Joseph Estephan
Encyclopedia
Joseph VI Estephan (or Yusuf Istifan, Stephan), was the Maronite Patriarch of Antioch from 1766 until his death in 1793.
, Lebanon
in 1729. He studied in Rome in the College of the Propaganda where he remained from 1739 to 1751. Returned in Lebanon, on May 21, 1752 he was ordained priest
by his uncle, bishop John Estephan, and in August 1754 he was consecrated bishop of Beirut
by Patriarch Simon Awad
.
His uncle, John Estephan, participated to the 1736 Concil of Mount-Lebanon and in 1742 became bishop of Beirut. In 1754 John Estephan retired in order to let his nephew, Joseph, to be appointed bishop of the same town. Joseph Estephan remained bishop of Beirut till 1762, when he quarreled with Patriarch Tobias El Khazen
, because he refused to support the uncanonical
arrangement of dioceses decided by Tobias, and also cause he was accused to be ordained bishop at 23 years in place of 25 years as Joseph Estephan always claimed.
After Tobias' death, Joseph Estephan was elected patriarch on June 9, 1766, and confirmed by Pope Clement XIII
on April 6, 1767. He summoned a synod in Ghosta in 1768 concerning the distribution of the tithe
s, issue on which he collided with many bishops who complained with Propaganda Fide. The main complains against him were anyway caused by his strong support to the visionary nun Hindiyya al-'Ujaimi
. The Jesuits, as well as some Maronites, became more and more mistrustful of her doctrine and personal cult, and finally obtained from Rome an inspection carried out in 1775 by Pietro Craveri of Moretta (1726–1801). Following the advices of Moretta, on July 17, 1779 Pope Pius VI
issued a decree stating that Hindiyya is deluded and her revelations and doctrines false. Moreover the Pope suspended the Joseph Estephan from all functions (apart the episcopal appointments and consecrations) and nominated Michael El Khazen as Vicar.
Joseph Estephan, known the news, tried to travel to Rome, but his health forced him to stop at Mount Carmel
. In the meantime Michel Khazen summoned a synod, on July 21, 1780 in which he not even invited Estephan. This situation lasted till the young secretary of Pietro Craveri of Moretta, Joseph Tyan
, took it upon himself to travel to Rome, against the will of Craveri, to plead Estephan's case. On September 28, 1784 Propaganda Fide restored Joseph Estephan in all his functions.
Restored as Patriarch, Joseph Estephan summoned other two synods, the first on September 6–11, 1786 at 'Ain-Caqiq, which was not approved by Rome, and the second, approved, at Berke
from December 3–18, 1790 under the presidency of Germanos Adam
. On January 14, 1789 Joseph Estephan converted the convent of 'Ain-Warqa into a seminary
. He died on April 22, 1793.
Life
Joseph Estephan was born in the village of Ghosta, in the Keserwan DistrictKeserwan District
Keserwan is a district in the Mount Lebanon Governorate , Lebanon, to the northeast of the Lebanon's capital Beirut...
, 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...
in 1729. He studied in Rome in the College of the Propaganda where he remained from 1739 to 1751. Returned in Lebanon, on May 21, 1752 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....
by his uncle, bishop John Estephan, and in August 1754 he was consecrated bishop 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 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...
.
His uncle, John Estephan, participated to the 1736 Concil of Mount-Lebanon and in 1742 became bishop of Beirut. In 1754 John Estephan retired in order to let his nephew, Joseph, to be appointed bishop of the same town. Joseph Estephan remained bishop of Beirut till 1762, when he quarreled with Patriarch Tobias El Khazen
Tobias El Khazen
Tobias El Khazen was the Maronite Patriarch of Antioch from 1756 to his death in 1766.-Life:Tobias El Khazen was a member of the Abu Nawfal branch of the Khazen family, which ruled the Keserwan District, and he was a nephew of Patriarch Joseph Dergham El Khazen...
, because he refused to support the uncanonical
Canonical
Canonical is an adjective derived from canon. Canon comes from the greek word κανών kanon, "rule" or "measuring stick" , and is used in various meanings....
arrangement of dioceses decided by Tobias, and also cause he was accused to be ordained bishop at 23 years in place of 25 years as Joseph Estephan always claimed.
After Tobias' death, Joseph Estephan was elected patriarch on June 9, 1766, and confirmed by Pope Clement XIII
Pope Clement XIII
Pope Clement XIII , born Carlo della Torre di Rezzonico, was Pope from 16 July 1758 to 2 February 1769....
on April 6, 1767. He summoned a synod in Ghosta in 1768 concerning the distribution of the tithe
Tithe
A tithe is a one-tenth part of something, paid as a contribution to a religious organization or compulsory tax to government. Today, tithes are normally voluntary and paid in cash, cheques, or stocks, whereas historically tithes were required and paid in kind, such as agricultural products...
s, issue on which he collided with many bishops who complained with Propaganda Fide. The main complains against him were anyway caused by his strong support to the visionary nun Hindiyya al-'Ujaimi
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...
. The Jesuits, as well as some Maronites, became more and more mistrustful of her doctrine and personal cult, and finally obtained from Rome an inspection carried out in 1775 by Pietro Craveri of Moretta (1726–1801). Following the advices of Moretta, on July 17, 1779 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...
issued a decree stating that Hindiyya is deluded and her revelations and doctrines false. Moreover the Pope suspended the Joseph Estephan from all functions (apart the episcopal appointments and consecrations) and nominated Michael El Khazen as Vicar.
Joseph Estephan, known the news, tried to travel to Rome, but his health forced him to stop at Mount Carmel
Mount Carmel
Mount Carmel ; , Kármēlos; , Kurmul or جبل مار إلياس Jabal Mar Elyas 'Mount Saint Elias') is a coastal mountain range in northern Israel stretching from the Mediterranean Sea towards the southeast. Archaeologists have discovered ancient wine and oil presses at various locations on Mt. Carmel...
. In the meantime Michel Khazen summoned a synod, on July 21, 1780 in which he not even invited Estephan. This situation lasted till the young secretary of Pietro Craveri of Moretta, Joseph Tyan
Joseph Tyan
Joseph VII Peter Tyan , , was the Maronite Patriarch of Antioch from 1796 until his resignation in 1809.-Life:...
, took it upon himself to travel to Rome, against the will of Craveri, to plead Estephan's case. On September 28, 1784 Propaganda Fide restored Joseph Estephan in all his functions.
Restored as Patriarch, Joseph Estephan summoned other two synods, the first on September 6–11, 1786 at 'Ain-Caqiq, which was not approved by Rome, and the second, approved, at Berke
Berke
Berke Khan was the ruler of the Golden Horde who effectively consolidated the power of the Blue Horde and White Hordes from 1257 to 1266. He succeeded his brother Batu Khan of the Blue Horde and was responsible for the first official establishment of Islam in a khanate of the Mongol Empire...
from December 3–18, 1790 under the presidency of 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...
. On January 14, 1789 Joseph Estephan converted the convent of 'Ain-Warqa into a seminary
Seminary
A seminary, theological college, or divinity school is an institution of secondary or post-secondary education for educating students in theology, generally to prepare them for ordination as clergy or for other ministry...
. He died on April 22, 1793.