Cyril VII Siaj
Encyclopedia
Cyril VII Francis Siaj was Patriarch
of the Melkite Greek Catholic Church
from 1794 to 1796.
. Between 1760 and 1768 he was a open partisan of Athanasius Jawhar
in the clashes for the patriarchate between patriarch Theodosius V Dahan
and anti-patriarch Athanasius Jawhar. In this frame he went with Jawhar to Rome
in 1762, and when returned to Lebanon
he was consecrated bishop of Bosra and Hauran
a few days after 23 December 1763, and took the name Cyril. Because his consecration was celebrated by Euthymius Fadel
bishop of Zahle and Forzol
and a partisan of Jawhar, the patriarch Theodosius V Dahan did not recognized his appointment till the appeasement in 1768 between Theodosius Dahan and Athanasius Jawhar.
Cyril Francis Siaj was elected patriarch by the synod of bishops on 11 December 1794. His election was confirmed by Pope Pius VI
on 28 June 1796. Cyril VII Siaj died on 6 August 1796 at Aitanite
, where he was buried.
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 1794 to 1796.
Life
Francis Siaj was a monk of the Basilian Salvatorian OrderBasilian 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...
. Between 1760 and 1768 he was a open partisan of 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:...
in the clashes for the patriarchate between patriarch Theodosius V Dahan
Theodosius V Dahan
Theodosius V Dahan was Patriarch of the Melkite Greek Catholic Church from 1761 to 1788.-Life:Joasaph Dahan was born in Beirut in 1698. He entered in the religious order of the Basilian Chouerites and in 1723 he made the solemn vows under the name Joasaph...
and anti-patriarch Athanasius Jawhar. In this frame he went with Jawhar 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...
in 1762, and when returned to 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 was consecrated bishop of Bosra and Hauran
Hauran
Hauran, , also spelled Hawran or Houran, is a volcanic plateau, a geographic area and a people located in southwestern Syria and extending into the northwestern corner of Jordan. It gets its name from the Aramaic Hawran, meaning "cave land." In geographic and geomorphic terms, its boundaries...
a few days after 23 December 1763, and took the name Cyril. Because his consecration was celebrated by Euthymius Fadel
Euthymius Fadel
Euthymius Fadel of Ma’loula was bishop of Zahle and Forzol of the Melkite Greek Catholic Church and took a preeminent part in the 1724 split of the Melkite Church.-Life:...
bishop of Zahle and Forzol
Zahle and Forzol
Zahle and Forzol is a Greco-Melchite diocese in the Beqaa Valley, Lebanon. In the seventeenth, or perhaps in the sixteenth, century the diocese of Seleucia Pieria was for greater safety transferred by the Patriarch of Antioch to Maaloula in the Lebanon...
and a partisan of Jawhar, the patriarch Theodosius V Dahan did not recognized his appointment till the appeasement in 1768 between Theodosius Dahan and Athanasius Jawhar.
Cyril Francis Siaj was elected patriarch by the synod of bishops on 11 December 1794. His election was confirmed by Pope Pius VI
Pope Pius VI
Pope Pius VI , born Count Giovanni Angelo Braschi, was Pope from 1775 to 1799.-Early years:Braschi was born in Cesena...
on 28 June 1796. Cyril VII Siaj died on 6 August 1796 at Aitanite
Aitanite
Aitanite/ Aitaneet is a village in Lebanon, in the West Beqaa region.Aitanit counted 880 residents . In the last municipal Lebanese elections of 2004, its accounted 3263 resgitered voters of which 1784 actual voters. However, if the total number of Aitanite citizens who have emigrated were to be...
, where he was buried.