IOverview
The word Melkite comes from Syriac malka, meaning king. It was first a somewhat scornful name for Christians in Syria and Egypt who accepted the Council of Chalcedon of 451 and sided with the Byzantine emperor. In time the community took the name as its own.
The Melkite Greek Catholic Church follows the Byzantine rite and worships mainly in Arabic, with some Greek. Its head is styled Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, of Alexandria and of Jerusalem, and his seat is the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Dormition in Damascus. In keeping with Eastern tradition, married men may be ordained priests.
IIHistory
For centuries Melkite Christians belonged to the Orthodox patriarchates of Antioch, Alexandria and Jerusalem. From the 17th century Latin missionaries were active in Aleppo and Damascus, and a party within the Antiochian church leaned increasingly towards Rome. In 1724 this party elected Cyril VI Tanas as patriarch. The Patriarch of Constantinople rejected the election and installed another candidate. From then on the See of Antioch had two lines, one Orthodox and one in communion with Rome.
- 451Council of ChalcedonThose in Syria and Egypt who accepted the council come to be called Melkites, the king's men.
- 1724The split in AntiochCyril VI Tanas is elected patriarch and Constantinople refuses to recognise him.
- 1729Recognition by RomeBenedict XIII receives Cyril VI and his followers into full communion.
- 19th centuryTwo more patriarchal titlesUnder Patriarch Maximos III Mazloum the Holy See grants the head of the church the added titles of Alexandria and Jerusalem.
- 1962 to 1965A voice at Vatican IIPatriarch Maximos IV Sayegh speaks up for the Eastern traditions at the council.
- 2017Patriarch Youssef AbsiPatriarch Gregory III Laham resigns and Youssef Absi is elected in 2017.
IIITeachings and Distinctives
The Melkite Church sees itself as a bridge between Catholicism and Orthodoxy. It stresses that it keeps the Byzantine heritage of Antioch intact and that communion with Rome does not require becoming Latin.
In 1995 Archbishop Elias Zoghby proposed a formula that would allow Melkites to be in communion both with Rome and with the Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch. The Melkite synod supported the idea, but the Holy See replied that the proposal was premature. The initiative was never put into effect, yet it is still often cited in discussions of Catholic and Orthodox dialogue.
In doctrine the church believes what the whole Catholic Church believes. In discipline, infants receive baptism, chrismation and communion together, the Eucharist uses leavened bread, married men may be ordained priests and bishops are chosen from the celibate clergy.
IVPractice, Liturgy and Life
The main service is the Divine Liturgy of Saint John Chrysostom, with the Liturgy of Saint Basil on certain days. Churches have an iconostasis, and Byzantine chant is sung in Arabic to melodies of Greek origin. Abroad the liturgy is also celebrated in English, Portuguese and French. The Basilian orders, among them the Chouerites and the Salvatorians, founded in the early 18th century, play a large part in education and pastoral work in Lebanon and Syria.
The liturgical year follows the Byzantine calendar and begins on 1 September. The great feasts include Christmas, Theophany with the Great Blessing of Water, the Great Fast and Easter. At home many families keep an icon corner with a small oil lamp.
VOrganisation and Distribution
The synod elects the patriarch, who then asks the Pope for ecclesial communion. According to the Annuario Pontificio 2023 the church has 1,545,990 members. They are concentrated in Lebanon and Syria, with communities in Israel, Palestine, Jordan and Egypt. Wikipedia reports that the Melkite community in Brazil is about as large as the one in Lebanon, without giving the year of the figures. The United States has the Eparchy of Newton, and Canada, Australia, Mexico, Argentina and Venezuela also have their own eparchies or exarchates.
The war in Syria since 2011 has led many Melkite families to leave Aleppo, Homs and Damascus. This page records the fact without entering into the politics.
VIIn Vietnam
There is no significant Melkite community in Vietnam, and no source was found for a Melkite parish or priest here. Under Eastern canon law, faithful living where their own church has no eparchy come under the local bishop, so any Melkites in Vietnam would usually attend Mass in a Latin parish.
VIISymbol of the Branch
No symbol of its own is recorded with a source for this branch, so the library uses the common symbol of the path.
VIIIOther Branches of Catholicism
Latin ChurchEcclesia LatinaThe largest of the 24 churches that make up the Catholic Church, headed directly by the Bishop of Rome.
Syro-Malabar Catholic ChurchSyro-Malabar SabhaThe largest Eastern Catholic Church, rooted in the Saint Thomas Christians of Kerala, India.
Ukrainian Greek Catholic ChurchУкраїнська греко-католицька церкваThe largest Byzantine-rite Eastern Catholic Church.
Maronite Churchالكنيسة المارونيةA West Syriac rite church named after the hermit Saint Maron.Melkite Greek Catholic Churchكنيسة الروم الملكيين الكاثوليكA Byzantine-rite church worshipping in Arabic and Greek, rooted in the See of Antioch.Uses the common symbol of the pathArmenian Catholic ChurchՀայ Կաթողիկե ԵկեղեցիAn Armenian-rite church in communion with Rome, led by the Armenian Catholic Patriarch of Cilicia seated in Beirut.Uses the common symbol of the pathChaldean Catholic Churchܥܕܬܐ ܟܠܕܝܬܐ ܩܬܘܠܝܩܝܬܐAn East Syriac rite church worshipping in Syriac and Arabic, led by the Chaldean Patriarch of Babylon seated in Baghdad.Uses the common symbol of the path
Syro-Malankara Catholic ChurchMalankara Suriyani Katholika SabhaA church of the Saint Thomas Christians of Kerala using the West Syriac rite, in communion with Rome since 1930.IXSources
The library cross-checks the sources below. Where they disagree, the page gives both.
?Quick Questions
Are Melkites Orthodox?
No. The Melkite Greek Catholic Church is in communion with Rome. The Middle East also has the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch, with the same roots and rite, which is not in communion with Rome.
Why Greek if the liturgy is in Arabic?
Greek refers to the Byzantine rite of Greek origin, not to language or ethnicity. Most of the faithful are Arabic speakers.
Who is the current Melkite patriarch?
Youssef Absi, elected in 2017 after the resignation of Patriarch Gregory III Laham. His seat is in Damascus, Syria.