Tobias El Khazen
Encyclopedia
Tobias El Khazen was the Maronite Patriarch of Antioch from 1756 to his death in 1766.
family, which ruled the Keserwan District, and he was a nephew of Patriarch Joseph Dergham El Khazen. He entered in the Lebanese Maronite Order
and in 1730 he was consecrated titular bishop
of Banyas by his uncle. In 1733, when his uncle became patriarch, Tobias was appointed administrator of the Patriarchal residence of Qannubin Monastery, in the Kadisha Valley
, and titular bishop of Naplouse. In 1735 he was appointed bishop of the Maronite diocese of Cyprus
and with this title he participated to the 1736 Maronite Synod of Mount-Lebanon.
In 1743 at the death of his uncle Patriarch Joseph Dergham Khazen, after the initial refusal of Simon Awad
, Tobias in competition with Elias Mohasseb tried to be elected patriarch, but the case arrived to the Pope
who choose Simon Awad in place of the two pretenders. In 1750 Tobias was appointed bishop of Tyre and Vice-Patriarch and at the death of Simon Awad, Tobias succeeded to be elected patriarch on February 28, 1756. He was confirmed by Pope Benedict XIV
on March 28, 1757.
As patriarch, Tobias had three main issues to manage: the implementation of the 1736 Maronite Synod, the Hindiyya
's case and the problems in the Lebanese Maronite Order. To implement the 1736 Synod he summoned on August 25, 1756 a new synod without great results, and again an other synod in 1762 which arrived to reduce the dioceses only to fifteen in place of the target of eight as requested in 1736. About Hindiyya he took a neutral position which anyway allowed Hindiyya to grow her influence during his patriarchate. The dispute into the Lebanese Maronite Order could be solved only under his successor. Tobias El Khazen died on May 29, 1766.
Life
Tobias El Khazen was a member of the Abu Nawfal branch of the KhazenKhazen
Khazen is the name of a prominent Noble Levantine family based in Keserwan District, Lebanon, Damascus, Syria, Nablus, Palestine as well as other distrits around the Levant. The Khazen family have traced their lineage through DNA testing to Jericho, Palestine also known as Tell el-Sultan 8500 B.C....
family, which ruled the Keserwan District, and he was a nephew of Patriarch Joseph Dergham El Khazen. He entered in the Lebanese Maronite Order
Lebanese Maronite Order
The Lebanese Maronite Order , is a monastic order among the Levantine Catholic Maronite Church, which from the beginning has been specifically a monastic Church...
and in 1730 he was consecrated titular bishop
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...
of Banyas by his uncle. In 1733, when his uncle became patriarch, Tobias was appointed administrator of the Patriarchal residence of Qannubin Monastery, in the Kadisha Valley
Kadisha Valley
The Kadisha Valley is a valley that lies within the Becharre and Zgharta Districts of the North Governorate of Lebanon. The valley is a deep gorge carved by the Kadisha River, also known as the Nahr Abu Ali when it reaches Tripoli...
, and titular bishop of Naplouse. In 1735 he was appointed bishop of the Maronite diocese of Cyprus
Maronites in Cyprus
The Maronites in Cyprus are members of the Maronite Church whose ancestors migrated from the Levant during the Middle Ages. They traditionally speak their own variety of Arabic in addition to Greek...
and with this title he participated to the 1736 Maronite Synod of Mount-Lebanon.
In 1743 at the death of his uncle Patriarch Joseph Dergham Khazen, after the initial refusal of Simon Awad
Simon Awad
Simon VII Awad , 1683–1756, was the Maronite Patriarch of Antioch from 1743 to his death in 1756.-Life:Simon Awad was born in 1683 in Hasroun, Lebanon...
, Tobias in competition with Elias Mohasseb tried to be elected patriarch, but the case arrived to the Pope
Pope
The Pope is the Bishop of Rome, a position that makes him the leader of the worldwide Catholic Church . In the Catholic Church, the Pope is regarded as the successor of Saint Peter, the Apostle...
who choose Simon Awad in place of the two pretenders. In 1750 Tobias was appointed bishop of Tyre and Vice-Patriarch and at the death of Simon Awad, Tobias succeeded to be elected patriarch on February 28, 1756. He was confirmed by Pope Benedict XIV
Pope Benedict XIV
Pope Benedict XIV , born Prospero Lorenzo Lambertini, was Pope from 17 August 1740 to 3 May 1758.-Life:...
on March 28, 1757.
As patriarch, Tobias had three main issues to manage: the implementation of the 1736 Maronite Synod, the Hindiyya
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...
's case and the problems in the Lebanese Maronite Order. To implement the 1736 Synod he summoned on August 25, 1756 a new synod without great results, and again an other synod in 1762 which arrived to reduce the dioceses only to fifteen in place of the target of eight as requested in 1736. About Hindiyya he took a neutral position which anyway allowed Hindiyya to grow her influence during his patriarchate. The dispute into the Lebanese Maronite Order could be solved only under his successor. Tobias El Khazen died on May 29, 1766.