Melkite Greek Catholic Church
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Non- Governmental and Other Organisations
- Christianity (Melkite Greek Catholic)
- Église Grecque Melkite Catholique ; كنيسة الروم الملكيين الكاثوليك
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PO Box 70071 Antelias, Lebanon
Bab Sharqi, Haret el Zeitoun 12, PB 22249 Damascus, Syria
16 rue Daher, 11271, Cairo, Egypt
PO Box 14130, 91141 Jerusalem (Old City), Israel
- melkitepat
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Aim
Express Christian faith through liturgical worship according to the Eastern or Byzantine Rite in accordance with the culture of the faithful and maintaining and preserving the dignity and beauty of the early Church; express faith in education through schools and college, in charitable assistance through homes for orphans, the elderly and the handicapped, hospitals for those in physical or mental distress and through relief work to displaced persons.
History
Founded according to the Byzantine Rite, evolved in the Church of Antioch, and reformed by St Basil and St John Chrysostom. A 'sui iuris' church in full communion with the Roman Catholic Church. Its Patriarchal Church is spread throughout the Arab Middle East and its diaspora throughout the world. Patriarch bears the title Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, of Alexandria, and of Jerusalem, recalling the fact that all three cities still have local Eastern Christian communities whose origins date back to apostolic times. The historic loyalty of the Melkite Church to the Eastern Roman Empire and to the first 7 Ecumenical Councils is reflected in the name Melkite, derived from the Arab word Malki meaning Imperial, and appellation adopted by Chalcedonian Christians in the latter half of the 5th century. Historically and geographically distinct from the Latin Church of Rome and the Greek Orthodox Church of Antioch, it seeks to be, in the 21st century, a bridge between Western Catholics and Eastern Orthodox.
IRD Activities
- International Dialogue Center - Liqaa
Its aim is to build bridges through cultural and religious dialogue across a divided world. From a Christian perspective, it aims to be involved with working for Christian unity through ecumenical dialogue, deepening understanding of Christianity through opening to others, and studying Arab-Christian influence in education and society. From a socio-religious perspective, it aims to be involved with supporting the development of an educated, tolerant, open society through inter-faith dialogue, deepening the sense of belonging to Arab culture and society, and educating people of different generations
- Dioceses
The Melkite Greek Catholic Church has dioceses in Syria, Lebanon, the Holy Land, Jordan and in the Diaspora. Some of these dioceses have schools, higher education institutions, cultural and medical centres, university hostels, etc. and offer educational and social services and charitable activities. Some of these dioceses (in the Metropole of Aleppo, in the Metropole of Homs, Hama and Yaborud, in the Archeparchy of Latakia and Tartous) promote interreligious and ecumenical encounters. Other initiatives promoting interreligious understanding include the creation of an Institute of Islamic-Christian Studies at the Archeparchy of Sidon and Deir-el-Kamar (Lebanon). Some of these dioceses have interreligious committees (Eparchy of Sydney, Australia and New Zealand).
Main Focus Countries of Activities
Antelias, Lebanon - Syria - Sidon, Lebanon - Sydney, NSW, Australia