troubles of Syria in 1860, many of these Sharḳiyīn came back to the Church. By 1865 nearly all were converted. They kept the feast of Candlemas in union with the Melkites, on the Gregorian date, and the chief trouble was over. Only Ǵibarra himself with very few followers kept a schismatical chapel at Beirut. I believe that the whole schism is now ended. But meanwhile Clement, worn out with this trouble, resigned his see in October, 1864, and went back to his monastery, St Saviour.[1]
He was succeeded by Gregory Yūsuf[2] (1864-1897). Gregory had been a student of the Jesuit college at Ǵazīr, then of the Greek College at Rome. He was a Salvatorian monk, and Bishop of Acre. He was elected by the bishops of the Patriarchate at Shuwair, and confirmed by Pius IX in 1864. He founded the Patriarchal school at Beirut; in his time the French "White Fathers" opened their admirable College of St Anne at Jerusalem for the education of the Melkite clergy.[3] At the Vatican Council Gregory was an Inopportunist. He died on July 13, 1897. Then came Peter IV, whose family name was Ǵiraiǵīrī (1897-1902). He was born at Zaḥleh in 1841, and had studied for four years at the seminary of Blois, to learn French. He was ordained priest in 1862; in 1886 he was made Bishop of Bānīās (Paneas), which is Cæsarea Philippi. He was the first bishop of this see since before the time of Cyril VI.
When the bishops met at the monastery of St Saviour to elect a Patriarch, the Turkish Government declared that it would not allow the presence of any foreigner at the election. But it was the rule that the Apostolic Delegate should be present. The French Ambassador protested, and the Government gave way. Peter IV intended to summon a Melkite synod, and went to Rome to make arrangements for this in 1899. The synod was never held; they still wait for it, and many demand it. At one time Orthodox papers spread the rumour that Peter had tendencies away from Rome and towards their Church. This was, of course, indignantly denied. When Peter died the bishops elected Cyril Ǵiḥā, Metropolitan of Aleppo, who became Cyril VIII (1902-1919).
- ↑ Clement Bahūth died, leaving the reputation of a saint.
- ↑ He is often called "Gregory Joseph." But I believe that Yūsuf, or Ibnu-Yūsuf was his family name. There was a Gregory of Antioch in 579-584; so Yūsuf would be Gregory II. However, I have never seen him so called. I have seen "Grégoire-Joseph I."
- ↑ This was the beginning of systematic formation of secular clergy for the Patriarchate. Formerly nearly all parishes were served by monks. For the College of St Anne, see p. 229.
