Simon Awad
Encyclopedia
Simon VII Awad 1683–1756, was the Maronite Patriarch of Antioch from 1743 to his death in 1756.
, Lebanon
. From 1696 to 1707 he studied in Rome
and at his return in Lebanon, on June 10, 1708, he was ordained priest
by his uncle patriarch Jacob Awad
, who reigned from 1705 to 1733, and whom he served as secretary. On January 27, 1716 he was consecrated bishop of Damascus
, always by his uncle. Simon Awad played a leading role in the 1736 Maronite Synod of Mount-Lebanon.
At the death of Patriarch Joseph Khazen, who died on May 13, 1742, the bishops who attended the funeral met and elected Simon Awad as Patriarch, but Simon refused for humility. The bishops so elected the bishop of Arka, Elias Mohasseb. Bishops Tobias El Khazen
and Ignace Chrabai were absent from the meeting, perhaps not invited, and opposed the election of Elias. These two bishops ordained two new bishops and held a new election among themselves, electing Tobias El Khazen
as Patriarch and splitting the Church. To keep the Church united, the Pope Benedict XIV
took the extraordinary initiative to deal directly into the affairs of the Maronite Church, and on March 16, 1743 he choose Simon Awad in place of the two pretenders. This decision was communicated to a synod of all the Maronite bishops held on October 7, 1743 and was unanimously accepted. Thus Simon Awad was enthroned patriarch on October 11, 1743 and he received the pallium
from the Pope on July 3, 1744.
Simon Awad summoned a Maronite synod
on November 28–30, 1755 at Qannubin Monastery to implement the decrees of the 1736 Maronite Synod of Mount-Lebanon. The synod issued fifteen canons which anyway did not fully implemented the 1736 Maronite Synod. The other main issue of Simon's patriarchate was the visionary nun Hindiyya al-'Ujaimi
, which became soon opposed by the Jesuits. Simon ordered initially an internal investigation, and based on its results he sided with Hindiyya. The complains against the nun anyway went on, and on 1752 Pope Benedict XIV ordered an inspection, carried out by a Franciscan
, Desiderio da Casabasciana, who, initially hostile, became himself a supporter of Hindiyya. The case of Hindiyya endured under the next two patriarchs.
Simon Awad died on February 12, 1756 in El-Midane (Jezzine District
) where he lived most of his life and where he founded the monastery
of the Lady of Machmoucheh, in which he was buried.
Life
Simon Awad was born in 1683 in HasrounHasroun
Hasroun is a village located in the Bsharri District in the North Governorate of Lebanon. It is situated in the Valley of Qadisha, overlooking the southern branch of this valley, the Qannoubine Valley....
, 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...
. From 1696 to 1707 he studied in 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...
and at his return in Lebanon, on June 10, 1708, he 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....
by his uncle patriarch Jacob Awad
Jacob Awad
Jacob IV Awad , was the Maronite Patriarch of Antioch from 1705 to his death in 1733.-Life:Jacob Awad was born in Hasroun, Lebanon. He studied in Rome for thirteen years and at his return in Lebanon he served as secretary of Patriarch Estephan El Douaihy, who consecrated him bishop of Tripoli in 1698...
, who reigned from 1705 to 1733, and whom he served as secretary. On January 27, 1716 he was consecrated bishop 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...
, always by his uncle. Simon Awad played a leading role in the 1736 Maronite Synod of Mount-Lebanon.
At the death of Patriarch Joseph Khazen, who died on May 13, 1742, the bishops who attended the funeral met and elected Simon Awad as Patriarch, but Simon refused for humility. The bishops so elected the bishop of Arka, Elias Mohasseb. Bishops Tobias El Khazen
Tobias El Khazen
Tobias El Khazen was the Maronite Patriarch of Antioch from 1756 to his death in 1766.-Life:Tobias El Khazen was a member of the Abu Nawfal branch of the Khazen family, which ruled the Keserwan District, and he was a nephew of Patriarch Joseph Dergham El Khazen...
and Ignace Chrabai were absent from the meeting, perhaps not invited, and opposed the election of Elias. These two bishops ordained two new bishops and held a new election among themselves, electing Tobias El Khazen
Tobias El Khazen
Tobias El Khazen was the Maronite Patriarch of Antioch from 1756 to his death in 1766.-Life:Tobias El Khazen was a member of the Abu Nawfal branch of the Khazen family, which ruled the Keserwan District, and he was a nephew of Patriarch Joseph Dergham El Khazen...
as Patriarch and splitting the Church. To keep the Church united, the Pope Benedict XIV
Pope Benedict XIV
Pope Benedict XIV , born Prospero Lorenzo Lambertini, was Pope from 17 August 1740 to 3 May 1758.-Life:...
took the extraordinary initiative to deal directly into the affairs of the Maronite Church, and on March 16, 1743 he choose Simon Awad in place of the two pretenders. This decision was communicated to a synod of all the Maronite bishops held on October 7, 1743 and was unanimously accepted. Thus Simon Awad was enthroned patriarch on October 11, 1743 and he received the pallium
Pallium
The pallium is an ecclesiastical vestment in the Roman Catholic Church, originally peculiar to the Pope, but for many centuries bestowed by him on metropolitans and primates as a symbol of the jurisdiction delegated to them by the Holy See. In that context it has always remained unambiguously...
from the Pope on July 3, 1744.
Simon Awad summoned a Maronite 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...
on November 28–30, 1755 at Qannubin Monastery to implement the decrees of the 1736 Maronite Synod of Mount-Lebanon. The synod issued fifteen canons which anyway did not fully implemented the 1736 Maronite Synod. The other main issue of Simon's patriarchate was the visionary nun Hindiyya al-'Ujaimi
Hindiyya al-'Ujaimi
Hindiyya , was a Maronite mystic nun which claimed to have many visions of Jesus and Mary. She was a central figure in the history of the Maronite Church in the 18th century...
, which became soon opposed by the Jesuits. Simon ordered initially an internal investigation, and based on its results he sided with Hindiyya. The complains against the nun anyway went on, and on 1752 Pope Benedict XIV ordered an inspection, carried out by a Franciscan
Franciscan
Most Franciscans are members of Roman Catholic religious orders founded by Saint Francis of Assisi. Besides Roman Catholic communities, there are also Old Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, ecumenical and Non-denominational Franciscan communities....
, Desiderio da Casabasciana, who, initially hostile, became himself a supporter of Hindiyya. The case of Hindiyya endured under the next two patriarchs.
Simon Awad died on February 12, 1756 in El-Midane (Jezzine District
Jezzine District
The Jezzine District is a district in the South Governorate of Lebanon. The capital is Jezzine....
) where he lived most of his life and where he founded the monastery
Monastery
Monastery denotes the building, or complex of buildings, that houses a room reserved for prayer as well as the domestic quarters and workplace of monastics, whether monks or nuns, and whether living in community or alone .Monasteries may vary greatly in size – a small dwelling accommodating only...
of the Lady of Machmoucheh, in which he was buried.
Works
Simon Awad is rememberer as an Arab writer. His main works are:- a Theological Compendium published on October 6, 1706
- a Handbook of Moral Theology published in 1707
- a Pastoral instruction in three parts
- an Explanation of the Old and New Testament
- the first biography of Patriarch Estephan El DouaihyEstephan El DouaihyPatriarch Estephan II Boutros El Douaihy was born in Ehden, Lebanon on August 2, 1630. He was the Patriarch of the Maronite Church from 1670 to 1704...
- a History of the Patriarchs of the Orient written together with Giuseppe Simone AssemaniGiuseppe Simone AssemaniGiuseppe Simone Assemani , 1687–1768, was a Lebanese Maronite orientalist.-Life:Giuseppe Simone Assemani was born on August 27, 1687 in Hasroun, Mount Lebanon. When very young he was sent to the Maronite College in Rome, and was transferred thence to the Vatican library. He was ordained priest on...