Archbishop Joseph Absi Elected Melkite Patriarch of Antioch
By Ani Karapetyan/Contributing Writer
Today, 71-year old Archbishop Joseph Absi was elected by the Melkite Greek Catholic Synod as the new Patriarch of the Melkite Greek Catholic Church. Absi took the position after Pope Francis accepted the resignation of former Patriarch Gregory Lahham on May 6th.
Syrian-born, Joseph later obtained Lebanese nationality. In 1973, Joseph Absi became Chaplain of the Missionary Society of Saint Paul. In 2001, he was appointed Titular Archbishop of Tartus of Greek Melkite, Curial and Auxiliary Bishop in the Melkite Patriarchate.
In 2001, he received the episcopal chirotonia from Patriarch Gregory III Laham with co-consecrators Archbishop Jean Mansour, titular archbishop of Apamea in Syria, and Archbishop Joseph Kallas, Archeparch of Beirut and Jbeil.
Since 2007 he has served as Patriarchal Vicar in the Archdiocese of Damascus.
The Melkite Church is one of the Eastern Catholic churches that adhere to the Byzantine rite; that is, belonging to the number of Greek Catholic churches. The church is of Middle Eastern origin, it was separated in 1724 from the Antiochian Orthodox Church. Most of its adherents live in Syria, Lebanon, Egypt, Israel and Jordan. In addition, a significant number of melkites are scattered throughout the world in emigration.
In the U.S., the Most Rev. Nicholas Samra is the fifth eparchial Bishop of the Eparchy of Newton (Melkite Rite in the U.S.) serving over 40 parishes.