Joseph Ragi El Khazen
Encyclopedia
Joseph IX Ragi El Khazen (1791–1854), (or Youssef El-Khazen, Gazen, ), was the Maronite Patriarch of Antioch from 1845 until his death in 1854.
, Lebanon
in 1791, and he was a member of the Khazen
family, which ruled the Keserwan District. The Khazen family had the privilege to nominate three Archbishops, including the one of Damascus
. Thus Joseph El Khazen was appointed Archbishop of Damascus and so consecrated bishop on April 6, 1830 by the Maronite Patriarch Joseph Peter Hobaish
.
When Patriarch Joseph Peter Hobaish died on May 23, 1845, Mount Lebanon
was in the middle of the conflict between the Druze
and Maronite communities after the so-called Double Qaimaqamate division of Lebanon. The bishops couldn't meet before August, and on August 18, 1845 they elected Joseph El Khazen as Patriach. The election was contested by some local peasants who were supporters of an other candidate, and Joseph El Khazan had to escape from Dimane
to Zouk Mikael
, where he took up his residence. The election was anyway confirmed by Pope Gregory XVI
on January 19, 1846.
Joseph El Khazen had initially to face the adversities of the conflict, including the Ottoman
military invasion and repression against the Maronites in North Lebanon. He, who was of a mild disposition, tried to easy the relation with the Great Britain
(that supported the Druzes) and the Ottomans, so obtaining same relief for his people. In 1850 he rescued same Christians form the persecution in Aleppo
.
From a religious point of view, during his reign arose again the issue of confession
s ministered outside the church-buildings, a use previously condemned by Rome
, and again condemned by Rome on February 18, 1851. Joseph El Khazen died on November 3, 1854 in the winter Maronite Catholic Patriarchate in Dimane
, Kadisha Valley
, Lebanon.
Life
Joseph Ragi El Khazen was born in the village of Ajaltoun, 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 1791, and he was a member of the Khazen
Khazen
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. The Khazen family had the privilege to nominate three Archbishops, including the one of Damascus
Damascus
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...
. Thus Joseph El Khazen was appointed Archbishop of Damascus and so consecrated bishop on April 6, 1830 by the Maronite Patriarch Joseph Peter Hobaish
Joseph Peter Hobaish
Joseph VIII Peter Hobaish , , was the Maronite Patriarch of Antioch from 1823 until his death in 1845.-Life:...
.
When Patriarch Joseph Peter Hobaish died on May 23, 1845, Mount Lebanon
Mount Lebanon
Mount Lebanon , as a geographic designation, is a Lebanese mountain range, averaging above 2,200 meters in height and receiving a substantial amount of precipitation, including snow, which averages around four meters deep. It extends across the whole country along about , parallel to the...
was in the middle of the conflict between the Druze
Druze
The Druze are an esoteric, monotheistic religious community, found primarily in Syria, Lebanon, Israel, and Jordan, which emerged during the 11th century from Ismailism. The Druze have an eclectic set of beliefs that incorporate several elements from Abrahamic religions, Gnosticism, Neoplatonism...
and Maronite communities after the so-called Double Qaimaqamate division of Lebanon. The bishops couldn't meet before August, and on August 18, 1845 they elected Joseph El Khazen as Patriach. The election was contested by some local peasants who were supporters of an other candidate, and Joseph El Khazan had to escape from Dimane
Dimane
Dimane is a mountainous village in the Bsharri District, in the North Governorate of Lebanon. It sits at approximately 1400m above sea level, overlooking the Kadisha Valley....
to 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...
, where he took up his residence. The election was anyway confirmed by Pope Gregory XVI
Pope Gregory XVI
Pope Gregory XVI , born Bartolomeo Alberto Cappellari, named Mauro as a member of the religious order of the Camaldolese, was Pope of the Catholic Church from 1831 to 1846...
on January 19, 1846.
Joseph El Khazen had initially to face the adversities of the conflict, including the Ottoman
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
military invasion and repression against the Maronites in North Lebanon. He, who was of a mild disposition, tried to easy the relation with the Great Britain
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland was the formal name of the United Kingdom during the period when what is now the Republic of Ireland formed a part of it....
(that supported the Druzes) and the Ottomans, so obtaining same relief for his people. In 1850 he rescued same Christians form the persecution in 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...
.
From a religious point of view, during his reign arose again the issue of confession
Confession
This article is for the religious practice of confessing one's sins.Confession is the acknowledgment of sin or wrongs...
s ministered outside the church-buildings, a use previously condemned by Rome
Holy See
The Holy See is the episcopal jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in Rome, in which its Bishop is commonly known as the Pope. It is the preeminent episcopal see of the Catholic Church, forming the central government of the Church. As such, diplomatically, and in other spheres the Holy See acts and...
, and again condemned by Rome on February 18, 1851. Joseph El Khazen died on November 3, 1854 in the winter Maronite Catholic Patriarchate in Dimane
Dimane
Dimane is a mountainous village in the Bsharri District, in the North Governorate of Lebanon. It sits at approximately 1400m above sea level, overlooking the Kadisha Valley....
, 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...
, Lebanon.