Ignatius IV Sarrouf
Encyclopedia
Ignatius IV Sarrouf, (or Aganatios Sarruf, 1742 – 1812) was Patriarch
of the Melkite Greek Catholic Church
in 1812. He is remembered for both his patriarchate (short and ended by his murder), and for having been, as metropolitan
of Beirut
, a leading figure in the early history of the Melkite Church.
. In 1756 he entered in the Basilian Chouerite Order
being the only monk born in Damascus. On 15 August 1758 he made the solemn vows
taking the name of Ignatius. In 1764 he was ordained deacon
and in 1773 he was ordained priest
. From 1773 for five years he was in Damascus where he distinguished for his sermons and for raising funds for the patriarch. On 8 July 1778 Ignatius (Youssef) Sarrouf was consecrated metropolitan bishop
of Beirut
by Patriarch Theodosius V Dahan
.
: the Basilian Salvatorian Order
and particularly the Basilian Chouerite Order where he came from and that had the headquarters in his diocese
. The discipline of this order was actually relaxed, and the monks, who run many parishes, considered themselves almost out from the jurisdiction
of the own bishop. Sarrouf made a first attempt of reform in 1782 imposing a rule of ten points on the monks, who rejected it. In his efforts of disciplining the monasteries, he antagonized many bishops, all monks, and particularly Germanos Adam
bishop of Aleppo
who took the part of the monks, even if out from his jurisdiction. A visit of a Apostolic Legate in 1784 settled the issue for some years. The dispute reappeared in 1790 with Patriarch Athanasius IV Jawhar
on the side of Ignatius Sarrouf against Germanos Adam on the side of the monks. The death of Athanasius Jawhar in 1794 left the issue unresolved.
In 1796, seen the impossibility to obtain a disciplinary reform of the monastic orders, Ignatius Sarrouf founded a own monastic order, the Order of Saint Simeon Stylites
near Baskinta
. This foundation was strongly contested by the synod
of Zouk Mikael
in 1797 led by his opponents: the new Patriarch Agapius II Matar
and Germanos Adam. Sarrouf for obedience accepted the resolution of the synod but appealed to Rome. Other clashes arose between Ignatius Sarrouf and patriarch Agapios II Matar: for example in 1798 the patriarch untied the area of Gebail from the diocese of Beirut creating a new diocese and appointed a Chouerite monk, Clement Badra, to govern it: Sarrouf refused to leave such district. All this issues were taken to Rome that confirmed the dismissal of the Order of Saint Simeon, confirmed the creation of the diocese of Gebail (with the agreement that at the death of Clement Badra it returned under Beirut), but supported Ignatius Sarrouf in enforcing his ten points disciplinary reform of the monasteries (even if without success). For the above reasons, in 1810 Ignatius Sarrouf, with other three bishops, strongly opposed the appointment of Maximos Mazloum
, the pupil of Germanos Adam, as bishop of Aleppo by Patriarch Agapios II Matar.
, leader of the party which harked back to Germanos Adam and to the previous patriarch Agapios II Matar, and Ignatius Sarrouf, already 70, supported by the missionaries and by Aloisio Gandolfi, the Apostolic Legate of Syria
. A compromise was brokered: Maximus Mazloum remained superior of the seminary established in Ain Traz
and on 12 February 1812 Ignatius Sarrouf was elected Patriarch, and confirmed immediately by Rome. He had not the time to take a formal position against Germanos Adam and Maximos Mazloum because he was murdered by a Melkite faithful on 16 November 1812 for unknown reasons. He was succeeded by Athanasius V Matar
, brother of the previous patriarch Agapios II Matar and partisan of Mazloum's party.
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...
in 1812. He is remembered for both his patriarchate (short and ended by his murder), and for having been, as metropolitan
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
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...
, a leading figure in the early history of the Melkite Church.
Early life
Youssef Sarrouf was born in 1742 in DamascusDamascus
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...
. In 1756 he entered in the Basilian Chouerite Order
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...
being the only monk born in Damascus. On 15 August 1758 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"...
taking the name of Ignatius. In 1764 he was ordained deacon
Deacon
Deacon is a ministry in the Christian Church that is generally associated with service of some kind, but which varies among theological and denominational traditions...
and in 1773 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....
. From 1773 for five years he was in Damascus where he distinguished for his sermons and for raising funds for the patriarch. On 8 July 1778 Ignatius (Youssef) Sarrouf 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
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...
by 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...
.
Bishop of Beirut
His years as metropolitan of Beirut were marked by his attempt to reform the two Melkite monastic ordersRoman 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...
: 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...
and particularly the Basilian Chouerite Order where he came from and that had the headquarters in 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...
. The discipline of this order was actually relaxed, and the monks, who run many parishes, considered themselves almost out from the jurisdiction
Jurisdiction
Jurisdiction is the practical authority granted to a formally constituted legal body or to a political leader to deal with and make pronouncements on legal matters and, by implication, to administer justice within a defined area of responsibility...
of the own bishop. Sarrouf made a first attempt of reform in 1782 imposing a rule of ten points on the monks, who rejected it. In his efforts of disciplining the monasteries, he antagonized many bishops, all monks, and particularly Germanos Adam
Germanos Adam
Germanos Adam was the Melkite Catholic bishop of Aleppo during the late 18th century and a Christian theologian.-Life:Germanos Adam was born in 1725 in Aleppo, Syria, and studied in the College of the Propaganda in Rome. In 1774 he was consecrated Melkite Catholic bishop of Acre...
bishop of Aleppo
Aleppo
Aleppo is the largest city in Syria and the capital of Aleppo Governorate, the most populous Syrian governorate. With an official population of 2,301,570 , expanding to over 2.5 million in the metropolitan area, it is also one of the largest cities in the Levant...
who took the part of the monks, even if out from his jurisdiction. A visit of a Apostolic Legate in 1784 settled the issue for some years. The dispute reappeared in 1790 with Patriarch Athanasius IV 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:...
on the side of Ignatius Sarrouf against Germanos Adam on the side of the monks. The death of Athanasius Jawhar in 1794 left the issue unresolved.
In 1796, seen the impossibility to obtain a disciplinary reform of the monastic orders, Ignatius Sarrouf founded a own monastic order, the Order of Saint Simeon Stylites
Simeon Stylites
Saint Simeon Stylites or Symeon the Stylite was a Christian ascetic saint who achieved fame because he lived for 39 years on a small platform on top of a pillar near Aleppo in Syria. Several other stylites later followed his model...
near Baskinta
Baskinta
Baskinta is a Lebanese village situated at an altitude of 1300 meters above sea level. It is renowned for its natural beauty and moderate climate. It is the birth place of Mikhail Naime....
. This foundation was strongly contested by the 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...
of Zouk Mikael
Zouk Mikael
Zouk Mikael is a town in the Keserwan District of Mount Lebanon. The town is famous for its Ottoman era old souk, which was renovated and restored in 1995...
in 1797 led by his opponents: the new Patriarch Agapius II Matar
Agapius II Matar
Agapius II Matar, was Patriarch of the Melkite Greek Catholic Church from 1796 to 1812.-Life:...
and Germanos Adam. Sarrouf for obedience accepted the resolution of the synod but appealed to Rome. Other clashes arose between Ignatius Sarrouf and patriarch Agapios II Matar: for example in 1798 the patriarch untied the area of Gebail from the diocese of Beirut creating a new diocese and appointed a Chouerite monk, Clement Badra, to govern it: Sarrouf refused to leave such district. All this issues were taken to Rome that confirmed the dismissal of the Order of Saint Simeon, confirmed the creation of the diocese of Gebail (with the agreement that at the death of Clement Badra it returned under Beirut), but supported Ignatius Sarrouf in enforcing his ten points disciplinary reform of the monasteries (even if without success). For the above reasons, in 1810 Ignatius Sarrouf, with other three bishops, strongly opposed the appointment of Maximos Mazloum
Maximos III Mazloum
Maximos III Michael Mazloum, was patriarch of the Melkite Greek Catholic Church from 1833 until 1855. As patriarch he reformed church administration and bolstered clerical education...
, the pupil of Germanos Adam, as bishop of Aleppo by Patriarch Agapios II Matar.
Patriarch
After the death of Agapios II Matar, two candidates competed for the election of the new Patriarch: the young Maximos MazloumMaximos III Mazloum
Maximos III Michael Mazloum, was patriarch of the Melkite Greek Catholic Church from 1833 until 1855. As patriarch he reformed church administration and bolstered clerical education...
, leader of the party which harked back to Germanos Adam and to the previous patriarch Agapios II Matar, and Ignatius Sarrouf, already 70, supported by the missionaries and by Aloisio Gandolfi, the Apostolic Legate of Syria
Syria
Syria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest....
. A compromise was brokered: Maximus Mazloum remained superior of the seminary established in Ain Traz
Ain Traz
The Ain Traz Seminary of the Melkite Greek Catholic Church, located southeast of Beirut, Lebanon, has served various roles during its 200 year history. Given by the El Saad family , it was founded in 1811 by Melkite Patriarch Agapius II Matar, it was first intended as a seminary...
and on 12 February 1812 Ignatius Sarrouf was elected Patriarch, and confirmed immediately by Rome. He had not the time to take a formal position against Germanos Adam and Maximos Mazloum because he was murdered by a Melkite faithful on 16 November 1812 for unknown reasons. He was succeeded by Athanasius V Matar
Athanasius V Matar
Athanasius V Gabriel Matar was Patriarch of the Melkite Greek Catholic Church for a few months in 1813.-Life:Gabriel Matar was born in Damascus. He was the brother of patriarch Agapius II Matar and, as his brother, he too entered in the religious order of the Basilian Salvatorians. Gabriel Matar...
, brother of the previous patriarch Agapios II Matar and partisan of Mazloum's party.