John Helou
Encyclopedia
John XI Helou (died 1823), (or Youhanna Helou, Al-Hilu, , ) was the Maronite Patriarch of Antioch from 1809 until his death in 1823.
, Lebanon
. He was known in Europe as John Dolce, because Dolce is the Latin translation of his surname. John Helou was consecrated titular bishop
of Acre
in 1786 by Patriarch Joseph Estephan
and he remained near the Patriarch as auxiliary bishop.
Patriarch Joseph Tyan
communicated his resignation to the Maronite bishops on September 24, 1808, and consequently Aloisio Gandolfi, who was appointed Apostolic visitor
in the Maronite Patriarchate since 1807, summoned a meeting of all the bishops in Harissa
. Short time later, on June 8, 1809, John Helou was elected Patriarch. The formal approval of Pope Pius VII
arrived only on 19 December 1814, due to the fact that Pope Pius VII was actually kept in confinement from 1809 till May 1814 by Napoleon.
After the turbulent years in which the previous Patriarch Joseph Tyan supported Napoleon in the Siege of Acre (1799)
and came in conflict with the emir
Bashir II, Patriarch John Helou chose a low and neutral course of action, and from 1811 he retreated in the Qannubin Monastery, the ancient and abandoned patriarchal residence, located in the deep gorge of Kadisha Valley
, which he restored.
John Helou converted in seminaries and colleges the former monasteries of Saint Maron of Kfarhaye (Batroun District
) and of Saint Maron of Roumieh
.
As demanded by Pope Pius VII with the brief of November 18, 1816, Patriarch John Helou tried to implement two of the more controversial decrees of the Maronite Synod of 1736: the separation of monasteries where lived both men and women, and the definition of a fix episcopal residence into each Maronite dioceses. With this intent he summoned a synod
in the church of Our Lady of Louiaze in Zouk Mosbeh, near Harissa, which was held on April 13 and 14, 1818. The acts of this synod were formally approved on May 25, 1819 by the Pope, but they were implemented only by Helou's successor, Patriarch Joseph Peter Hobaish
. John Helou died on May 12, 1823.
Life
John Helou was born in the village of Ghosta, in the Keserwan DistrictKeserwan District
Keserwan is a district in the Mount Lebanon Governorate , Lebanon, to the northeast of the Lebanon's capital Beirut...
, 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...
. He was known in Europe as John Dolce, because Dolce is the Latin translation of his surname. John Helou was consecrated titular bishop
Titular bishop
A titular bishop in various churches is a bishop who is not in charge of a diocese.By definition a bishop is an "overseer" of a community of the faithful, so when a priest is ordained a bishop the tradition of the Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches is that he be ordained for a specific place...
of Acre
Acre, Israel
Acre , is a city in the Western Galilee region of northern Israel at the northern extremity of Haifa Bay. Acre is one of the oldest continuously inhabited sites in the country....
in 1786 by Patriarch Joseph Estephan
Joseph Estephan
Joseph VI Estephan , , was the Maronite Patriarch of Antioch from 1766 until his death in 1793.-Life:...
and he remained near the Patriarch as auxiliary bishop.
Patriarch Joseph Tyan
Joseph Tyan
Joseph VII Peter Tyan , , was the Maronite Patriarch of Antioch from 1796 until his resignation in 1809.-Life:...
communicated his resignation to the Maronite bishops on September 24, 1808, and consequently Aloisio Gandolfi, who was appointed Apostolic visitor
Apostolic visitor
In the Catholic Church, an apostolic visitor is a papal representative with a transient mission to perform a canonical visitation of relatively short duration...
in the Maronite Patriarchate since 1807, summoned a meeting of all the bishops in Harissa
Harissa
Harissa is a Tunisian hot chili sauce commonly eaten in North Africa whose main ingredients are piri piri , serrano peppers and other hot chili peppers and spices such as garlic paste, coriander, red chili powder, caraway as well as some vegetable or olive oil...
. Short time later, on June 8, 1809, John Helou was elected Patriarch. The formal approval of Pope Pius VII
Pope Pius VII
Pope Pius VII , born Barnaba Niccolò Maria Luigi Chiaramonti, was a monk, theologian and bishop, who reigned as Pope from 14 March 1800 to 20 August 1823.-Early life:...
arrived only on 19 December 1814, due to the fact that Pope Pius VII was actually kept in confinement from 1809 till May 1814 by Napoleon.
After the turbulent years in which the previous Patriarch Joseph Tyan supported Napoleon in the Siege of Acre (1799)
Siege of Acre (1799)
The Siege of Acre of 1799 was an unsuccessful French siege of the Ottoman-defended, walled city of Acre and was the turning point of Napoleon's invasion of Egypt and Syria.-Background:...
and came in conflict with the emir
Emir
Emir , meaning "commander", "general", or "prince"; also transliterated as Amir, Aamir or Ameer) is a title of high office, used throughout the Muslim world...
Bashir II, Patriarch John Helou chose a low and neutral course of action, and from 1811 he retreated in the Qannubin Monastery, the ancient and abandoned patriarchal residence, located in the deep gorge of Kadisha Valley
Kadisha Valley
The Kadisha Valley is a valley that lies within the Becharre and Zgharta Districts of the North Governorate of Lebanon. The valley is a deep gorge carved by the Kadisha River, also known as the Nahr Abu Ali when it reaches Tripoli...
, which he restored.
John Helou converted in seminaries and colleges the former monasteries of Saint Maron of Kfarhaye (Batroun District
Batroun District
Batroun District is a district in the North Governorate, Lebanon, south of Tripoli. The capital is Batroun.-Cities and towns:* Abrine* Assia*Batroun* Bazbina* Bchaaleh* Beit Kassab* Bijdarfil* Billa* Deir Billa* Bqosmaya* Chatine...
) and of Saint Maron of Roumieh
Roumieh
Roumieh is a village north-east of Beirut in Lebanon. Surrounded by pine-forested hills, Roumieh is a 5/10-minute drive from the coast. Roumieh is known as a pleasant, picturesque small mountain town with many gardens.-Public institutions:...
.
As demanded by Pope Pius VII with the brief of November 18, 1816, Patriarch John Helou tried to implement two of the more controversial decrees of the Maronite Synod of 1736: the separation of monasteries where lived both men and women, and the definition of a fix episcopal residence into each Maronite dioceses. With this intent he summoned a synod
Synod
A synod historically is a council of a church, usually convened to decide an issue of doctrine, administration or application. In modern usage, the word often refers to the governing body of a particular church, whether its members are meeting or not...
in the church of Our Lady of Louiaze in Zouk Mosbeh, near Harissa, which was held on April 13 and 14, 1818. The acts of this synod were formally approved on May 25, 1819 by the Pope, but they were implemented only by Helou's successor, Patriarch Joseph Peter Hobaish
Joseph Peter Hobaish
Joseph VIII Peter Hobaish , , was the Maronite Patriarch of Antioch from 1823 until his death in 1845.-Life:...
. John Helou died on May 12, 1823.