PATRIARCH
OF ANTIOCH AND ALL THE EAST
Supreme
Pontiff of the Universal Syrian Orthodox Church
122nd
successor of St.Peter in the Apostolic See of Antioch
Moran
Mor Ignatius Zakka I Iwas, the 122nd successor to St. Peter in the Apostolic
See of Antioch, completes 25 years in the Patriarchal See on the day of the
Feast of Holy Cross, 2005. The Universal Syrian Church with its flocks spread
over many nations, celebrates this unique historic occasion, of His Holiness's
Silver Jubilee of the Patriarchal enthronement, with great fervour and
enthusiasm. It was on September 14, 1980, the Holy father was enthroned as the
Patriarch of Antioch and All the East and the Supreme Pontiff of the Universal
Syrian Orthodox Church. He is one of the very few primates of the Syrian Church
who have been in the Patriarchal office for an entire quarter of a
century. As a true Shepherd, His Holiness has led the Holy Church to
greater glories in these years of his Patriarchal See.
His Holiness was born on April 21, 1933 into the
faithful family of 'Iwas' in Mosul, Iraq. He was born as the fourth child and
was named 'Seenaherib' (name of the father of St. Behnam). His Holiness had
three brothers and three sisters. The forbears of Patriarch Zakka, the Iwas
family, originally belonged to Jessera on Tigris; they migrated to Mosul about
three hundred years ago. Some of his ancestors adorned very important posts in
the Kingdom. His grand father has received an award from King Faisal I of Iraq
for his excellence in his job as Chief craftsmen and architect of the State.
The father of His Holiness, Basheer Iwas, who graduated from the University in
Istanbul, the then capital of Ottoman Empire, later became a Professor in the
Military Engineering College there. A faithful member of Church, he was very
enthusiastic in attending the Church Services regularly and also inspired
others to follow his path. It was his ardent desire to mould one of his sons as
a priest to serve the Holy Church. After a few years of teaching, he left for
his home state in Iraq where he started a wood-working factory of his own. But
unfortunately, misfortune struck the family a few years later; Basheer Iwas
died of a Cardiac arrest. His Holiness was only 10 at that time. Two years
later in 1945, his wife, the mother of His Holiness, also passed away. Thus the
young Seenaherib, who later came to be known as Zakka, becomes parentless at a
tender age of 12.
Ecclesiastical
life & Graduation
After
the death of his parents,
Young Zakka decided to enter into the ecclesiastical life, thus fulfilling the
wishes of his beloved father. But then some of his family members who felt bad
about the parentless child being dragged into difficult circumstances,
tried
to
discourage him. However our holy father, who from the age of six dreamt of
becoming a monk, remained determined in his choice which finally paved the way
for the family too to comply with his decision. Thus he joined the St. Ephrem
Theological Seminary in Mosul in 1946 at the age of 13 and was henceforth came
to be called 'Zakka'.
On November 28, 1948, young Zakka was ordained 'Koroyoo' (Deacon) by H. E. Mor
Athanasius Touma Kasseer and on February 8, 1953, he was elevated to the rank
of 'Afodyaknoh' (Half Deacon) by H.E. Mor Gregorios Paulos Behnam. The
very next year he graduated with a diploma from the seminary.
June 6, 1954, is an important date in the life of His Holiness. The Holy
father accepted the order of monastic life on that day. He was then 21. It was
Mor Gregorios Paulos Behnam who ordained him Rabban (monk). His Holiness
recalls this as a very special day in his life. He used to say that he always
felt the God caring him greatly though his parents left him in his
childhood; he prayed to God and He cared him greatly.
On
December 18, 1955, the new monk was promoted to the rank of full deacon by H.E.
Mor Divanasious Jirges Behanam. In the year 1955, he joined the Patriarchal
Staff in Homs as an assistant to the Patriarchal Secretary.
Young Zakka's performance in schools was always excellent; he consistently
scored high marks. His elementary education was in the schools at the Al-Tahra
Al-Dakhilyah's church (Our Lady's church) and Mor Touma's school (St.Thomas
school) at Mosul. In 1957 he graduated from the college with 97 % of
marks. Thus he completed his studies with success on the fields of
history, philosophy, theology and church-law. He advanced in Syriac, Arabic and
English languages, and received diplomas in each of these fields.
Soon after the graduation, he joined the faculty of the seminary where he
taught Syriac, Arabic and the Bible. Little later, Rabban Zakka was
called to the Patriarchate by the then Patriarch of Antioch Moran Mor Ignatius
Aphrem I, one of the most erudite scholars and efficient administrators the
Church has seen in modern times. Rabban Zakka became the second, and
later the first, Secretary to the Patriarch. After the demise of Moran Mor
Aprem I, he continued as First Secretary to the new
Patriarch, Moran Mor Ya`qub III.
On November 17, 1957,
Patriarch Mor Ya`qub III
ordained him a priest. On April 15, 1959, the Patriarch decorated him
with ‘the Holy cross of the grand monk’.
From 1955 to 1958 Rabban Zakka studied journalism as a part-time student and
took a diploma in journalism. In 1960, he joined the General Theological
College of the Episcopal Church in New York in the United States, where he
studied oriental languages, philosophy and pastoral theology and mastered in
the English language. The college, later in 1983, offered His
Holiness an Honorary Doctorate in theology.
Rabban Zakka travelled widely, both on his own and in the company of
Patriarch Ya`qub III.
He was at that time fortunate to visit all the countries in the Middle East and
the America.
In 1962 and 1963 he was delegated
by the late Patriarch to attend the two Sessions of the Second Vatican
Ecumenical Council as an observer. It was while at the Vatican that he was
called to the Episcopal office.
Metropolitan
On
November 17, 1963, Rabban Zakka was ordained Metropolitan by the
Patriarch Mor Ya`qub III
for the Mosul Archbishopric with title 'Severious'. Thus he came to be known as
Mor Severios Zakka.
The very next year in 1964 he visited India along with
the Patriarch
where he participated in the Universal Synod of the Syrian Orthodox Church,
held in Kottayam. He later assisted the Patriarch Mor
Ya`qub III
during the consecration of the first canonical Catholicos of Malankara, Mor
Baselios Augen I, on May 21, 1964.
Discovery
of St. Thomas’s relic
On
September 1, 1964, during the renovation of the Madboho of the ancient
St.Thomas Church at Mosul, Mor Severious Zakka discovered the remains of
Apostle Thomas in the sanctuary wall. It was a memorable event in the
Episcopal life of the Holy Father. In the first sermon of the Holy father
when he visited India as Patriarch of Antioch in 1982 he said, “When we think
of St. Thomas, our heart is particularly thrilled because we are very closely
connected to St. Thomas. Even though St. Thomas
enjoyed his martyrdom here in India, and was entombed in Mylapore,
we were
the
Metropolitan of the church in which the holy relics of St. Thomas have been
kept for the past many centuries. One day, unexpectedly, by the grace of God,
we were led to reveal the Holy Relics of St. Thomas once again to humanity. It
was unknown to the present generation, as to where the holy relic of St. Thomas
was kept. But in 1964, according to the will of God, we were able to discover
the Holy Relics which were kept in the walls of the sanctuary of our St.
Thomas’ church in Mosul, Iraq which is the Cathedral church of our Archdiocese
of Mosul.”
A portion of this Holy relic discovered by Mor Severios Zakka was presented to
Malankara Church when Catholicos Mor Augen I paid a visit to the Patriarchate
in 1965. In 1994, a small portion of the Holy Relic was again presented to
Malankara to be kept at the ancient Mulanthuruthy Marthoman Church which is
known as the 2nd Jerusalem of the Syrian Church. Three fathers of the
Syrian Church who arrived from Near East were entombed in this church. The Holy
Mooron was consecrated in this church once by Patriarch Moran Mor Ignatius
Abded 'Aloho, in 1911. This ancient church has also been the venue for two
historical Synods of the Malankara Church, one in 1876 and the other in 2004;
both were held under the auspices of the Patriarchs of Antioch.
Involvement
in Ecumenical movements
In
1965, Mor Severios Zakka attended the Pan Orthodox meet at Adis Ababa. He was
one of the 15 theologians from all over the world who met for the unofficial
consultations between Oriental and Eastern Orthodox theologians in August 1964
and later. In 1968 Mor Severios attended the Lambeth Palace Conference as
an observer. He participated in the consultation between Oriental and Eastern
theologians, held again, in Geneva in 1970.
In 1969 Mor Severios assumed the charge of Baghdad & Basra Archdioceses.
During this period he also served as the Head of Syriac Studies and a member of
the educational academy in Bagdad. In the same year he was appointed to
the membership of “Academy of Iraq Culture” and to the presidency of “Academy
of Syrian Language and Culture”, besides being the Chairman of its Syriac
Section and an honorary member of the pro-Oriente Organization in Vienna,
Austria. In 1972 he was in Pro-Orinete, Vienna, to give a lecture on “The
Church and the Ecumenical Synod.” Next year he addressed them again, this
time on “What makes a Council legitimate and acceptable.” The topic of his
address at the Pro-Orinete in 1976 was “The need for, and signs of, communion
between local churches.” Following that he was granted their Fellowship. He was
also given the rare privilege of preaching in St. Stephen’s Cathedral, Vienna,
in the presence of the Cardinal and other Roman Catholic dignitaries, the first
Syrian Orthodox Bishop to be so honoured. In 1976, 1978 and 1979 he served as a
consultant on the Pontifical Commission for revision of Oriental Canon Law in
the Roman Catholic Church.
At Nairobi in 1975 Mor Severios was elected to the Central Committee of the
World Council of Churches, which position he held till his enthronement as
Patriarch in 1980. From 1995 onwards, His Holiness the Patriarch, is one of the
Presidents of the World Council of Churches.
Major
contributions
The
Holy father who has an Honorary Doctor’s Degree in Syriac Literature from
Sweden (Institute of Oriental Studies) and Diploma in Theology, Philosophy and
Canon Law, has many works to his credit. He has published a series of
text books for use in Christian schools. Some of his other major works are
‘Doctrine of Incarnation and Salvation’, ‘The Seven Sacraments’ (co-authored
with Metropolitan Haksaka), ‘Yakoub III: Life and Apostolic Visit to Middle
East and Latin America’, ‘Apostolic Visit of Yacoub III to North
America’, ‘The Dove by Bar Ebraya, transalation from Syriac to Arabic, with
footnotes and a foreword on the theme of monastic life’, ‘Mor Aphrem the
Syrian’ (published by the Ministry of Information, Government of Iraq, in 1974
on the occasion of St. Aphrem’s Jubilee), ‘Mor Jacob of Edessa’ (633-708 AD),
‘Mor Dionysius Talmahari’ (ninth century), ‘Story of Seven Sleepers-a
perspective from Syriac Sources’, ‘Syrian Orthodox Church through the Ages’,
‘Syriac literature in the sixth century’, ‘Bar Hibarius’. Among his important
addresses includes “Syrian Orthodox Church and Ecumenical Movement”, “Position
and Role of Women in the Church”, “Religious Virtues and Family Welfare”.
Additional
charges as Metropolitan
As
Metropolitan of Mosul the Holy Father took special interest in youth
activities. Under him, the diocese flourished spiritually and materially. In
1967 he was given additional charge of the European Diocese. In 1969 he was
transferred to the Archdiocese of Baghdad and Basra, perhaps the most
prestigious archbishopric in the Middle East. In Baghdad he built
churches and opened secondary schools and high schools. As in Mosul, in Baghdad
also he took keen interest in the spiritual life of the youth.
Following the demise of H.E. Thimotheos Yacoub, Metropolitan Mor Severious
Zakka was given the additional charge of the ancient monastery of St.
Mathew (Mor Mattai Dayro) in Iraq. In 1976, he was appointed as the
Metropolitan of Middle Europe and Scandinavian countries and in 1978 Mor
Severios Zakka was given additional responsibility for the new diocese in
Australia. He consecrated several churches and organized congregations in
Melbourne, Sydney and a few other places.
on June 26, 1980, the
Patriarch Mor Ya`qub III passed away
and was entombed at the St. George Cathedral, Damascus. Consequent to this, the
Episcopal Synod was called to choose the new successor to the Apostolic
See. The Holy Synod held on July 11, 1980, with His Beatitude the
Catholicos of the East Mor Baselios Paulose II in the chair, unanimously
elected Mor Severios Zakka, Archbishop of Baghdad and Basra as the new
Patriarch of Antioch and All the East. This marked the beginning of a new era
in the history of the Church.
Patriarchal
Enthronement
On
September 14, 1980, Mor Severios was installed as the 122nd Patriarch of
Antioch & all the East, by name IGNATIUS ZAKKA I, in a rite officiated by
the late lamented Catholicos of the East
Aboon Mor Baselios Paulose II, along with the archbishops of
the Universal Syrian Orthodox Church. It was for the first time in the
history of the Universal Syrian Church that the chief celebrant for the
Patriarchal enthronement was an Indian.
Since
that blessed day, the Syrian Orthodox Church has witnessed a remarkable revival
through the guidance of the Holy Spirit and the pastoral care of H. H. Ignatius
Zakka I Iwas. The 25 years of Mor Ignatius Zakka's Patriarchate have been
eventful and significant. In his very first address after adorning the
Patriarchate, he stressed the need for a major seminary and centre for the
Church. This was a great dream of the new Patriarch. The Syrian Orthodox
Patriarchate after moving from the Monastery of Mor Hananyo (Deir
ez-Za`faran/Kurkumo Dayro)
in Turkey, to Syria in the last century, lacked a proper centre in the new
circumstances. It was the Holy fathers' vision that filled this gap. He
acquired extensive lands, about 20 miles away from Old Damascus, where he built
a magnificent Seminary with all facilities for theological students,
accommodations for the visiting dignitaries, residence of the Patriarch etc..
Though officially, the Patriarchate still functions in the St. George
Cathedral, Bab Touma, in the city of Damascus, His Holiness resides at the
Mor Ephrem Seminary in Ma`arat Sayyidnaya, in the
suburb of Damascus, Syria.
The Church which was in turmoil for a while because of persecution, is now
witnessing a revival with establishment of churches and institutions in all
parts of the world where the Syrian Christians has migrated. The largest
congregation of the Church outside the Middle East and India is now situated at
Germany where about 100,000 Syrian Orthodox Christians has settled. Similarly
the Church has grown to other nations like Holland, Australia, USA, Canada and
South America. And in all such countries, Monasteries, churches and other
institutions have come up. Young bishops selected and ordained by the Holy
father increased the pace of growth in all these places.
Despite his busy schedule, His Holiness has written many articles on a variety
of subjects, in Syriac, Arabic and English. Selected articles and sermons of
the Holy Father is to be published soon by the St. George Church, Chicago.
Another major achievement of the Holy Father is his close relationship with the
other Churches and communities. The relationship with the Roman Catholic and
the Byzantine Orthodox Churches were rewritten during his tenure. The Oriental
Orthodox family came closer. From 1998, heads of the 3 Oriental Churches in
Middle East - the Syrian Orthodox Church, the Coptic Orthodox Church and the
Armenian Apostolic Church (Catholicosate of Cilicia, Antelias, Lebanon) - meet
regularly every year; two of such meetings were held at our Seminary in
Ma`arat Sayyidnaya. Another meeting of the heads of Oriental Churches will soon
meet in December again at the
Mor Ephrem Seminary. For
many decades, the Church is involved in the activities of the World Council of
Churches in which both Episcopal and Non-Episcopal Churches are members. The
Holy Father is now one of the honorary Presidents of the World Council.
The apostolic visits of His Holiness to India thrice, in 1982, 2002 and 2004,
and to the various Archdioceses in the Middle East, Americas and Europe have
been most successful. It was during the 2004 apostolic visit, the Holy
father consecrated the new headquarters of the Church in India in co-operation
with His Beatitude the Catholicos and the Metropolitans.
On July 26th 2002, His Holiness installed Mor Dionysius Thomas, the president
of the Episcopal Synod of Indian Church, as the Catholicos of India with the
title
Baselios Thomas I. This was a
great event in the history of the Church in India. The new Catholicos was
consecrated as the immediate successor to the late Mor Baselios Paulose II who
led the enthronement ceremony of His Holiness in 1980. Now the Holy Synod of
the Universal Syrian Orthodox Church consists of 41 prelates besides the
Patriarch and the Catholicos, of which 22 were ordained by our Patriarch Moran
Mor Ignatius Zakka I Iwas.
|
Syrian
Orthodox Patriarchate
Bab Toma,
P.O.Box 22260, Damascus, Syria
Tel. (963) 11 543-2401 /
543-5918
Fax (963) 11 543-2400
|
St.
Aphrem Monastery,
Maaret Saidnaya,
Damascus, Syria.
Tel: (963) 11 595-1870
|
Moran
Mor Ignatius Zakka I Iwas, the Patriarch of Antioch and All the East
offering Holy Qurbono
on
2nd April 2000 at the first church of Antioch, established by St. Peter in
A.D.37
