Ignatius III Atiyah
Encyclopedia
Patriarch Ignatius III Atiyah (died 1634) was Melkite
Patriarch of Antioch
from 1619 to 1634. The first years of his patriarchate were marked by the split of the Melkite Church in two factions, a situation that lasted till the Synod of Ras-Baalbek held in 1628 which confirmed Ignatius Atiyah as the only Patriarch and ruled about the independence of the Melchite Church.
, the Melkite Church split between two claiming Patriarchs, Ignatius III Atiyah and Cyril IV Dabbas, who both were consecrated on the same day, April 24, 1619 but in different places.
Ignatius Atiyah started his career as secretary of the Emir Fakhr-al-Din II
and in 1605 he became metropolitan
of Saida
. The Christian people of Damascus
, unhappy with the leadership of Dabbas, chose Ignatius and sent him to be consecrated Patriarch of Antioch in Constantinople
, where, on April 24, 1619, the Ecumenical Patriarch Timothy II
celebrated the ordination.
Cyril Dabbas was the brother of the previous Patriarch Athanasius Dabbas and he himself metropolitan of Bosra
. He was strongly supported by the Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Alexandria
, Cyril Lucaris
. His consecration as Patriarch was held on April 24, 1619 in Amioun
, Lebanon
, by the hands of metropolitans Simeon of Hama
, Lazaros of Homs
and Dionysios of Hosn, under the political influence of the Pasha
of Tripoli
, Ibn Sifa.
The Melkite Church was thus split in two factions: the area of central Syria, including Hama, Homs, Paneas, and politically under the authority of Tripoli, recognized the authority of Cyril Dabbas, while the region of Mount Lebanon
, under the Emir Fakhr-al-Din II, as well as the Northern region Aleppo
, were faithful to Ignatius Atiyah. This split of the Church not only created discord, but also caused a huge expenditure of money, because both part asked for the formal recognition by the Ottoman sultan who granted it successively to the party who paid more.
Initially the situation was in favor of Cyril Dabbas, because his protector, Cyril Lucaris on November 4, 1620 became Patriarch of Constantinople
and succeed to get a firman
from the Sultan ordering to deport Ignatius to Cyprus
and to punish all bishops who did not recognized Cyrill as the sole Patriarch. In 1624 the situation started to change because of the defeat of the Pasha of Tripoli, the main political protector of Cyril, by the Emir Fakhr-al-Din II. Cyrill had to leave Tripoli and moved to Aleppo, where he immediately clashed with the metropolitan of the town, Meletius Karmah
, a fierce opponent of him. Cyril succeeded two times to have Meletius imprisoned, but always Meletius, supported by the Christian population of Aleppo, refused to recognize him.
, Lebanon, where the Emire lived. The synod was opened on the June 1st, 1628 in the church of the Blessed Virgin and all the twelve Melchite bishops were present, a part from Cyril Dabbas, who shortly before the synod tried to renounce to the throne in change to a eparchy
. The synod proclaimed Ignatius III Atiyah as the only Patriach, and Cyril Dabbas he was brought in chains to Ras-Baalbek and exiled near Hermel
, where shortly later he was executed by men of the Emir.
The synod issued twenty canons, which can be so summarized:
The regulations set forth by this synod were important in confirming the regularity and legitimacy of the election of the pro-Catholic Cyril Tanas in the 1724 events which led to the split of Melkite Church.
, near to his protector Emir Fakhr-al-Din II
. In 1633 the Ottoman Sultan started a successful war against the will of independence of the Emir, and Ignatius Atiyah, now without political protection, had to escape from Beirut to Saida. When he tried to return to Beirut dressed up as a soldier, he was shot by a group of druze
s and he died immediately. The exact date it is not known, but it was in the early months of 1634.
Melkite
The term Melkite, also written Melchite, refers to various Byzantine Rite Christian churches and their members originating in the Middle East. The word comes from the Syriac word malkāyā , and the Arabic word Malakī...
Patriarch of Antioch
Patriarch of Antioch
Patriarch of Antioch is a traditional title held by the Bishop of Antioch. As the traditional "overseer" of the first gentile Christian community, the position has been of prime importance in the church from its earliest period...
from 1619 to 1634. The first years of his patriarchate were marked by the split of the Melkite Church in two factions, a situation that lasted till the Synod of Ras-Baalbek held in 1628 which confirmed Ignatius Atiyah as the only Patriarch and ruled about the independence of the Melchite Church.
Ignatius III Atiyah and Cyril IV Dabbas
After the death of Athanasius II DabbasAthanasius II Dabbas
Patriarch Athanasius II Dabbas , sometime known also as Athanasius III, was Melkite Greek Patriarch of Antioch from 1611 to 1619.-Life:...
, the Melkite Church split between two claiming Patriarchs, Ignatius III Atiyah and Cyril IV Dabbas, who both were consecrated on the same day, April 24, 1619 but in different places.
Ignatius Atiyah started his career as secretary of the Emir Fakhr-al-Din II
Fakhr-al-Din II
Emir Fakhr-al-Din ibn Maan was the 1st prince of the State of Lebanon which has self-governed under the Ottoman Empire between the 17th and 19th centuries. Son of Prince Qorqmaz ibn Maan and Sit Nasab of the Tanukhi family, he was given the title "Emir" or Prince in Arabic because the Maan...
and in 1605 he became metropolitan
Metropolitan bishop
In Christian churches with episcopal polity, the rank of metropolitan bishop, or simply metropolitan, pertains to the diocesan bishop or archbishop of a metropolis; that is, the chief city of a historical Roman province, ecclesiastical province, or regional capital.Before the establishment of...
of Saida
Sidon
Sidon or Saïda is the third-largest city in Lebanon. It is located in the South Governorate of Lebanon, on the Mediterranean coast, about 40 km north of Tyre and 40 km south of the capital Beirut. In Genesis, Sidon is the son of Canaan the grandson of Noah...
. The Christian people of Damascus
Damascus
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...
, unhappy with the leadership of Dabbas, chose Ignatius and sent him to be consecrated Patriarch of Antioch in Constantinople
Constantinople
Constantinople was the capital of the Roman, Eastern Roman, Byzantine, Latin, and Ottoman Empires. Throughout most of the Middle Ages, Constantinople was Europe's largest and wealthiest city.-Names:...
, where, on April 24, 1619, the Ecumenical Patriarch Timothy II
Patriarch Timothy II of Constantinople
-Life:Timothy II Marmarinos was born in Bandırma, on the southern shore of the Sea of Marmara. On 28 February 1601 he became archbishop of Patras, an office he maintained till he became Patriarch of Constantinople...
celebrated the ordination.
Cyril Dabbas was the brother of the previous Patriarch Athanasius Dabbas and he himself metropolitan of Bosra
Bosra
Bosra , also known as Bostra, Busrana, Bozrah, Bozra, Busra Eski Şam, Busra ash-Sham, and Nova Trajana Bostra, is an ancient city administratively belonging to the Daraa Governorate in southern Syria...
. He was strongly supported by the Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Alexandria
Greek Orthodox Church of Alexandria
The Greek Orthodox Church of Alexandria, also known as the Patriarchate of Alexandria and All Africa is an autocephalous Greek Orthodox Church within the wider communion of Orthodox Christianity.Officially, it is called the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria to distinguish it from the...
, Cyril Lucaris
Cyril Lucaris
Cyril Lucaris born Constantine Lukaris or Loucaris was a Greek prelate and theologian, and a native of Candia, Crete . He later became the Greek Patriarch of Alexandria as Cyril III and Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople as Cyril I...
. His consecration as Patriarch was held on April 24, 1619 in Amioun
Amioun
Amioun in and other scripts of the name, are most probably transliterated from the original Amyūn. It is the capital town of the predominantly Greek Orthodox area Koura District in the North of Lebanon.-Name:...
, Lebanon
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
, by the hands of metropolitans Simeon of Hama
Hama
Hama is a city on the banks of the Orontes River in west-central Syria north of Damascus. It is the provincial capital of the Hama Governorate. Hama is the fourth-largest city in Syria—behind Aleppo, Damascus, and Homs—with a population of 696,863...
, Lazaros of Homs
Homs
Homs , previously known as Emesa , is a city in western Syria and the capital of the Homs Governorate. It is above sea level and is located north of Damascus...
and Dionysios of Hosn, under the political influence of the Pasha
Pasha
Pasha or pascha, formerly bashaw, was a high rank in the Ottoman Empire political system, typically granted to governors, generals and dignitaries. As an honorary title, Pasha, in one of its various ranks, is equivalent to the British title of Lord, and was also one of the highest titles in...
of Tripoli
Tripoli, Lebanon
Tripoli is the largest city in northern Lebanon and the second-largest city in Lebanon. Situated 85 km north of the capital Beirut, Tripoli is the capital of the North Governorate and the Tripoli District. Geographically located on the east of the Mediterranean, the city's history dates back...
, Ibn Sifa.
The Melkite Church was thus split in two factions: the area of central Syria, including Hama, Homs, Paneas, and politically under the authority of Tripoli, recognized the authority of Cyril Dabbas, while the region of Mount Lebanon
Mount Lebanon
Mount Lebanon , as a geographic designation, is a Lebanese mountain range, averaging above 2,200 meters in height and receiving a substantial amount of precipitation, including snow, which averages around four meters deep. It extends across the whole country along about , parallel to the...
, under the Emir Fakhr-al-Din II, as well as the Northern region 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...
, were faithful to Ignatius Atiyah. This split of the Church not only created discord, but also caused a huge expenditure of money, because both part asked for the formal recognition by the Ottoman sultan who granted it successively to the party who paid more.
Initially the situation was in favor of Cyril Dabbas, because his protector, Cyril Lucaris on November 4, 1620 became Patriarch of Constantinople
Patriarch of Constantinople
The Ecumenical Patriarch is the Archbishop of Constantinople – New Rome – ranking as primus inter pares in the Eastern Orthodox communion, which is seen by followers as the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church....
and succeed to get a firman
Firman
A firman is a royal mandate or decree issued by a sovereign in certain historical Islamic states, including the Ottoman Empire, Mughal Empire, State of Hyderabad, and Iran under Shah Mohammed Reza Pahlavi. The word firman comes from the meaning "decree" or "order"...
from the Sultan ordering to deport Ignatius to Cyprus
Cyprus
Cyprus , officially the Republic of Cyprus , is a Eurasian island country, member of the European Union, in the Eastern Mediterranean, east of Greece, south of Turkey, west of Syria and north of Egypt. It is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.The earliest known human activity on the...
and to punish all bishops who did not recognized Cyrill as the sole Patriarch. In 1624 the situation started to change because of the defeat of the Pasha of Tripoli, the main political protector of Cyril, by the Emir Fakhr-al-Din II. Cyrill had to leave Tripoli and moved to Aleppo, where he immediately clashed with the metropolitan of the town, Meletius Karmah
Euthymius II Karmah
Patriarch Abdel-Karim Meletios Euthymius II Karmah was Melkite Patriarch of Antioch from 1634 to 1635. He previously was a leading figure in the Melkite Church and metropolitan bishop of Aleppo...
, a fierce opponent of him. Cyril succeeded two times to have Meletius imprisoned, but always Meletius, supported by the Christian population of Aleppo, refused to recognize him.
Synod of Ras-Baalbek
In order to settle the split of the Melkite Church, in 1628 the Emire Fakhr-al-Din II summoned a synod of all the bishops at Ras-Baalbek, a town a few kilometers north of BaalbekBaalbek
Baalbek is a town in the Beqaa Valley of Lebanon, altitude , situated east of the Litani River. It is famous for its exquisitely detailed yet monumentally scaled temple ruins of the Roman period, when Baalbek, then known as Heliopolis, was one of the largest sanctuaries in the Empire...
, Lebanon, where the Emire lived. The synod was opened on the June 1st, 1628 in the church of the Blessed Virgin and all the twelve Melchite bishops were present, a part from Cyril Dabbas, who shortly before the synod tried to renounce to the throne in change to a eparchy
Eparchy
Eparchy is an anglicized Greek word , authentically Latinized as eparchia and loosely translating as 'rule over something,' like province, prefecture, or territory, to have the jurisdiction over, it has specific meanings both in politics, history and in the hierarchy of the Eastern Christian...
. The synod proclaimed Ignatius III Atiyah as the only Patriach, and Cyril Dabbas he was brought in chains to Ras-Baalbek and exiled near Hermel
Hermel
Hermel is a Shia Muslim town in Beqaa Governorate, Lebanon. It's the capital of the Hermel District. Hermel is home to a Lebanese Red Cross First Aid Center.-Hermel plains:...
, where shortly later he was executed by men of the Emir.
The synod issued twenty canons, which can be so summarized:
- canons 1 to 6 deal with the election and consecration of the Patriarch. The synod formally decreed that the patriarch had to be elected by the people, who could define up to three names among which the Patriarch had to be chosen casting lots. The civil confirmation had to be requested only after the decision of the Patriarch. The synod also strictly condemned the external influence of any political party in the process of choosing the Patriarch. It shall be noted that the motivation given to reject the appointment of Cyril Dabbas was that he was not elected by the people of DamascusDamascusDamascus , 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...
; - canon 7 condemns the practice of simonySimonySimony is the act of paying for sacraments and consequently for holy offices or for positions in the hierarchy of a church, named after Simon Magus , who appears in the Acts of the Apostles 8:9-24...
, a use quite common particularly to grant the recognition of appointments by the OttomanOttoman EmpireThe Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
authorities, and it deals on the possible income of the Patriarch while conferring sacraments; - canons 8 and 19 are about the qualifications to became priest;
- canon 9 deals with illegitimate marriages;
- canons 10 and 12 rule the festivals after baptism and marriage;
- canon 11 deals with issues about the dowry to be given to a girl;
- canon 13 forbids the sacrament of marriage to be conferred outside church buildings;
- canon 15 forbids monasteries where lived both men and women;
- canons 14 and 16 condemn magicians and heretic books;
- canons 17 and 18 condemn priests asking money without proper authorization;
- canon 20 forbids lay patriarchal vicars.
The regulations set forth by this synod were important in confirming the regularity and legitimacy of the election of the pro-Catholic Cyril Tanas in the 1724 events which led to the split of Melkite Church.
Last years
After the 1638 Synod of Ras-Baalbek, Ignatius III Atiyah went on reigning for other six years, and he decided to abide mainly at BeirutBeirut
Beirut is the capital and largest city of Lebanon, with a population ranging from 1 million to more than 2 million . Located on a peninsula at the midpoint of Lebanon's Mediterranean coastline, it serves as the country's largest and main seaport, and also forms the Beirut Metropolitan...
, near to his protector Emir Fakhr-al-Din II
Fakhr-al-Din II
Emir Fakhr-al-Din ibn Maan was the 1st prince of the State of Lebanon which has self-governed under the Ottoman Empire between the 17th and 19th centuries. Son of Prince Qorqmaz ibn Maan and Sit Nasab of the Tanukhi family, he was given the title "Emir" or Prince in Arabic because the Maan...
. In 1633 the Ottoman Sultan started a successful war against the will of independence of the Emir, and Ignatius Atiyah, now without political protection, had to escape from Beirut to Saida. When he tried to return to Beirut dressed up as a soldier, he was shot by a group of druze
Druze
The Druze are an esoteric, monotheistic religious community, found primarily in Syria, Lebanon, Israel, and Jordan, which emerged during the 11th century from Ismailism. The Druze have an eclectic set of beliefs that incorporate several elements from Abrahamic religions, Gnosticism, Neoplatonism...
s and he died immediately. The exact date it is not known, but it was in the early months of 1634.