Jacob Awad
Encyclopedia
Jacob IV Awad was the Maronite Patriarch of Antioch from 1705 to his death in 1733.
, 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. Jacob Awad was elected patriarch on November 6, 1705 by the bishops met in the patriarchal residence of Qannubin Monastery in Kadisha Valley
. His election was confirmed by Pope Clement XI
on February 21, 1706, and he received the pallium
on February 8, 1708.
The election of Jacob Awad as patriarch was opposed by a number of bishops, who in the next years built a fierce opposition to him, spreading rumors about inadmissible behaviors of the Patriarch in his residence of Qannubin Monastery. These rumors turned in a large scandal, and finally the bishops, adviced by some Latin missionaries
, in particular by the Carmelite Elias Giacinto, sent for Jacob Awad and summoned a brief trial in the church of Saint Serge and Bacchus in Rayfoun
. Here, on May 1710, Jacob Awad was declared guilty and deposed. In his place it was elected patriarch the bishop of Saida
, Youssef Moubarak Al Rayfouni, and Awad was confined in the monastery of Our Lady of Louiaze. However, to fully enforce the decisions taken, it was necessary to obtain the approval of Pope: with this aim the opponents of Awad sent to Rome Georges Benjamin bishop of Ehden
. In Rome, contrary to Benjamin's hopes, the Congregation for the Propagation of the Faith on December 16, 1710 ruled in favor of Awad.
Thus the Custodian of the Holy Land
Fra Laurent de Saint-Laurent was sent to Rayfoun, where Youssef Moubarak lived, with the purpose to restore Awad on the patriarchal see. On August 13, 1711 Jacob Awad was formally reinstated as Patriarch, but during the ceremony he presented his resignation, probably a way to conciliate the decree of Rome with his opponents will. Youssef Moubarak was so elected Patriarch for the second time. The resignation were examined in Rome by the Congregation for the Propagation of the Faith on February 15, 1712, that decided to start a trial which lasted till May 8, 1713. The final verdict was to reject Awad resignation, to reinstall him as Patriarch and to condemn the Carmelite Elias Giacinto who was considered the origin of the false rumors. These decisions were easily implemented in Lebanon also because the death, on September 8, 1713, of the anti-patriarch Youssef Moubarak : thus on January 1714 Jacob Awad returned to the patriarchal residence of Qannubin Monastery.
Jacob Awad during his patriarchate helped many Catholic Melkites
during the persecutions by the Orthodox party after the schism of 1724. He died on February 12, 1733.
Life
Jacob Awad was born 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...
. 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...
for thirteen years and at his return in Lebanon he served as secretary of Patriarch Estephan El Douaihy
Estephan El Douaihy
Patriarch 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...
, who consecrated him bishop of Tripoli
Tripoli, Lebanon
Tripoli is the largest city in northern Lebanon and the second-largest city in Lebanon. Situated 85 km north of the capital Beirut, Tripoli is the capital of the North Governorate and the Tripoli District. Geographically located on the east of the Mediterranean, the city's history dates back...
in 1698. Jacob Awad was elected patriarch on November 6, 1705 by the bishops met in the patriarchal residence of Qannubin Monastery in 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...
. His election was confirmed by Pope Clement XI
Pope Clement XI
Pope Clement XI , born Giovanni Francesco Albani, was Pope from 1700 until his death in 1721.-Early life:...
on February 21, 1706, 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...
on February 8, 1708.
The election of Jacob Awad as patriarch was opposed by a number of bishops, who in the next years built a fierce opposition to him, spreading rumors about inadmissible behaviors of the Patriarch in his residence of Qannubin Monastery. These rumors turned in a large scandal, and finally the bishops, adviced by some Latin missionaries
Catholic missions
As the church normally organizes itself along territorial lines, and because they had the human and material resources, religious orders—some even specializing in it—undertook most missionary work, especially in the early phases...
, in particular by the Carmelite Elias Giacinto, sent for Jacob Awad and summoned a brief trial in the church of Saint Serge and Bacchus in Rayfoun
Rayfoun
Rayfoun is a small town in Keserwan District, Lebanon. It is bordered by Kleiat, Faitroun, Ajaltoun and Ashqout. The population is Maronite Catholic, and it is the birthplace of Patriarch Nasrallah Boutros Sfeir.- Religion :...
. Here, on May 1710, Jacob Awad was declared guilty and deposed. In his place it was elected patriarch the bishop of Saida
Sidon
Sidon or Saïda is the third-largest city in Lebanon. It is located in the South Governorate of Lebanon, on the Mediterranean coast, about 40 km north of Tyre and 40 km south of the capital Beirut. In Genesis, Sidon is the son of Canaan the grandson of Noah...
, Youssef Moubarak Al Rayfouni, and Awad was confined in the monastery of Our Lady of Louiaze. However, to fully enforce the decisions taken, it was necessary to obtain the approval of Pope: with this aim the opponents of Awad sent to Rome Georges Benjamin bishop of Ehden
Ehden
Ehden is a mountainous town situated in the heart of the northern mountains of Lebanon and on the southwestern slopes of Mount Makmal and Kornet el Sawda, the highest peak in Lebanon...
. In Rome, contrary to Benjamin's hopes, the Congregation for the Propagation of the Faith on December 16, 1710 ruled in favor of Awad.
Thus 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...
Fra Laurent de Saint-Laurent was sent to Rayfoun, where Youssef Moubarak lived, with the purpose to restore Awad on the patriarchal see. On August 13, 1711 Jacob Awad was formally reinstated as Patriarch, but during the ceremony he presented his resignation, probably a way to conciliate the decree of Rome with his opponents will. Youssef Moubarak was so elected Patriarch for the second time. The resignation were examined in Rome by the Congregation for the Propagation of the Faith on February 15, 1712, that decided to start a trial which lasted till May 8, 1713. The final verdict was to reject Awad resignation, to reinstall him as Patriarch and to condemn the Carmelite Elias Giacinto who was considered the origin of the false rumors. These decisions were easily implemented in Lebanon also because the death, on September 8, 1713, of the anti-patriarch Youssef Moubarak : thus on January 1714 Jacob Awad returned to the patriarchal residence of Qannubin Monastery.
Jacob Awad during his patriarchate helped many Catholic Melkites
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...
during the persecutions by the Orthodox party after the schism of 1724. He died on February 12, 1733.