Demetrius I Qadi
Encyclopedia
Demetrius I Qadi (January 18, 1861 – October 25, 1925) was patriarch
of the Melkite Greek Catholic Church
from 1919 until 1925.
, Syria
. Ordained a Melkite priest, he was appointed bishop of Aleppo
on October 27, 1903 and ordained November 29, 1903 by patriarch Cyril VIII Jaha
. On April 6, 1919 he was elected patriarch by the Melkite Synod of Bishops. At that point the patriarchate had been vacant for three years since the death of Cyril VIII Jaha
in 1916.
During his brief reign the Melkite Church experienced a rapid expansion in the Near East as situations for the Greek Catholics improved during the period of the French Mandate. Demetrius also began radical reforms in the Melkite Church, including prepartaions for Melkite councils to address canonical matters. However, Demetrius did not live to participate in these councils, and died in 1925. He was succeeded upon his death by Patriarch Cyril IX Moghabghab
.
Patriarch
Originally a patriarch was a man who exercised autocratic authority as a pater familias over an extended family. The system of such rule of families by senior males is called patriarchy. This is a Greek word, a compound of πατριά , "lineage, descent", esp...
of the Melkite Greek Catholic Church
Melkite Greek Catholic Church
The Melkite Greek Catholic Church is an Eastern Catholic Church in full communion with the Holy See as part of the worldwide Catholic Church. The Melkites, Byzantine Rite Catholics of mixed Eastern Mediterranean and Greek origin, trace their history to the early Christians of Antioch, Syria, of...
from 1919 until 1925.
Life
Joseph Qadi was born in DamascusDamascus
Damascus , commonly known in Syria as Al Sham , and as the City of Jasmine , is the capital and the second largest city of Syria after Aleppo, both are part of the country's 14 governorates. In addition to being one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, Damascus is a major...
, Syria
Syria
Syria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest....
. Ordained a Melkite priest, he was appointed bishop of Aleppo
Aleppo
Aleppo is the largest city in Syria and the capital of Aleppo Governorate, the most populous Syrian governorate. With an official population of 2,301,570 , expanding to over 2.5 million in the metropolitan area, it is also one of the largest cities in the Levant...
on October 27, 1903 and ordained November 29, 1903 by patriarch Cyril VIII Jaha
Cyril VIII Jaha
Cyril VIII Geha , was patriarch of the Melkite Greek Catholic Church from 1902 until 1916. He was the last Melkite Catholic patriarch of the Ottoman era.-Life:...
. On April 6, 1919 he was elected patriarch by the Melkite Synod of Bishops. At that point the patriarchate had been vacant for three years since the death of Cyril VIII Jaha
Cyril VIII Jaha
Cyril VIII Geha , was patriarch of the Melkite Greek Catholic Church from 1902 until 1916. He was the last Melkite Catholic patriarch of the Ottoman era.-Life:...
in 1916.
During his brief reign the Melkite Church experienced a rapid expansion in the Near East as situations for the Greek Catholics improved during the period of the French Mandate. Demetrius also began radical reforms in the Melkite Church, including prepartaions for Melkite councils to address canonical matters. However, Demetrius did not live to participate in these councils, and died in 1925. He was succeeded upon his death by Patriarch Cyril IX Moghabghab
Cyril IX Moghabghab
Cyril IX Moghabghab served as Patriarch of the Melkite Greek Catholic Church from 1925 to 1947.-Life:Patriarch Cyril born in Ain Zhalta, Lebanon on October 29, 1855. He was ordained a priest on March 27, 1883...
.