The Melkite Greek Catholic Church is an Eastern Church of the Byzantine rite. The word “Melkite” comes from the Syriac word “malko,” which means “emperor.” First used in A.D. 451, this name was given by the Monophysites to Christians who had remained loyal to Byzantium (Constantinople) and Rome after the Council of Chalcedon.
In 1054, the schism between Rome and Constantinople occurred. An attempt at reunification took place at the Ecumenical Council of Florence in 1439. It failed, and two factions emerged: one supporting Constantinople and the other supporting Rome. In 1724, upon the death of Patriarch Athanasios III Dabbas, a dual line of patriarchs was established: one Orthodox, loyal to the Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch, and the other Catholic, recognized by Rome in 1729.
The head of the Melkite Catholic Church, His Beatitude Youssef Absi, holds the title of Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, of Alexandria, and of Jerusalem. He resides in Damascus and leads a congregation of approximately two million, including the diaspora.
His Beatitude John X of Antioch is the Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch. There are three other Orthodox patriarchates in the East: Alexandria, Constantinople, and Jerusalem, with a combined total of nearly 14 million faithful.
