Maximos II Hakim
Encyclopedia
Maximos II Hakim, was Patriarch
of the Melkite Greek Catholic Church
from 1760 to 1761.
circa 1689 and entered in the religious order
of the Basilian Chouerites
, of which he became general superior
on 29 November 1729. In 1732 he was elected by the clergy and laity as the metropolitan bishop
of Aleppo for both the Melkite Catholic and Melkite Orthodox parties. He was consecrated bishop by the former bishop of Aleppo, Gerosimos, one of the founder of the Basilian Chouerite Order. This situation could not last long and when in 1750 the Patriarchate of Constantinople
appointed a new Orthodox bishop, also in Aleppo the hierarchy was definitely split, with Maximos who remained the bishop for only the Melkite Catholics. Due to this situation he had to live for long times in the safe motherhouse of his order in Lebanon
.
In 1759 patriarch Cyril VI Tanas
appointed as successor his nephew Athanasius Jawhar
and died shortly later in January 1760. Although Athanasius' election was supported by the bishops of the Basilian Salvatorian Order
(both Cyril VI and Athanasius were Salvatorians), the Basilian Chouerite bishops contested such election pointing out that Athanasius was not in the legal age to be appointed bishop. Rome, unaware that appointing a nephew was a common use in the Melkite Church before the union with Rome, did not confirm Athanasius' election and on 1 August 1760 appointed Maximos Hakim as Patriarch.
The Apostolic Legate Dominique Lanza arrived in Lebanon to carry the news only in June 1761, and on 23 July 1761 he summoned a synod of the Melkite bishops to formalize the election of Maximos II Hakim, who was already ill. Maximos II Hakim died shortly later on 15 November 1761.
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 1760 to 1761.
Life
Maximos Hakim was 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...
circa 1689 and entered in the religious order
Roman Catholic religious order
Catholic religious orders are, historically, a category of Catholic religious institutes.Subcategories are canons regular ; monastics ; mendicants Catholic religious orders are, historically, a category of Catholic religious institutes.Subcategories are canons regular (canons and canonesses regular...
of the Basilian Chouerites
Basilian Chouerite Order
The Basilian Chouerite Order of Saint John the Baptist is a religious order of the Melkite Greek Catholic Church. The Latin name of this order is Ordo Basilianus Sancti Iohannis Baptistae, the French name is Ordre Basilien Chouerite de St...
, of which he became general superior
Abbot
The word abbot, meaning father, is a title given to the head of a monastery in various traditions, including Christianity. The office may also be given as an honorary title to a clergyman who is not actually the head of a monastery...
on 29 November 1729. In 1732 he was elected by the clergy and laity as the metropolitan bishop
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 Aleppo for both the Melkite Catholic and Melkite Orthodox parties. He was consecrated bishop by the former bishop of Aleppo, Gerosimos, one of the founder of the Basilian Chouerite Order. This situation could not last long and when in 1750 the Patriarchate of Constantinople
Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople
The Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople , part of the wider Orthodox Church, is one of the fourteen autocephalous churches within the communion of Orthodox Christianity...
appointed a new Orthodox bishop, also in Aleppo the hierarchy was definitely split, with Maximos who remained the bishop for only the Melkite Catholics. Due to this situation he had to live for long times in the safe motherhouse of his order in 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...
.
In 1759 patriarch 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...
appointed as successor his nephew Athanasius Jawhar
Athanasius IV Jawhar
Athanasius IV Ignace Michael Jawhar was Patriarch of the Melkite Greek Catholic Church from 1788 to 1794. He previously claimed to be patriarch from 1759 to 1764 and from 1765 to 1768.-Life:...
and died shortly later in January 1760. Although Athanasius' election was supported by the bishops of the Basilian Salvatorian Order
Basilian Salvatorian Order
The Basilian Salvatorian Order is a religious order of the Melkite Greek Catholic Church. The Latin name of this order is Ordo Basilianus Sanctissimi Salvatoris, the French name is Ordre Basilien Salvatorien. The name cames from its motherhouse, the Holy Saviour monastery, The Basilian Salvatorian...
(both Cyril VI and Athanasius were Salvatorians), the Basilian Chouerite bishops contested such election pointing out that Athanasius was not in the legal age to be appointed bishop. Rome, unaware that appointing a nephew was a common use in the Melkite Church before the union with Rome, did not confirm Athanasius' election and on 1 August 1760 appointed Maximos Hakim as Patriarch.
The Apostolic Legate Dominique Lanza arrived in Lebanon to carry the news only in June 1761, and on 23 July 1761 he summoned a synod of the Melkite bishops to formalize the election of Maximos II Hakim, who was already ill. Maximos II Hakim died shortly later on 15 November 1761.