Archbishop Joseph Absi has been elected Melkite Patriarch of Antioch!
Αξιος! Аѯіосъ!! Axios!
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| photo of the newly-elected Patriarch Joseph |
مبروك ولسنين كثيرة سيدنا
The Society of Saint John Chrysostom congratulates the new Patriarch, the Synod of Bishops , the clergy and the faithful throughout the world, and wishes abundant blessings and graces to venerable Patriarch-emeritus Gregory III.
Patriarch Youssef I was born on June 20, 1946 in Damascus, Syria and later obtained Lebanese nationality.
In 1973, he was ordained priest and became Chaplain of the Missionary Society of Saint Paul.
On 22 June 2001, he was appointed Titular Archbishop of Tarsus of Greek Melkite, Curial and Auxiliary Bishop in the Melkite Patriarchate.
On 2 September 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. source