On March 15, 2011, Jbeil archbishop Bechara Al Rai was elected Patriarch of the Maronites in succession to the resigning Mar Nasrallah Boutros Sfeir, thus becoming the 77th Maronite Patriarch. 76 preceded him since the first Patriarch Mar Youhanna Maroun. Most of those patriarchs made an impact on their confession, nation and region. Herein follows a briefing on each.

1. St. Youhanna Maroun (St. John Maron) was the first Maronite Patriarch. Some say that he was elected in 702 and died in 710. During his mandate, Maronites moved from Syria to Lebanon and made Kfarhi the Patriarchal Seat until 938 when it moved to Yanouh. Patriarch Doueihi objects to that and specified that the former was not the first patriarch, but the 63rd. However, he never proved that. The Patriarch was elected during a gathering of the people, the bishops and the senators and this is what made him the political, religious, and military leader of the Maronites.

2. Qorsh (Cyrrhus) is the nephew of the previous patriarch. He was elected in 710 and died in 725. He was succeeded by many patriarchs whose names are mentioned without any further information. Based on books that were written on that mysterious era, it was mentioned that most of these patriarchs disappeared in the wilderness due to the persecutions they were subjected to and moved from one cave to another. 

3. Gebrayel (Gabriel)

4. Youhanna Maroun II (John Maron II)

5. Youhanna Al Demelsi (John of Demalsa, named after Demalsa in Jbeil)

6. Gregorius I

7. Stephanos

8. Marcus (Marc)

9 .Eusebius

10. Youhanna IV (the Council of Constantinople was held during his mandate in 869)

11. Yeshua I (Joshua I)

12. Daoud (David)

13. Gregorius II

14. Tawafelix (Theophilactus)

15. Yeshua II Joshua II

16. Domitos (Domitius)

17. Ishaac (Isaac)

18. Youhanna V (John V)

19. Semaan (Simeon)

20. Ermea I (Jeremiah I)

21. Youhanna VI (John VI)

22. Shamoun I (Chamoun I)

23. Shamoun II (Chamoun II)

As it appears from the above, the information on the first 23 patriarchs is imprecise at times or unavailable.

24. Youssef Al-Jirjisi (Joseph Al Jirjisi) was patriarch in 1100 and the first Crusades took place during his mandate. He died in 1120 and was buried in Sayyidat Yanouh monastery. In his time, metal bells replaced wooden bells.  

25. Boutros I (Peter I, 1120 – 1130). The Patriarchal Seat was transferred to Maifouq during his mandate.

26. Gregorius Al Halati (1130 – 1141) was from Halat. During his mandate, some of the Maronite Zua’ama (from the coast and with them were bishops and the Patriarch) swore to obey the Pope. The mountain inhabitants were against the Crusaders and Rome.

27. Yacoub Al-Ramati (Jacob of Ramate, 1141 – 1151) was from Ramat near Kfeefan in Batroun. He added the name Boutros (Peter) to his own as a way to show his sincerity and that of his people to Pope St. Boutros. The rest of the patriarchs followed in his footsteps. He died in 1151 and was buried in Maifouq monastery. The Bible was translated to Arabic by Pastor Abdallah Abou Faraj who was known by the name Ibn El-Tayeb during his mandate.

28. Youhanna Al-Lahfadi (John of Lehfed, 1151 – 1154). He moved the Patriarchal Seat to his town Lahfad in Jbeil.

29.  Boutros II (Peter II): 1154

30. Boutros VI (Peter VI)

31. Boutros IV (Peter IV)

32. Boutros (Peter): … - 1173

33. Boutros Al-Lahfadi (Peter of Lehfed, 1173 – 1199, from Lahfad in Jbeil)

Once again, information is unavailable on patriarchs 29, 30, 31, 32, 33.

34. Ermea Al-Amchiti (Jeremiah of Amchit, 1199 - 1230) was from Amchit in Jbeil. He was the first patriarch to travel to Rome in 1215 following an invitation from Pope Inocentius or Zakhia III (Pope Innocent III, 1198 – 1216) to attend a meeting that decided to lead another Crusade to retrieve the Holy Lands and during which he was informed about the assistance he could offer to this campaign. During his presence in Rome and while he was leading a mass in the presence of the Pope, a miracle occurred: while lifting the Eucharist, he knelt down and the Eucharist stayed still above his head. At the end of his mandate, he moved the Patriarchal Seat to Yanouh and responded to an invitation to follow Rome. 

35. Daniel Al-Shamati (Daniel of Shamat, 1230 – 1239) was from Shamat in Jbeil. He moved the Patriarchal Seat to several places, including Kfeefan in Kfarhi, due to internal strife.

36. Youhanna Al-Jaji (John of Jaj, 1239 – 1245, from Jaj in Jbeil)

37. Shamoun or Semaan II (Chamoun II, 1245 – 1277). Pope Iskandar IV (Alexander IV) sent him a letter asking him to take care of the defeated Crusaders and to include them in his parish so that they would not live without a patriarch.

38. Daniel Hadchiti (Daniel of Hadchit, 1278 – 1282) was from from Hadchit. During his mandate in 1282, the Egyptian Mamluks advanced to Jebbeh and the Maronites managed to stop their advance under his leadership. However, the Mamluks managed to capture the Patriarch and execute him following a conspiracy by one of the Maronite Zua’ama known by the name Ibn Sabha, who later regretted his betrayal and built Sayyedat Houqa monastery in Wadi Qadisha.

39. Ermea Al Demelsi (Jeremiah of Demalsa, 1282 – 1297) was from Demalsa in the Qada’a of Jbeil. He took Halat as a base for him, visited Rome in 1282 and was honored by Pope Honorius IV. This patriarch offered his obedience to Rome, while Patriarch Luca Al Banharani objected to Rome and the Crusades and made Hadath the Patriarchal Seat. However, the Maronites and the Pope did not recognize the latter.

40. Semaan or Shamoun III (Simeon or Chamoun III, 1297 – 1339). During his mandate, the country was controlled by the Mamluks that supported the Jacobins. The Maronites were killed and persecuted because the Crusaders failed to rescue them.

41. Youhanna Al-Akouri (John of Akoura, 1339 – 1357 from Akoura). He followed the Jacobins (after Bishop Yacoub Al-Barda’i split from the church following the Council of Nicaea) which caused a split between the Maronites. The Maronites of Jbeil and Batroun held on to the basic principles of the Maronite Church while the Maronites of Bcharri followed the Patriarch. Bloody conflicts occurred between them, which eventually ended with the dismissal of the Patriarch.

42. Gebrayel Hjouli (Gabriel of Hjoula, 1357 – 1367, from Hjoula). He was burnt by the Mamluks in Trablous in 1367.

43. Youhanna Daoud Al-Jaji (John or David of Jaj, 1367 – 1404). He transferred the Patriarchal Seat to Hardin and then to Maifouq.

44. Youhanna Al-Jaji III (John of Jaj III, 1404 – 1445, from Jaj in Jbeil). He assigned his representative in Rome to approve the unification of the Eastern and Western Churches. The Pope sent him gifts in 1439 through a messenger, which was the first event of its kind and had a considerable impact on the Maronites. This move angered the prince of Trablous. In 1440, he moved from Maifouq to Sayyidat Qanoubeen monastery in Wadi Qadisha, which remained the Patriarchal Seat until 1845. The patriarch was buried in the St. Marina grotto in Wadi Qanoubeen, which later became a cemetery for the patriarchs where 17 of them were buried.

45. Yacoub II Al-Hadathi (Jacob II of Hadath, 1445 – 1458)

46. Youssef Al-Hadathi (Joseph of Hadath, 1458 – 1492) was known by the name Ibn Hassaan. He was the first to be named Patriarch of Antioch instead of Patriarch of the Maronites.

47. Semaan IV Al-Hadathi (Simeon of Hadath, 1492 – 1524) was the nephew of the previous patriarch. Pope Leo X requested a statement from him regarding his Maronite beliefs before confirming him as patriarch, following which the former responded praising the Maronites comparing them to flowers among the thorns. During his mandate in 1515, Sultan Salim Othmani opened Syria and relieved him of the obligations he had set on the patriarchs. In the same year, 23 years after being elected, he received his confirmation from the Pope.

48. Mousa Al-Akari (Moses of Akar, 1524 – 1567)

49. Mikhael Al Rezi (Michael Al Rezi, 1567 – 1581). During his mandate, the Pope ordered the establishment of a religious school in Rome for the Maronites.

50. Sarkis Al Rezi (1581 – 1597, Michael’s brother). During his mandate, Prince Fakhreddine Al-Maani the Great appeared.

51. Youssef Al Rezi (Joseph Al Rezi, 1597 – 1608) was the nephew of the previous patriarch. The Pope asked him to follow the Gregorian calculation of the West, which made the Maronites celebrate the Apostle’s holiday with the Crusaders (10 days prior to the other eastern confessions).

52. Youhanna Makhlouf Al-Ahdani (John Makhlouf of Ehden, 1608 – 1633, from Ehden). He opened a school in Houqa as a preparatory school to the one in Rome. He had a considerable impact on Prince Fakhreddine and their relationship strengthened with time. It is said that he died of grief due to the arrest and exile of the prince. According to historians, the reign of Prince Fakhreddine was considered the golden era of the Maronites. Patriarchs, monks and the people received full protection and care from him in addition to high ranking positions.

53. Gerges Omeira Al-Ahdani (Georges Omeira of Ehden, 1633 – 1644, from Ehden). He was among the first Maronite students to attend the Maronite school in Rome. He played an active role in making Sultan Al-Othmani recognize the mandate of Prince Melhem Bin Younes, prince Fakhreddine’s nephew.

54. Youssef Halib Al-Akouri (Joseph Halib of Akoura, 1644 – 1648, from Akoura). He played a role in lobbying the Syriac confession to the Catholic confession.

55. Youhanna Al Bawab Al-Safrawi (John Al Bawab of Safra, from Safra, Ftouh-Keserouane). He was elected on November 13, 1648, and was confirmed by Pope Inocentius X (Innocent X) in 1649. That same year, he received a letter from the King of France, Louis XIV, vowing to protect the Maronites in Lebanon. He sought to publish Maronite religious books. He died on December 23, 1656.

56. Gerges Sabaali (Georges of Sabaal, from Sabaal). He was elected at the beginning of 1657 and was confirmed by Pope Iskandar VII (Alexander VII) in 1659 and he spoke several languages. He died in 1670 and was buried in Mar Shalita monastery.

57. Istiphan Al Doueihi (Estephan Al Doueihi of Hasroun, from Hasroun). He was famous for being one of the smartest in the Maronite school in Rome and of the most important historians. He was elected on May 5, 1670, and was confirmed by Pope Eclemendos X (Clement X) on August 8, 1672. He died on May 3, 1704, and left behind numerous books, the most important of which is “Tareekh Al-Azmina” or History of the Times.

58. Gebrayel Al Balouzani (Gabriel of Balouza, from Balouza in the Qada’a of Bcharri). His mandate was very short merely lasting  a year (1704 – 1705).

59. Yacoub Awad (Jacob Awad) was elected in November 1705 and confirmed by Pope Eclemendos XI (Clement XI). He was isolated and imprisoned in the Louiza monastery. However, the Pope ordered he be returned to his position, in which he remained until his death on February 9, 1733.

60. Youssef Dergham Al Khazen (Joseph Dergham Al Khazen) was elected on February 24, 1733, and confirmed by Pope Eclemendos XII (Clement XII). During his mandate in 1736, the Lebanese Council was held in the Sayyidat Louiza monastery in the presence of Apostolic Nuncio (Ambassador) Youssef Semaan, during which the rules of the Maronite confession were adopted. He died on May 13, 1742.

61. Semaan Awad (Simeon Awad) was elected on May 13, 1742, but he rejected the position. The bishops met and were divided in the election. One group elected Bishop Toubia Al-Khazen (Tobias Al Khazen) and another elected Bishop Elias Qastawi. The Pope Benedictos XIV (Benedict XIV) rejected the result and insisted on the first election of Semaan who died on February 12, 1756, and was buried in the Mashmousha monastery.

62. Toubia Al-Khazen (1756 – 1766)

63. Youssef Istiphan (Joseph Estephan) was elected on June 9, 1766, and was one of the students of the Maronite school in Rome. Pope Eclemendos XIII (Clement XIII) confirmed him on April 6, 1767. During his mandate, the story of nun Hanna, known as Hindiya, emerged. She established an order in Bkirki and the Patriarch was accused of supporting her. The Pope asked him to leave the Patriarchy and travel to Rome but he was too sick to do so. The Pope returned him to his position when he confirmed his obedience to him. In 1789, he established Ain Waraqa school. He died on April 22, 1793.

64. Mikhael Fadel (Michael Fadel, 1793 – 1795)

65. Philippus Gemayyel (1795 – 1796)

66. Youssef Al Tayyan (Joseph Al Tayyan) was also a student of the Maronite school in Rome. He played a role in resolving Patriarch Youssef Istiphan’s row with the Pope. He was elected patriarch on May 16, 1796, and was confirmed by the Pope on July 24, 1797. In 1809, he resigned due to disagreements with Prince Bachir Al Chehabi II who cooperated with the Apostolic Nuncio, his friend Louis Ghandolfi, to get rid of the patriarch and force him to resign. The Pope accepted the resignation despite a memorandum that the archbishops had presented to refuse the resignation. He isolated himself in the Qanoubeen monastery until his death on February 20, 1820, and was buried in the Archbishop’s cemetery in the monastery.

67. Youhanna Al Helou (John Helou) was elected on June 8, 1809, and confirmed by the Pope on December 16, 1809. He died on May 12, 1823.

68. Youssef Hobeich (Joseph Hobeich from Sahel Aalma) was elected on May 25, 1823. During his mandate, the Bkirki monastery was turned into the Patriarchal Seat for the winter and Diman for the summer. During his mandate, Egypt occupied Lebanon. He objected this occupation and refused the conscription imposed by the Egyptians. He also objected to the Othmani Sultanate and was close to France. The Qa’im Maqamatein (two administrative districts) system was established during his mandate. He died on May 13, 1845.

69. Youssef Raji Al-Khazen (Joseph Raji Al Khazen, from Aajaltoun) was elected on August 18, 1845, and died on November 3, 1854. 

70. Boulos Masaad (Peter Masaad from Aachqout) was elected on November 12, 1854, and was among the students of the Maronite school in Rome. During his mandate, the 1860 events took place and the Mutasarrifiyya system was established. He travelled to Rome in 1867 to participate in the Vatican Council. He died on April 18, 1890, and was buried in Aachqout.

71. Youhanna El-Hajj (John El Hajj from Dabelta) was elected on April 28, 1890, and confirmed by Pope Leo XIII on June 23, 1890. He renovated the Maronite school in Rome through his Deputy Bishop Elias Howayek who succeeded him. He died on December 25, 1898, and was buried in Bkirki.

72. Elias Howayek, from Halta, was elected on January 6, 1899, and was confirmed by the Pope on August 14, 1899. He played a significant role in the establishment of the state of Greater Lebanon. He died on December 25, 1931, and was buried in Bkirki.

73. Antoine Aarida, from Bcharri, was elected on January 7, 1932, and confirmed by Pope Pius XI on March 19, 1933. On June 13, 1948, the Apostolic Nuncio (Ambassador) visited Bkirki and gave the patriarch a papal inscription appointing, in addition to the patriarch, an apostolic committee to assist the former in performing his duties once he becomes of old age. The committee included Bishop Boulos Al Ma’oushi (Peter Al Ma’oushi, Bishop of Sour) as president, Bishop Abdallah Al Khoury (Bishop of Arqa) as honorary member and Boutros Theeb (Peter Theeb, Bishop of Cairo) as member. He died on May 19, 1955.   

74. Boulos Al Ma’oushi (Peter Al Ma’oushi, from Jezzine) was promoted to the position of patriarch upon the Pope’s request on May 28, 1955, which he had transmitted to the Apostolic Nuncio of Jerusalem, Silvio Oddi. The patriarch was faced with several challenges especially following the events of 1958. He died in 1975.

75. Antonios Khreish, from Ain Ebl, was elected in February 1975. Two months after his election, war broke out in the country, which would last until 1990. The patriarch resigned following the Vatican’s request in 1985 and Bishop Ibrahim Al Helou was appointed Apostolic Nuncio of the Maronite Patriarchy. He died on August 19, 1994, and was buried in Bkirki.

76. Nasrallah Sfeir, from Rayfoun, was elected in April 1986 and declared his resignation in February 2011.

77. Bechara Al Rai, from Himlaya, the current patriarch, was elected on March 15, 2011.

It is worth noting that during the 20th and 21st century, the patriarchs were concentrated geographically in Batroun (Halta), Bcharri, Jezzine, the South (Ain Ebl), Keserouane (Rayfoun) and Jbeil. Based on the information we were able to collect, it appears that none of the patriarchs were from A’akkar, the Beqa’a or Beirut, which nonetheless have significant Christian populations.

During our research in history books we obtained contradictory information. Thus, the information in this article may not be unanimously agreed on by historians and researchers or members of the Maronite Church. The Monthly welcomes any documented information that could fill in the gaps or clarify the briefs concerning the patriarchs, especially those that are disputed.