Theodosius V Dahan
Encyclopedia
Theodosius V Dahan (1698–1788) was Patriarch
of the Melkite Greek Catholic Church
from 1761 to 1788.
in 1698. He entered in the religious order
of the Basilian Chouerites
and in 1723 he made the solemn vows
under the name Joasaph. On 16 January 1736 he was consecrated metropolitan bishop
of Beirut by patriarch Cyril VI Tanas
, taking the name of Athanase. Shortly later his taking-possession of the diocese, the Melkite Orthodox party asked and obtained a own separated bishop, thus also in Beirut the hierarchy was definitely split, with Dahan who remained the bishop only for the Melkite Catholics.
Dahan was taken as coadjutor bishop by his predecessor Maximos II Hakim
during his short reign, and after Maximos's death he was elected patriarch by a synod of bishops held on 26 December 1761 at the monastery of Saint Antony, taking the name of Theodosius. The group of bishops of the Basilian Salvatorian Order
, who represented a minority in the Melkite population, did not recognized him as patriarch, as well as they had not recognized Maximos II Hakim, supporting in his place Athanasius Jawhar
. They requested Rome to check the election of Theodosius Dahan, which however was confirmed on 23 September 1763 by the Roman Congregation of Propaganda Fide and on 23 December 1763 by another synod of the Mekite bishops.
Theodosius Dahan was thus formally confirmed by Rome on 23 June 1764 and he received the pallium
, sign of the patriarchal authority, on 9 July 1764. The clashes seemed to be settled down, but in February 1765 Athanasius Jawhar again proclaimed himself (anti)patriarch. Only after the excommunication
of Jawhar and the following reconciliation in 1768, the Melkite Church found its unity.
Rome appointed him also as administrator of the Catholics Melkites of Alexandria
and Jerusalem, previously ruled by the Custodian of the Holy Land
. Theodosius V Dahan died at 90 on 30 March 1788.
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 1761 to 1788.
Life
Joasaph Dahan was born in BeirutBeirut
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...
in 1698. He 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...
and in 1723 he made the solemn vows
Evangelical counsels
The three evangelical counsels or counsels of perfection in Christianity are chastity, poverty , and obedience . As Jesus of Nazareth stated in the Canonical gospels , they are counsels for those who desire to become "perfect"...
under the name Joasaph. On 16 January 1736 he was consecrated 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 Beirut by 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...
, taking the name of Athanase. Shortly later his taking-possession of the diocese, the Melkite Orthodox party asked and obtained a own separated bishop, thus also in Beirut the hierarchy was definitely split, with Dahan who remained the bishop only for the Melkite Catholics.
Dahan was taken as coadjutor bishop by his predecessor Maximos II Hakim
Maximos II Hakim
Maximos II Hakim, was Patriarch of the Melkite Greek Catholic Church from 1760 to 1761.-Life:Maximos Hakim was born in Aleppo circa 1689 and entered in the religious order of the Basilian Chouerites, of which he became general superior on 29 November 1729...
during his short reign, and after Maximos's death he was elected patriarch by a synod of bishops held on 26 December 1761 at the monastery of Saint Antony, taking the name of Theodosius. The group of 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...
, who represented a minority in the Melkite population, did not recognized him as patriarch, as well as they had not recognized Maximos II Hakim, supporting in his place 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:...
. They requested Rome to check the election of Theodosius Dahan, which however was confirmed on 23 September 1763 by the Roman Congregation of Propaganda Fide and on 23 December 1763 by another synod of the Mekite bishops.
Theodosius Dahan was thus formally confirmed by Rome on 23 June 1764 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...
, sign of the patriarchal authority, on 9 July 1764. The clashes seemed to be settled down, but in February 1765 Athanasius Jawhar again proclaimed himself (anti)patriarch. Only after the excommunication
Excommunication
Excommunication is a religious censure used to deprive, suspend or limit membership in a religious community. The word means putting [someone] out of communion. In some religions, excommunication includes spiritual condemnation of the member or group...
of Jawhar and the following reconciliation in 1768, the Melkite Church found its unity.
Rome appointed him also as administrator of the Catholics Melkites of Alexandria
Alexandria
Alexandria is the second-largest city of Egypt, with a population of 4.1 million, extending about along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea in the north central part of the country; it is also the largest city lying directly on the Mediterranean coast. It is Egypt's largest seaport, serving...
and Jerusalem, previously ruled by the Custodian of the Holy Land
Custodian of the Holy Land
The Custodian of the Holy Land is an officer of the Franciscan order, appointed by the General Definitorium of the Franciscan Order of Friars Minor, with the approval of the Vatican. The Custodian, or Custos, is the head of all Franciscans in the Holy Land...
. Theodosius V Dahan died at 90 on 30 March 1788.