptic Orthodox.

Pope Leo XIII recognised the Melkite patriarch's authority (as patriarch) throughout the (then) Ottoman Empire.

While the Melkite patriarch is a direct descendent of Ss Peter and Paul on the throne of Antioch, the patriarchates of Jerusalem and Alexandria were given to him but with the (then) understanding by Rome of each rite having its own patriarch.

Rome's intervention over the years has left the East in a muddle--especially, given thinking on rites, patriarchs, etc., has not always been well thought through.

You left out "and All the East".

What is the jurisdictional/geographic scope of "All the East"?

"and all the East" is thought to be a reference to the Roman prefecture Oriens."

Patriarch Maximos V of holy memory seriously considered whether Alexandria and Jerusalem should be dropped from the Patriarchal title. But he decided against it, since there were (and are) real efforts to drive the Patriarchate out of existence.

It as always been understood that Alexandria, Antioch, and Jerusalem are three distinct Patriarchates. As the Christian presence continues to diminish in Egypt and Palestine, it becomes more important to retain at least a titular presence.

Fr. Serge

After the Muslim conquest in the 7th century, the Chalcedonian patriarchates of Alexandria and Jerusalem lost most of their independence and became suffragans of the Patriarchate of Constantinople, where their patriarchs were actually resident most of the time. Only the Patriarchate of Antioch managed to maintain a significant degree of independence, because the Byzantines managed to recapture most of Northern Syria in the 10th-11th centuries, allowing a resident patriarch with real jurisdictional authority. That was largely lost after the recapture of Antioch by the Seljuk Turks, the subsequent establishment of a Crusader principality, and the absorption of that state into the Ottoman Empire. The independence of Antioch is what allowed Patriarch Peter III to attempt mediation of the dispute between Rome and Constantinople in 1054--a time when Antioch was in communion with both, even though neither was in communion with the other.

StuartK! Nice to see you're back. I've enjoyed your posts overall and was saddened by your long absence.

Hi Tom!

Fr. Deacon Stan's wife here

You are coming to a really good place to ask questions. Lot's of historical buffs here. People with amazing understanding of just how things came to be within the different rites, in time and place.

The Melkite Patriarch of Antioch has to share his title with the Syriac and Maronite Patriarchs under the Vatican. There used to be a Latin Patriarch too.

In Alexandira he has to share his title with the Coptic patriarch of Alexandria under the Vatican. Said hiearch is NOT allowed (a glaring exception to usual Vatican practice in accepting Eastern Orthodox hiearchs) to hold the traditional title of the original Orthodox primates of Alexandria, i.e. "Pope." There used to be a Latin patriarch appointed here as well, but that (as well as the one for Antioch) was abolished post Vatican II.

In Jerusalem, he has to share the title with the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem.

Hi Rose! Sounds like I am in the right place!

Thank you all for your informative responses. Any good books concerning the history of the Melkites and/or the other Christian churches of the Middle East and North Africa that any of you would recommend?

Tom ask Abouna Frank if he has any copies of the Eyes of the Gospel by Sayedna Raya of blessed memory left. That is a really great place to start understanding, especially St. George. Any of his books that you can find will be marvelous.

Also, read this forum Scripture and Patristic writings[/url] https://www.byzcath.org/forums/ubbthreads.php/forums

I would suggest Cyril Korolevsky's three-volume/four-part History of the Melkite Partriarchate, which can be ordered from Eastern Christian Publications [ssl.webvalence.com] . Though slightly out of date for the most recent developments, it is by far one of the most comprehensive histories you will find.