Greek Catholic Patriarchate

In 1724, the Antioch Patriarchate split into two parts: Melkite Greek Catholic and Greek Orthodox. The Orthodox part renounced the title “Melkite”, while the catholic part kept it. A movement of unity with the Holy See spread in all the Arab countries, especially in Lebanon and Syria. This movement extended to the north of Palestine, especially in the Galilee.

The Catholic part had to live underground, and to suffer from oppression due to its communion of faith with Rome. In the Turkish era, the Greek Catholic followed the Greek Patriarch of Constantinople. However, the Ottoman Sublime Porte did not recognize them as an independent legitimate body (the right of jurisdiction).

With the increasing number of the Greek Catholic, they became in 1772 under the authority of the Patriarch of Antioch, who also carried the title “Patriarch of Alexandria". Therefore, the Greek Catholic Patriarch became the Patriarch of Antioch, Jerusalem, Alexandria and the entire east.

When talking about the Greek Catholic Church in the Holy Land, we should never forget to mention the Basilian Salvatorian order and the monks and priests of the Savior’s Abbey, who have been working for 300 years. The number of faithful fathers who served the Holy Land in Jerusalem has reached 141 priests including patriarchs and bishops. Palestine has granted “the Salvatorian Congregation” 96 priests.

The Parish of Beit Sahour

The Greek Catholic Parish in Beit Sahour was established in 1891 in the time of the Patriarchal vicar in Jerusalem, Archbishop Fillip Malouk. Some Beit Sahourian families joined the Catholic Church, and the Patriarchate exerted efforts to build a church for them. St Michael Church was built in 1895, and father Khalil Abu Sada was the first priest to serve the Parish and the people of Beit Sahour. He was followed by father Elias Sida, and father Bulos Antaki (now the Patriarchal Vicar in Alexandria).

The Parish increased in number, and begot its devoted son the Patriarchal Vicar, the late Archbishop Jubrael Abu Sada. He worked hard to serve his people and his town Beit Sahour. In 1955 he built the current church known as “Church of Shepherds’ Lady”. He also helped in building schools and clinics in all over the patriarchate. In Beit Sahour, a seminary (Seminary of Shepherds’ Lady) was built in 1958, and in 1965 Archbishop Jubrael Abu Sada laid the cornerstone of the Greek Catholic School. Archbishop Elarion Kaputchi continued its building.

With this prosperity in Beit Sahour, Archbishop Jubrael Abu Sada asked for the assistance of Basilian Salvatorian Order to help him in taking care of people and institutions of Beit Sahour. The attention and regard of Basilian Salvatorian Order played a great role in the development and progress of the Christian community.

The faithful fathers who served the congregation are:

Father Bulos Shu’aib, father Yusef Dagher, father Adeeb Badawi, father Bulos Samaha, father Butros Haddad, father Hoseph Lajeen, father Joseph Saghbini, father Matanius Haddad (now the Patriarchal Vicar), father Julio Brunella, father Joseph Wakim, father Tony Abu Arraj, father Yuhanna Nakhoul.
Currently, Father Fares Khuleifat supervises the Parish, and father Sami Hayek is the headmaster of the School.

In 1989, the Patriarchal Vicar Archbishop Lutfi Lahham (now his Beatitude Patriarch Grigorius Lahham) built the Salvatorian Seminary in order to receive the vocarions for priesthood from Palestine, Jordan and Israel to raise them spiritually and educationally. This Seminary is now under the supervision of father Nu’man Kazahia.

Other pastoral activities in Beit Sahour are: the Housing project of the Greek Catholic for young couples and the Choir of the Shepherds’ Lady. The fathers who served this congregation had a prominent role in establishing and improving this choir.

Scouts and the Youth
The Scouts group was established in 1995 with the endeavor and benediction of Archbishop Lutfi Lahham. This group has had an active role in the national and religious occasions. In 2004 the “Christian Youth” was renewed and renamed “Greek Catholic Youth”. In a short period of time the “Youth” grew and developed to be one of the most active Youths in the region.

Moreover, other human and social activities are taking place in the congregation, like developing prayers and hymns, renovating and decorating the churches of St. Michael and the Shepherds’ Lady.

Finally, we recognize with deep gratitude what the Catholic Patriarchate did in supporting the projects in Beit Sahour. The parish grew up thanks to their excellencies: Mons Ilarion Kaputchi, Mons Lutfi Lahham, and now Archpriest Matanios Haddad. We also recognize the work done by the Basilian Salvatorian Order and its priests, all the members of the parish, both in Beit Sahour and abroad, and all the benefactors to this parish.

Pastor
Fr. Fares Khleifat