His Beatitude

Gregory III Patriarch of Antioch and all the east, of Alexandria and of Jerusalem.

His Beatitude was born in 1933 at Daraya (near Damascus, capital of Syria), known as the site of Christ’s apparition to St. Paul. In 1943, the young Lutfi (it means “gentile”) entered the seminary of the Salvatorian fathers at St. Savior Monastery near Saida (south Lebanon) where he finished his philosophical and theological studies. He presented his religious temporary vows on 15 August 1949 and the perpetual vows on 20 January 1952. His superiors sent him to Rome (Italy) in 1956 to further his theological studies. In 1961, he was granted the Doctorate degree in Oriental Ecclesiastical Studies from the Pontifical Oriental Institute directed by the Jesuit fathers. During his stay in Rome, he was ordained a priest in 1959 at the Monastery of Grottaferrata (near Rome).
Back to Lebanon, in 1961 he was appointed rector of the Major Seminary of his Order in St. Savior Monastery, relocated later to Jeita (near Beirut) a responsibility he retained until the year 1969. At the same time, he taught theology and liturgy at the Major Seminary and the University of Holy Spirit in Kaslik (near Beirut).

Moved by the Spirit to work for the unity of the Church, he founded in 1962 the review “Unity in Faith”. It was the first Arabic review treating Oriental and Ecumenical questions and problems. Thus, the holy Synod of the Melkite Catholic Church appointed him Secretary of the Ecumenical Commission and the Liturgical Commission. In 1972, he was able to prepare, in Beirut, the first Liturgical Congress common to both Greek Orthodox and Catholic Churches of Antioch. He was zealous in pursuing and favoring the dialogue and relations between the two churches. He earned the respect of both Orthodox and Catholics and was a member of the ATIME (Association of Theological Institutes in Middle East). He was invited to give lectures and participate in Theological congresses in Germany, Italy and London.

These efforts did not stop the dynamic priest from working and serving the many and different parishes where he devoted himself to preaching and teaching in Lebanon and Syria. He was able to undertake many social activities creating the ambulant centers of “The Young Girl” in 1965 in the Diocese of Saida. Then, with the help of many German friends, and the Salvatorian fathers George Koueiter and Salim Ghazal, he undertook the realization of the social project of “ The Providence Center for Boys” at Salhieh (near Saida). This center is a multifunctional center including a house for 100 young orphans, a technical school for about 500 students, and a center for the young people directed towards parish, social and religious activities. At the same time, he proposed in 1971 to open a center for”Religious Studies” for adults. In fact, more than 20 people chose then to serve the Lord in the Priesthood.

In 1974, with the arrest of Archbishop Hilarion Capucci by the Israeli Authorities, His Beatitude Patriarch Maximos V appointed him Patriarchal General Vicar of the Melkite Greek Catholic Patriarchate in Jerusalem. There in Jerusalem, between the years 1974-1975, he finished the projects undertaken there, which included the restoration of the patriarchal residence, embellishment of the cathedral with frescoes and of the adjacent pilgrim’s hostel. Once again, he devoted his energies to the religious studies creating a special center for them. This center has now became a branch of the University of Bethlehem granting the License degree

In 1976, .he added to this center the Oriental Library which includes many books in different languages, thus giving pilgrims the opportunity to study the Eastern Churches Tradition. From 1977 on, he consentrated his energies on social works, thus creating the “Financial Chest” to provide help for needy students of Jerusalem to pursue their studies.

The Holy Synod, in its meeting of 9 September 1981, elected him bishop. He was consecrated in Damascus on November 27, 1981 by H.B. Patriarch Maximos V, assisted by H.E. Archbishops Saba Youakim and Francis Abou Mokh. He then initiated the work for a housing project formed of 36 apartments for the needy families of Jerusalem, with a church, a social hall and a health center. The project was terminated in 1983. Since then, he has not stopped furthering his social activities in constructing houses, schools, restoring churches and health centers. Further housing projects are ongoing!

In 1986, the Holy Synod appointed him as head of the Synofal and Patriarchal Liturgical Commission. He vigorously worked with the Liturgical Commission to finish, in 1992, the book of the “Devine Liturgy”, adding to the old edition many different introductions and variations. He is still working to finish the book of the “Liturgical Prayers” in 5 Volumes. These books make our Church proud of its Byzantine Tradition. Besides these two very important projects, His Beatitude is prolific in many writings in many different languages e.g. “ Introduction to the liturgical rites and their symbols in the Eastern Church”, “Voice of the Pastor”, “Germanos Adam”, “History of the Melkite Church” and “Melkite Church in Vatican II Council”,

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In June 2000, he invited all the Catholic Archbishops of the Byzantine Churches from Eastern Europe and the Diaspora for a Convention in the Patriarchal Residence in Jerusalem. They studied together the common problems of their Churches. It was the first meeting of his kind among the different Byzantine Churches.

H.B. Maximos V, due to his bad health, resigned his many important responsibilities as head of the Melkite Greek Catholic Church. The Holy Synod met at Raboueh, patriarchal residence in Lebanon, on 22 November 2000 to accept the resignation of the Patriarch. On 29 November 2000, the Holy Synod elected Archbishop Lutfi Patriarch of Antioch and all the East, of Alexandria and of Jerusalem. He took the name of Gregorios III. The Greek name Gregory means the “vigilant”