Melkite Greek Catholic Patriarchal Exarchate of Istanbul

Melkite Greek Catholic Patriarchal Exarchate of Istanbul is an immediate Patriarchal Exarchate of the Melkite Greek Catholic Church in Istanbul. It reports directly to the Melkite Patriarch of Antioch.[1]

Patriarchal Exarchate of Istanbul (Melkite Greek Catholic)
Location
CountryTurkey
Ecclesiastical provincePatriarchate of Antioch
Statistics
Parishes1
Information
DenominationMelkite Greek Catholic Church
RiteByzantine Rite
Current leadership
PopeFrancis
PatriarchYoussef Absi
Patriarchal ExarchSede vacante

History

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Since 1946, Melkite Parish in Istanbul (Constantinople) was administrated by priest Maximos Mardelli (born 1913 – died 2000) who was appointed Patriarchal Vicar (exarch) in Istanbul, as representative of Melkite Patriarch Maximos IV Sayegh of Antioch. Exarch Maximos was elevated to the honour of Archimandrite in 1953 for his successful church administration. During Anti-Greek riots in 1955 (Istanbul pogrom), the Melkite Church building in Istanbul was destroyed. Because Archimandrite Maximos was not a Turkish citizen, he had to leave Istanbul and went to the United States.[2]

References

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  1. ^ Melkite Greek Catholic Church: Patriarchal Exarchate of Istanbul
  2. ^ "Melkite Greek Catholic Church in Turkey". Archived from the original on 18 December 2016. Retrieved 27 August 2016.
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