Melkite Greek Catholic Eparchy of Newton (in Latin: Eparchia Neotoniensis Graecorum Melkitarum) is an ecclesiastical territory of the
Melkite Greek Catholic Church
el, Μελχιτική Ελληνική Καθολική Εκκλησία
, image = Melkite Greek Catholic Church, Damascus, Syria.jpg
, imagewidth = 200px
, alt =
, caption =
, abbreviatio ...
, a
Byzantine rite
The Byzantine Rite, also known as the Greek Rite or the Rite of Constantinople, identifies the wide range of cultural, liturgical, and canonical practices that developed in the Eastern Christianity, Eastern Christian Church of Constantinople.
Th ...
Eastern Church
Eastern Christianity comprises Christian traditions and church families that originally developed during classical and late antiquity in Eastern Europe, Southeastern Europe, Asia Minor, the Caucasus, Northeast Africa, the Fertile Crescent and ...
within the
Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with 1.3 billion baptized Catholics worldwide . It is among the world's oldest and largest international institutions, and has played a ...
. The eparchy is named for
Newton, Massachusetts
Newton is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. It is approximately west of downtown Boston. Newton resembles a patchwork of thirteen villages, without a city center. According to the 2020 U.S. Census, the population of Ne ...
, and encompasses the entire
United States
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...
. There, however, currently about fifty Melkite parishes, missions, and "outreaches," in about two dozen states.
History
Early immigration
The first large wave of Melkite immigration from the
Middle East
The Middle East ( ar, الشرق الأوسط, ISO 233: ) is a geopolitical region commonly encompassing Arabian Peninsula, Arabia (including the Arabian Peninsula and Bahrain), Anatolia, Asia Minor (Asian part of Turkey except Hatay Pro ...
to the United States took place in the late 19th century, and the first American Melkite Catholic church was established in the 1890s. Because there was no diocesan structure for Melkite Catholic faithful in the United States at the time, Melkite parishes were individually under the jurisdiction of the local
Latin Church
, native_name_lang = la
, image = San Giovanni in Laterano - Rome.jpg
, imagewidth = 250px
, alt = Façade of the Archbasilica of St. John in Lateran
, caption = Archbasilica of Saint Joh ...
diocesan bishop.
Apostolic exarchate
As the Melkite Catholic presence in the United States reached 70 years, to serve the faithful the
Holy See
The Holy See ( lat, Sancta Sedes, ; it, Santa Sede ), also called the See of Rome, Petrine See or Apostolic See, is the jurisdiction of the Pope in his role as the bishop of Rome. It includes the apostolic episcopal see of the Diocese of Rome ...
erected an
apostolic exarchate
An exarch (;
from Ancient Greek ἔξαρχος ''exarchos'', meaning “leader”) was the holder of any of various historical offices, some of them being political or military and others being ecclesiastical.
In the late Roman Empire and e ...
on January 10, 1966, with the title ''Apostolic Exarchate of United States of America, Faithful of the Oriental Rite (Melkite)''. Archmandrite
Justin Najmy
Justin Najmy (1898 - 1968) was the first bishop for the United States in the Melkite Greek Catholic Church. Appointed exarch for the newly created Melkite diocese in the United States, Bishop Najmy served for two years before his death at age 70 ...
(1898–1968), pastor of St. Basil the Great Church then in
Central Falls, Rhode Island
Central Falls is a city in Providence County, Rhode Island, United States. The population was 22,583 at the 2020 census. With an area of only , it is the smallest and most densely populated city in the smallest state, and the 27th most densely ...
, (the parish is now in
Lincoln, Rhode Island
Lincoln is a town in Providence County, Rhode Island, United States. The population was 22,529 at the 2020 census. Lincoln is located in northeastern Rhode Island, north of Providence. Lincoln is part of the Providence metropolitan statistical are ...
), was appointed as the first
Exarch
An exarch (;
from Ancient Greek ἔξαρχος ''exarchos'', meaning “leader”) was the holder of any of various historical offices, some of them being political or military and others being ecclesiastical.
In the late Roman Empire and ea ...
by
Pope Paul VI
Pope Paul VI ( la, Paulus VI; it, Paolo VI; born Giovanni Battista Enrico Antonio Maria Montini, ; 26 September 18976 August 1978) was head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City, Vatican City State from 21 June 1963 to his ...
on January 27, 1966.
After Bishop Najmy's death in 1968, Archbishop
Joseph Tawil
Archbishop Joseph Tawil (December 25, 1913 – February 17, 1999) was the Melkite Greek Catholic eparch for the United States, teacher and theologian. He is remembered for his participation in the Second Vatican Council, expanding the Melkite Ch ...
, the Patriarchal Vicar of Damascus, was appointed Najmy's successor in October 1969, in a procedure the Patriarch described as a compromise.
Eparchy
On June 28, 1976, the Exarchate was elevated to the status of an eparchy.
with the title ''Eparchy of Newton'', and Archbishop Tawil became the first Eparch.
Later immigration
While the descendants of the earlier waves of Melkite immigrants to the U.S. became increasingly assimilated into American culture, the late twentieth and early twenty-first centuries saw, for a variety of reasons (e.g., economic, sectarian), new waves of Melkite immigrants hailing from traditional Middle-eastern homelands. Additionally, within the U.S., many older generations of Melkites began to retire and moving to
Sun Belt
The Sun Belt is a region of the United States generally considered to stretch across the Southeast and Southwest. Another rough definition of the region is the area south of the 36th parallel. Several climates can be found in the region — des ...
states. These two phenomena help account for the growth of new Melkite missions and "outreaches." In some well established Melkite parishes new waves of immigrants saw a resurgence in Arabic, over English, as the primary liturgical language.
Structure
![Annunciation-Cathedral-exterior](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9a/Annunciation-Cathedral-exterior.png)
The
seat
A seat is a place to sit. The term may encompass additional features, such as back, armrest, head restraint but also headquarters in a wider sense.
Types of seat
The following are examples of different kinds of seat:
* Armchair (furniture), ...
of the Eparchy is
Our Lady of the Annunciation Cathedral in the
West Roxbury
West Roxbury is a neighborhood in Boston, Massachusetts bordered by Roslindale and Jamaica Plain to the northeast, the town of Brookline to the north, the cities and towns of Newton and Needham to the northwest and the town of Dedham to the ...
section of
Boston
Boston (), officially the City of Boston, is the state capital and most populous city of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, as well as the cultural and financial center of the New England region of the United States. It is the 24th- mo ...
. The main offices of the eparchial curia (e.g,
protosyncellus
A protosyncellus or protosynkellos ( el, πρωτοσύγκελλος) is the principal deputy of the bishop of an eparchy for the exercise of administrative authority in an Eastern Orthodox or Eastern Catholic church. The equivalent position in t ...
,
chancellor
Chancellor ( la, cancellarius) is a title of various official positions in the governments of many nations. The original chancellors were the of Roman courts of justice—ushers, who sat at the or lattice work screens of a basilica or law cou ...
) are located adjacent to the cathedral.
The Eparchy is named for the Boston suburb of Newton, where its offices and the bishop's residence had been located until Bishop John Elya sold to private developers two of the three major eparchial properties in the Boston area. In 2015,
Pope Francis
Pope Francis ( la, Franciscus; it, Francesco; es, link=, Francisco; born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, 17 December 1936) is the head of the Catholic Church. He has been the bishop of Rome and sovereign of the Vatican City State since 13 March 2013. ...
designated Saint Anne Church in
Los Angeles
Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the largest city in the state of California and the second most populous city in the United States after New York City, as well as one of the world' ...
as a
co-cathedral. It is often home to Bishop Samra for several months of the year as he visits the Melkite churches in the western portion of the United States.
The eparchy has jurisdiction over all the Melkite faithful in the United States, and there are parishes, missions, "outreaches," and the like, in twenty-one states, none outside of the continental U.S. Most Melkite communities are concentrated in a handful of states or geographic regions (e.g., California, New England, Michigan, Ohio, Greater New York City metropolis). While the eparchy lists the number of parishes as 43, the additional missions and "outreaches" bring the total of Melkite communities in the U.S. to almost 50, each varying in size and level of vitality.
According to a research study published in ''Sociology of Religion'', there were approximately 120,000 Melkites residing in the country in 1986, although only about 24,000 were formally enrolled in Melkite parishes.
In 2013 there were 24,000 Melkite Catholics in 43 parishes. The
United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) is the episcopal conference of the Catholic Church in the United States. Founded in 1966 as the joint National Conference of Catholic Bishops (NCCB) and United States Catholic Conference (US ...
reports that, as of 2018, there were 21,691 registered Melkites in the U.S., ranking it among the smallest 25% of Eastern Catholic groups.
As of August 29, 2022, Bishop Nicholas Samra stated that there are about 36,000 registered Melkites with over 100,000 more of whom we do not know. The number of active Melkites is considered to be significantly lower, as it the case with most other religious groups, especially highly-ethnic denominations. The discrepancy between a large number of canonical Melkites in the U.S. and the relatively small number of Melkite parishes, as well as decreasing numbers of attendees in many of those parishes, suggest to some that Melkites are assimilating into other denominations or, perhaps, not affiliating at all. In fact, anecdotal evidence suggests that many Melkites whose first language is English become members of their local
Roman Catholic
Roman or Romans most often refers to:
*Rome, the capital city of Italy
*Ancient Rome, Roman civilization from 8th century BC to 5th century AD
*Roman people, the people of ancient Rome
*'' Epistle to the Romans'', shortened to ''Romans'', a lette ...
parish. Some Lebanese and Lebanese-American Melkites have migrated to the
Maronites
The Maronites ( ar, الموارنة; syr, ܡܖ̈ܘܢܝܐ) are a Christian ethnoreligious group native to the Eastern Mediterranean and Levant region of the Middle East, whose members traditionally belong to the Maronite Church, with the largest ...
. Other Melkites whose first language is Arabic migrate to
Greek Orthodox
The term Greek Orthodox Church (Greek language, Greek: Ἑλληνορθόδοξη Ἐκκλησία, ''Ellinorthódoxi Ekklisía'', ) has two meanings. The broader meaning designates "the Eastern Orthodox Church, entire body of Orthodox (Chalced ...
and
Antiochian
Antioch on the Orontes (; grc-gre, Ἀντιόχεια ἡ ἐπὶ Ὀρόντου, ''Antiókheia hē epì Oróntou'', Koine Greek phonology#Learned pronunciation, 4th century BC until early Roman period, Learned ; also Syrian Antioch) grc-koi ...
churches. A few others, especially in larger metropolitan areas such as Los Angeles, assimilate into Arabic-speaking
Mainline Protestant
The mainline Protestant churches (also called mainstream Protestant and sometimes oldline Protestant) are a group of Protestant denominations in the United States that contrast in history and practice with evangelical, fundamentalist, and charis ...
or
Evangelical
Evangelicalism (), also called evangelical Christianity or evangelical Protestantism, is a worldwide Interdenominationalism, interdenominational movement within Protestantism, Protestant Christianity that affirms the centrality of being "bor ...
denominations. Many, especially younger, Melkites are
"Nones".
Seminary programs
In 1975, Archbishop Tawil founded a seminary program for the eparchy, after the
Basilian Salvatorian Fathers -- a religious order separate from the eparchy with a superior of their own and who had originally been charged with the formation of Melkite eparchial clergy -- closed their program in
Methuen, Massachusetts
Methuen () is a 23 square mile (60 km2) city in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 53,059 at the 2020 census. Methuen lies along the northwestern edge of Essex County, just east of Middlesex County and just south of ...
. Salvatorian students subsequently enrolled at
Weston School of Theology
The Boston College School of Theology and Ministry (STM) is a Society of Jesus, Jesuit school of graduate theology at Boston College. It is an Ecclesiastical university, ecclesiastical faculty of theology that trains men and women, both lay and re ...
, then in
Cambridge, Massachusetts
Cambridge ( ) is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. As part of the Boston metropolitan area, the cities population of the 2020 U.S. census was 118,403, making it the fourth most populous city in the state, behind Boston, ...
. Eparchial students matriculated at
Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology
Sacred describes something that is dedicated or set apart for the service or worship of a deity; is considered worthy of spiritual respect or devotion; or inspires awe or reverence among believers. The property is often ascribed to objects (a ...
in
Brookline, Massachusetts
Brookline is a town in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, Norfolk County, Massachusetts, in the United States, and part of the Greater Boston, Boston metropolitan area. Brookline borders six of Boston's neighborhoods: Brighton, Boston, Brighton, A ...
and received supplemental instruction from eparchial clergy. Both Weston and Holy Cross were members of the
Boston Theological Institute
The Boston Theological Interreligious Consortium (BTI), originally the Boston Theological Institute, is the largest theological consortium in the world, bringing together the resources of theological schools and seminaries throughout the greater ...
, as it was known then.
In 1976, the eparchy purchased a house in
Newton Centre, Massachusetts
Newton Centre is one of the thirteen villages within the city of Newton in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. The main commercial center of Newton Centre is a triangular area surrounding the intersections of Beacon Street, Centre St ...
as a residence and house of studies for its seminarians, and named it
St. Gregory Seminary. Eventually, Bishop John Elya sold the complex—along with the former chancery offices and bishop's residence in
West Newton—to a private developer, at which time the chancery and bishop's residence relocated to an area adjacent to the cathedral.
Following ancient Christian tradition the eparchy counts among its clergy both celibate and married priests and deacons.
Most celibate eparchial clergy study at the
Byzantine Catholic Seminary of SS. Cyril and Methodius in
Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh ( ) is a city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, United States, and the county seat of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, Allegheny County. It is the most populous city in both Allegheny County and Wester ...
. Most of the married clergy study at various other Catholic schools of theology prior to their presbyteral ordinations.
Other Offices and Functions
The vocation office is co-located with the Melkite mission in
San Antonio, Texas
("Cradle of Freedom")
, image_map =
, mapsize = 220px
, map_caption = Interactive map of San Antonio
, subdivision_type = Country
, subdivision_name = United States
, subdivision_type1= State
, subdivision_name1 = Texas
, subdivision_t ...
The
Judicial vicar
In the Roman Catholic Church, a judicial vicar or episcopal official ( la, links=no, officialis) is an officer of the diocese who has ordinary power to judge cases in the diocesan ecclesiastical court. Although the diocesan bishop can reserv ...
/
Tribunal
A tribunal, generally, is any person or institution with authority to judge, adjudicate on, or determine claims or disputes—whether or not it is called a tribunal in its title.
For example, an advocate who appears before a court with a single ...
is co-located with
St. Ignatios Church in
Augusta, Georgia
Augusta ( ), officially Augusta–Richmond County, is a consolidated city-county on the central eastern border of the U.S. state of Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia. The city lies across the Savannah River from South Carolina at the head of its navig ...
.
The
Economos is co-located with
St. Ann Church in
Woodland Park, New Jersey
Woodland Park (formerly West Paterson) is a Borough (New Jersey), borough in Passaic County, New Jersey, Passaic County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2020 United States Census, the borough's population was 13,484.
What is now Woodland P ...
.
Office of Educational Services provides "catechetical materials and training programs for the parishes of the eparchy." It is, in essence, run from the Melkite community in
Sacramento, California
)
, image_map = Sacramento County California Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Sacramento Highlighted.svg
, mapsize = 250x200px
, map_caption = Location within Sacramento C ...
.
Sophia Press publishes liturgical and prayer books, as well as biographies, histories, and other texts of Melkite interest.
OES Publications publishes booklets for sacramental preparation and spiritual development.
''Sophia'' is the quarterly magazine of the eparchy.
The office of the eparchial Victim Assistance Coordinator (VAC) is expected to be established in 2022.
There is a periodic national convention generally hosted by a Melkite parish, the last one held in July 2022 in Rancho Mirage, CA, the first hosted by no parish. Other eparchial groups (e.g., NAMY, see below) often hold national gatherings shortly before the national convention. There is also an annual clergy conference, the last two cancelled during the COVID pandemic.
Lay organizations
Bishop Ignatius Ghattas founded the
Order of Saint Nicholas in 1991, a regional lay order attached to the Melkite Greek Catholic Eparchy of Newton. This program is a revitalization during Bishop Samra's tenure.
Melkite Ambassadors is an organization for those in their mid-20s to aged 40. It is for those "who want to participate in advocacy, catechesis mentorship, community life, community service, leadership development, and prayer."
Melkite Association of Young Adults (MAYA) is social and spiritual group for those who are aged 18 and at least one year out of high school to their mid-20s. This group is active at the local parish level and nationally when conventions are held.
National Association of Melkite Women (NAMW) is open to any female aged 17 and older. This group supports Melkite seminarians and vocations.
National Association of Melkite Youth (NAMY) is a "religious, social, educational, humanitarian" group for Melkite youth aged 13 to 18.
Society of Publicans is a fellowship of Melkite faithful united in daily prayer.
Bishops
Ordinaries
# Bishop
Justin Abraham Najmy
Justin Najmy (1898 - 1968) was the first bishop for the United States in the Melkite Greek Catholic Church. Appointed exarch for the newly created Melkite diocese in the United States, Bishop Najmy served for two years before his death at age 70.
...
(January 27, 1966–June 11, 1968); Exarch
# Archbishop
Joseph Tawil
Archbishop Joseph Tawil (December 25, 1913 – February 17, 1999) was the Melkite Greek Catholic eparch for the United States, teacher and theologian. He is remembered for his participation in the Second Vatican Council, expanding the Melkite Ch ...
(October 30, 1969–December 2, 1989); Exarch until June 1976; then Eparch
# Bishop
Ignatius Ghattas (February 23, 1990–October 11, 1992)
# Bishop
John Elya
John Adel Elya (16 September 1928 – 19 July 2019) was a bishop of the Melkite Greek Catholic Church. From 1993 to 2004, he served as Eparch of Newton, with jurisdiction over Melkite churches in the United States.
Biography
Elya, a native of ...
(November 25, 1993–June 22, 2004)
# Archbishop
Cyril Salim Bustros
Cyril Salim Bustros (born January 26, 1939) is the archbishop of the Melkite Greek Catholic Archeparchy of Beirut and Byblos and a former Professor at Saint Joseph University in Beirut. A native of Lebanon, he formerly served as archbishop of B ...
(June 22, 2004–June 15, 2011)
# Bishop
Nicholas James Samra (appointed Auxiliary Bishop April 21, 1989; retired 2005; appointed Eparch June 15, 2011 - October 19, 2022)
# Bishop
Francois Beyrouti
François Beyrouti (born July 3, 1971) is a Lebanon, Lebanese-born bishop of the Melkite Greek Catholic Church and serves as eparch for the Melkite Greek Catholic Eparchy of Newton, Eparchy of Newton.
Biography Early life
Beyrouti was born on ...
(October 19, 2022 - present; elected June 23, 2022, by the Melkite Synod and announced August 20, 2022 Patriarch
Joseph Absi
Youssef Absi ''Società dei Missionari di San Paolo'' – Missionary Society of St. Paul (Melkite Greek); se ( ar, يوسف عبسي ; la, Iosephus Absi; born June 20, 1946, in Damascus, Syria) is the current patriarch of the Melkite Greek Ca ...
).; episcopal consecration 12 October 2022, St Anne Melkite Greek-Catholic Co-Cathedral North Hollywood, LA)
Bishop Najmy through Archbishop Bustros all hailed from the
Middle East
The Middle East ( ar, الشرق الأوسط, ISO 233: ) is a geopolitical region commonly encompassing Arabian Peninsula, Arabia (including the Arabian Peninsula and Bahrain), Anatolia, Asia Minor (Asian part of Turkey except Hatay Pro ...
, with Bishop Samra being the only American-born bishop. Bishop Beyrouti was born in Lebanon but raised in Canada.
Clergy Serving in the Episcopacy on Special Assignment Outside the Diocese
*
Giorgio Demetrio Gallaro, appointed Bishop of Piana degli Albanesi (Italo-Albanese), Italy in 2015. He was appointed secretary of the
Congregation for the Oriental Churches
The Dicastery for the Eastern Churches (also called Dicastery for the Oriental Churches), previously named Congregation for the Oriental Churches or Congregation for the Eastern Churches ( la, Congregatio pro Ecclesiis Orientalibus), is a dicaste ...
by Pope Francis on 25 February 2020 and given the personal title of
archbishop
In Christian denominations, an archbishop is a bishop of higher rank or office. In most cases, such as the Catholic Church, there are many archbishops who either have jurisdiction over an ecclesiastical province in addition to their own archdi ...
.
Other notable priests
*Rev.
Emmanuel Charles McCarthy,
Child's Close Call Aided Nun's Way To Sainthood by LAURIE GOODSTEIN Published in The New York Times of October 11, 1998
/ref> Advocate for peace and non-violence. He was ordained by the Melkite patriarch in Damascus since, at the time of his ordination, it was uncustomary to ordain married Melkite clergy outside of the patriarchal lands. He is not a priest of the Eparchy of Newton but simply resides within it.
Parish locator
Religious orders
There is a community of the Basilian Salvatorian Order
, abbreviation = BS
, nickname = Salvatorian Fathers
, formation =
, founder = Archbishop Euthymios Michael Saifi
, founding_location = Saida, Lebanon
, type = Monastic order of pontifical rig ...
in Methuen, Massachusetts
Methuen () is a 23 square mile (60 km2) city in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 53,059 at the 2020 census. Methuen lies along the northwestern edge of Essex County, just east of Middlesex County and just south of ...
, with their own regional superior for the U.S. and Canada
Canada is a country in North America. Its ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, covering over , making it the world's second-largest country by tot ...
. There are currently several Basilian clergy serving in parishes of the eparchy. A community of religious sisters, the ''Community of the Mother of God of Tenderness'', is based in Danbury, Connecticut.
See also
* List of the Catholic bishops of the United States#Other Eastern Catholic bishops
Notes
External links
*
Annunciation Melkite Catholic Cathedral
Official site of the Melkite Greek Catholic Patriarchate of Antioch
Description of the eparchy in gcatholic.org
Sample of Melkite Chant in English, Arabic, and Greek
{{Coord, 42, 17, 51.03, N, 71, 08, 03.7, W, display=title
Melkite Greek Catholic eparchies
Eastern Catholicism in the United States
Eastern Catholicism in Massachusetts
Melkite Greek Catholic Church in the United States
Middle Eastern-American culture in Massachusetts
Newton
Newton most commonly refers to:
* Isaac Newton (1642–1726/1727), English scientist
* Newton (unit), SI unit of force named after Isaac Newton
Newton may also refer to:
Arts and entertainment
* ''Newton'' (film), a 2017 Indian film
* Newton ( ...
Newton
Newton most commonly refers to:
* Isaac Newton (1642–1726/1727), English scientist
* Newton (unit), SI unit of force named after Isaac Newton
Newton may also refer to:
Arts and entertainment
* ''Newton'' (film), a 2017 Indian film
* Newton ( ...
Religious organizations based in Boston
Newton
Newton most commonly refers to:
* Isaac Newton (1642–1726/1727), English scientist
* Newton (unit), SI unit of force named after Isaac Newton
Newton may also refer to:
Arts and entertainment
* ''Newton'' (film), a 2017 Indian film
* Newton ( ...
1966 establishments in the United States