Peter IV Geraigiry
Encyclopedia
Peter IV Barakat Géraigiry (or Jaraijiry, 1841 – 1902) was patriarch
of the Melkite Greek Catholic Church
from 1898 until 1902.
, Lebanon
on August 6, 1841, Géraigiry was ordained priest
on March 16, 1862 with a special permission due to his young age. He soon set up an elementary school in Zahle and became a teacher in the patriarcal college of Beirut
. From 1874 to 1878 he studied theology in France
. Back in Lebanon
he became director of the schools of his diocese
. In 1882 Géraigiry was appointed delegate of the Patriarch and thus he traveled to Rome
, Paris
, Istanbul
.
On February 21, 1886 patriarch Gregory II Youssef
consecrated bishop Géraigiry and appointed him responsible of the newly created diocese of Paneas, were he set up twenty-three Christian schools.
After the lengthy and eventful reign of Gregory II Youssef, on February 24, 1898 Géraigiry was appointed patriarch of the Melkites following his election by the Melkite synod of bishops. Although his election was considered null by the Roman Congregation of Propaganda Fide, Pope Leo XIII
confirmed it shortly later. The four years of his reign were marked by crisis. Some discontent arose from appointments of bishops taken without consulting the synod, and from his attempt to move the Patriarchal See
from Damascus
to Beirut
. Also his relations with the Congregation of Propaganda Fide were often tense, mainly because Rome wanted him to summon a synod to define in details the powers and the autonomy of the patriarch and of all the Melkite clergy, while Géraigiry hesitated and took time. The synod never meet under his reign.
Peter IV Géraigiry died in Beirut
on April 24, 1902.
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 1898 until 1902.
Life
Born in ZahléZahlé
Zahlé is the capital and largest city of Beqaa Governorate, Lebanon. With around 50,000 inhabitants, it is the fourth largest city in Lebanon, after Beirut, Tripoli and Jounieh...
, 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...
on August 6, 1841, Géraigiry was ordained priest
Priesthood (Catholic Church)
The ministerial orders of the Catholic Church include the orders of bishops, deacons and presbyters, which in Latin is sacerdos. The ordained priesthood and common priesthood are different in function and essence....
on March 16, 1862 with a special permission due to his young age. He soon set up an elementary school in Zahle and became a teacher in the patriarcal college 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...
. From 1874 to 1878 he studied theology 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...
. Back 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...
he became director of the schools of his diocese
Diocese
A diocese is the district or see under the supervision of a bishop. It is divided into parishes.An archdiocese is more significant than a diocese. An archdiocese is presided over by an archbishop whose see may have or had importance due to size or historical significance...
. In 1882 Géraigiry was appointed delegate of the Patriarch and thus he traveled 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...
, 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...
, Istanbul
Istanbul
Istanbul , historically known as Byzantium and Constantinople , is the largest city of Turkey. Istanbul metropolitan province had 13.26 million people living in it as of December, 2010, which is 18% of Turkey's population and the 3rd largest metropolitan area in Europe after London and...
.
On February 21, 1886 patriarch Gregory II Youssef
Gregory II Youssef
Patriarch Gregory II Youssef, also known as Gregory II Hanna Youssef-Sayour , was Patriarch of the Melkite Greek Catholic Church from 1864 to 1897...
consecrated bishop Géraigiry and appointed him responsible of the newly created diocese of Paneas, were he set up twenty-three Christian schools.
After the lengthy and eventful reign of Gregory II Youssef, on February 24, 1898 Géraigiry was appointed patriarch of the Melkites following his election by the Melkite synod of bishops. Although his election was considered null by the Roman Congregation of Propaganda Fide, Pope Leo XIII
Pope Leo XIII
Pope Leo XIII , born Vincenzo Gioacchino Raffaele Luigi Pecci to an Italian comital family, was the 256th Pope of the Roman Catholic Church, reigning from 1878 to 1903...
confirmed it shortly later. The four years of his reign were marked by crisis. Some discontent arose from appointments of bishops taken without consulting the synod, and from his attempt to move the Patriarchal See
Episcopal See
An episcopal see is, in the original sense, the official seat of a bishop. This seat, which is also referred to as the bishop's cathedra, is placed in the bishop's principal church, which is therefore called the bishop's cathedral...
from 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...
to 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...
. Also his relations with the Congregation of Propaganda Fide were often tense, mainly because Rome wanted him to summon a synod to define in details the powers and the autonomy of the patriarch and of all the Melkite clergy, while Géraigiry hesitated and took time. The synod never meet under his reign.
Peter IV Géraigiry died 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...
on April 24, 1902.