Maximos III Mazloum
Encyclopedia
Maximos III Michael Mazloum, (1779 – 1855) was patriarch
of the Melkite Greek Catholic Church
from 1833 until 1855. As patriarch he reformed church administration and bolstered clerical education. He was also the first Melkite patriarch granted civil authority by the Ottoman empire when the Melkites were recognized as a unique millet
.
, Syria
in November 1779, Mazloum was ordained priest in 1806. Mazloum was a protege of Germanos Adam
, the Melkite Archbishop of Aleppo. Adam, a theologian, was wary of the Latinizing influence of Western missionaries and championed the rights of the Melkite Church but also was taken by the Jansenist ideas of Scipione de' Ricci
and not liked by the Latin missionaries
of Aleppo because of litigations on properties. As a consequence, in June 1810 Rome opposed the elevation of Mazloum as Adam's successor in Aleppo. But Michael Mazloum was elected bishop of Aleppo on 26 July 1810 and consecrated bishop on August 5, 1810 by patriarch Agapius II Matar
, taking the name of Maximos.
His appointment as bishop of Aleppo was contested by Propaganda Fide (and by Ignatius IV Sarrouf
, Archbishop of Beirut
and future patriarch). On May 1811 a compromise was reached: Mazloum was offered the position of superior of the first Melkite seminary established in Ain Traz
. In 1814 Mazloum was sent to Rome
by the Melkite Episcopal Synod to appeal his dismissal from the See of Aleppo: Pope Pius VII
on July 24, 1814 rejected the appeal and asked Mazloum (who was given the titular
title of Myra
) to remain in Europe. Mazloum remained in Europe until 1831, living mainly in Rome, and endearing himself to the Roman Curia
because of his untiring efforts in aid of the Melkites.
From 1817 to 1823 Mazloum traveled in France
and in Vienna
. In 1819 he petitioned the Catholic authorities to lean on the Ottoman Empire
to stop the persecutions of the Greek Orthodox Church of Antioch against the Catholic Melkites. He spent time translating spiritual and theological books, and in 1821 founded the Greek Catholic parish of St. Nicholas in Marseille
, France for Melkites. He returned to the East in 1831.
On March 24, 1833 he was appointed patriarch of the Melkites. In 1834 he entered in Damascus
, whence his predecessor Cyril VI Tanas
had to escape because of religious persecutions. On 31 October 1837 he was recognized by the Ottoman Empire
as the civil authority of a millet
, a distinctive religious community within the Empire, thus obtaining civic emancipation for his Church. In 1838 Pope Gregory XVI
granted him the titles of Patriarch of Alexandria and Jerusalem, and from then on the title held by the leader of the Melkite Church is Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, of Alexandria and Jerusalem of the Melkite Greek Catholic Church.
His action as patriarch was strong (he was named "untiring fighter"): he carried on a legislative reform of Church (synods of 1835 and 1849) and reformed the religious instruction, giving also new life to the patriarchal Ain Traz Seminary.
During a visit in Paris
in 1841 with the purpose to seek support for the Melkite Church, he adopted for himself and for his successors the office of Spiritual Protector of the Order of Saint Lazarus
that operated in Palestine
. From that time to 1910 the Melkite patriarchs administrated such an order.
As patriarch he resided in Beirut
until his death in 1855.
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 1833 until 1855. As patriarch he reformed church administration and bolstered clerical education. He was also the first Melkite patriarch granted civil authority by the Ottoman empire when the Melkites were recognized as a unique millet
Millet (Ottoman Empire)
Millet is a term for the confessional communities in the Ottoman Empire. It refers to the separate legal courts pertaining to "personal law" under which communities were allowed to rule themselves under their own system...
.
Life
Born in AleppoAleppo
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...
, 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....
in November 1779, Mazloum was ordained priest in 1806. Mazloum was a protege of Germanos Adam
Germanos Adam
Germanos Adam was the Melkite Catholic bishop of Aleppo during the late 18th century and a Christian theologian.-Life:Germanos Adam was born in 1725 in Aleppo, Syria, and studied in the College of the Propaganda in Rome. In 1774 he was consecrated Melkite Catholic bishop of Acre...
, the Melkite Archbishop of Aleppo. Adam, a theologian, was wary of the Latinizing influence of Western missionaries and championed the rights of the Melkite Church but also was taken by the Jansenist ideas of Scipione de' Ricci
Scipione de' Ricci
Scipione de' Ricci was an Italian Catholic prelate, who was bishop of Pistoia from 1780 to 1791. He was sympathetic to Jansenist ideas in theology....
and not liked by the Latin missionaries
Catholic missions
As the church normally organizes itself along territorial lines, and because they had the human and material resources, religious orders—some even specializing in it—undertook most missionary work, especially in the early phases...
of Aleppo because of litigations on properties. As a consequence, in June 1810 Rome opposed the elevation of Mazloum as Adam's successor in Aleppo. But Michael Mazloum was elected bishop of Aleppo on 26 July 1810 and consecrated bishop on August 5, 1810 by patriarch Agapius II Matar
Agapius II Matar
Agapius II Matar, was Patriarch of the Melkite Greek Catholic Church from 1796 to 1812.-Life:...
, taking the name of Maximos.
His appointment as bishop of Aleppo was contested by Propaganda Fide (and by Ignatius IV Sarrouf
Ignatius IV Sarrouf
Ignatius IV Sarrouf, was Patriarch of the Melkite Greek Catholic Church in 1812. He is remembered for both his patriarchate , and for having been, as metropolitan of Beirut, a leading figure in the early history of the Melkite Church.-Early life:Youssef Sarrouf was born in 1742 in Damascus...
, Archbishop of Beirut
Beirut
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...
and future patriarch). On May 1811 a compromise was reached: Mazloum was offered the position of superior of the first Melkite seminary established in Ain Traz
Ain Traz
The Ain Traz Seminary of the Melkite Greek Catholic Church, located southeast of Beirut, Lebanon, has served various roles during its 200 year history. Given by the El Saad family , it was founded in 1811 by Melkite Patriarch Agapius II Matar, it was first intended as a seminary...
. In 1814 Mazloum was sent to Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
by the Melkite Episcopal Synod to appeal his dismissal from the See of Aleppo: 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:...
on July 24, 1814 rejected the appeal and asked Mazloum (who was given the titular
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...
title of Myra
Myra
Myra is an ancient town in Lycia, where the small town of Kale is situated today in present day Antalya Province of Turkey. It was located on the river Myros , in the fertile alluvial plain between Alaca Dağ, the Massikytos range and the Aegean Sea.- Historical evidence :Although some scholars...
) to remain in Europe. Mazloum remained in Europe until 1831, living mainly in Rome, and endearing himself to the Roman Curia
Roman Curia
The Roman Curia is the administrative apparatus of the Holy See and the central governing body of the entire Catholic Church, together with the Pope...
because of his untiring efforts in aid of the Melkites.
From 1817 to 1823 Mazloum traveled in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
and in Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
. In 1819 he petitioned the Catholic authorities to lean on the Ottoman Empire
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
to stop the persecutions of the Greek Orthodox Church of Antioch against the Catholic Melkites. He spent time translating spiritual and theological books, and in 1821 founded the Greek Catholic parish of St. Nicholas in Marseille
Marseille
Marseille , known in antiquity as Massalia , is the second largest city in France, after Paris, with a population of 852,395 within its administrative limits on a land area of . The urban area of Marseille extends beyond the city limits with a population of over 1,420,000 on an area of...
, France for Melkites. He returned to the East in 1831.
On March 24, 1833 he was appointed patriarch of the Melkites. In 1834 he entered in 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...
, whence his predecessor Cyril VI Tanas
Cyril VI Tanas
Patriarch Cyril VI Tanas, also known as Cyril VI of Antioch , became the first leader of the Melkite Greek Catholic Church following the schism of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch in 1724...
had to escape because of religious persecutions. On 31 October 1837 he was recognized by the Ottoman Empire
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
as the civil authority of a millet
Millet (Ottoman Empire)
Millet is a term for the confessional communities in the Ottoman Empire. It refers to the separate legal courts pertaining to "personal law" under which communities were allowed to rule themselves under their own system...
, a distinctive religious community within the Empire, thus obtaining civic emancipation for his Church. In 1838 Pope Gregory XVI
Pope Gregory XVI
Pope Gregory XVI , born Bartolomeo Alberto Cappellari, named Mauro as a member of the religious order of the Camaldolese, was Pope of the Catholic Church from 1831 to 1846...
granted him the titles of Patriarch of Alexandria and Jerusalem, and from then on the title held by the leader of the Melkite Church is Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, of Alexandria and Jerusalem of the Melkite Greek Catholic Church.
His action as patriarch was strong (he was named "untiring fighter"): he carried on a legislative reform of Church (synods of 1835 and 1849) and reformed the religious instruction, giving also new life to the patriarchal Ain Traz Seminary.
During a visit in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
in 1841 with the purpose to seek support for the Melkite Church, he adopted for himself and for his successors the office of Spiritual Protector of the Order of Saint Lazarus
Order of Saint Lazarus
This article concerns the order of knighthood named after Saint Lazarus. For other uses of the name Lazarus, see Lazarus .The Military and Hospitaller Order of Saint Lazarus of Jerusalem is an order of chivalry which originated in a leper hospital founded by the Knights Hospitaller in 1098 by the...
that operated in Palestine
Palestine
Palestine is a conventional name, among others, used to describe the geographic region between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River, and various adjoining lands....
. From that time to 1910 the Melkite patriarchs administrated such an order.
As patriarch he resided in Beirut
Beirut
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...
until his death in 1855.