Melkite Greek Catholic Church
Melkite Greek Catholic Church: a Church sui iuris of the Constantinopolitan (Byzantine) tradition. Status, head, countries, books, history, and sources.
- Tradition (CCEO can. 28 §2)
- Constantinopolitan (Byzantine) tradition (Source: CCEO, vatican.va ↗)
- Catechism (CCC 1203)
- Byzantine (Source: Catechism, vatican.va ↗)
- Canonical status
- Patriarchal Church sui iuris (Source: GCatholic ↗)
- Head
- Patriarch Youssef Absi (as listed by GCatholic on 22 October 2026) (Source: GCatholic ↗)
- Historical centre
- Antioch (Antakya) (historical Patriarchate of Antioch) (Source: Wikidata ↗)
- Present see
- Damascus (patriarchal residence since 1848) (Source: Wikidata ↗)
- Liturgical books
- Byzantine service books (Hieratikon/Služebnik for the Divine Liturgies of St John Chrysostom and St Basil and the Presanctified; Horologion, Octoechos, Triodion, Pentecostarion, Menaion). Editions and translations are approved by each Church's own authority; no single edition is common to all Byzantine Churches. Generic book names only: each Church's own authority approves its editions and translations, and no edition is named here until verified. (Source: Byzantine Catholic Metropolia of Pittsburgh ↗)
- Own jurisdiction in
- Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Egypt, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Mexico, New Zealand, Palestine, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Turkey, United States, Venezuela (19) (Source: GCatholic ↗) As listed on 22 October 2026.
- Approximate historical heartland
- Patriarchates of Antioch, Jerusalem, Alexandria (Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine, Syria) (Source: CNEWA ↗)
- Note
- Constantinopolitan (Byzantine) in rite, although its patriarch holds the title of Antioch. (Source: melkitepat.org ↗)
Where it has its own jurisdiction
Showing the Melkite Greek Catholic Church, present jurisdictions: 19 countries.
Countries where the Melkite Greek Catholic Church has its own jurisdiction: 19 countries.
Countries with the Church's own jurisdiction; faithful elsewhere are served by local ordinaries.
Countries shaded (19)
- Argentina
- Australia
- Brazil
- Canada
- Egypt
- Iraq
- Israel
- Jordan
- Kuwait
- Lebanon
- Mexico
- New Zealand
- Palestine
- South Sudan
- Sudan
- Syria
- Turkey
- United States
- Venezuela
Source: GCatholic ↗, as listed on 22 October 2026.
Borders are illustrative (Natural Earth, de facto lines) and imply no position. Shading shows where a Church has its own jurisdiction, not where all its faithful live. Made with Natural Earth ↗ (public domain). Sources and method.
History
- 1724 Disputed election; Cyril VI elected by the Damascus party (Source: CNEWA ↗)
- 1729 Benedict XIII recognises Cyril VI (Source: CNEWA ↗)
- 1838 Titles of Jerusalem and Alexandria added (Source: CNEWA ↗)
- 1848 Ottoman recognition; patriarchate to Damascus (Source: CNEWA ↗)
Dates are given as ranges or centuries where the sources give no single date.
Texts and resources
Every resource is an outside link; nothing here is hosted by Bibliotheca Catholica. What the badges mean.
- Liturgies Eastern and Western, vol. I: Eastern Liturgies (F. E. Brightman, 1896) ↗ Rights: Public domain (US)
published 1896 (pre-1931) - Catholic Encyclopedia: 'Greek Rites' ↗ Rights: Public domain (US)
published 1907 to 1912 - Catholic Encyclopedia: 'Liturgy of St. Basil' ↗ Rights: Public domain (US)
1907 to 1912 - Official Church site (link only) ↗ Rights: Link only
copyright of the publishing Church; no open licence found
In the library
- John Chrysostom The Divine Liturgy most often served bears his name
- Basil the Great The Liturgy of Saint Basil
- Theodore the Studite Byzantine monastic tradition
- De Spiritu Sancto, Basil the Great Read: On the Holy Spirit
- Homilies on Romans, John Chrysostom Read: Homilies on Romans
Main sources: melkitepat.org ↗, CNEWA ↗. Checked 2026-10-26. Sources and method.