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Melkite Catholic Patriarchate of Antioch


The Melkite Catholic Patriarchate of Antioch is the only actual residential Patriarchate of the Melkite Catholic Church (Eastern Catholic, Byzantine Rite) which was formed in 1724 when a portion of the Orthodox Church of Antioch went back into communion with Rome, becoming an Eastern Catholic Church, while the rest of the ancient Patriarchate continues in full communion with the rest of the Eastern Orthodox Church.

The Melkite Greek Catholic Patriarch of Antioch's present complete title is Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, of Alexandria and Jerusalem of the Melkite Greek Catholic Church, incorporating both the church's other titular patriarchates.

Its archiepiscopal see is the Cathedral of the Dormition of Our Lady (Arabic: كاتدرائية سيدة النياح للروم الملكيين في دمشق‎‎ ) in Damascus, national capital of Syria. It enjoyed a Papal visit from Pope John Paul II in 2001.

The Melkite Catholic Church is one of five churches that are continuations of the original See of Antioch. Thus, the Melkite Catholic Church traces its existence all the way back to Saint Peter in a line of apostolic succession acknowledged by both Catholic and Orthodox canons. This claim is accepted by the Holy See and is not disputed by the other two Eastern Catholic Churches that also claim descent from the ancient See of Antioch, namely the Maronite Church and the Syriac Catholic Church, which both also have Patriarchs of Antioch.


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