Archeparchy of Akka [San Giovanni d’Acri; Tolemaide] (Melkite Greek)

Ptolemaidensis

Bishop(s)

Youssef Abedallah Matta, Archbishop
Elias Chacour, Archbishop Emeritus
Boutros Mouallem, S.M.S.P., Archbishop Emeritus

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Archeparchy
Elevated: 18 November 1964
Melkite Greek Catholic Church of the Byzantine Tradition
Country: Israel
Mailing Address: Archeveche Grec-Catholique, B.P. 9450, rue Hagefen 33, 3505318 Haifa, Israel
Telephone: (04)8508.108
Fax: 8508.106

Historical Details

Eparchy of Akka (Melkite Greek)
- Latin Name: Ptolemaidensis
- Erected: 1753
- Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Tyr (Melkite Greek)
- Country: Israel

Past and Present Ordinaries

Maximos Fakhouri † ( 1763 Appointed - )
Germanos (Michel) Adam † (Dec 1774 Appointed - Jul 1777 Appointed, Archbishop of Alep [Beroea, Halab] (Melkite Greek))
Clément Bahous † (7 Aug 1836 Ordained Bishop - 16 Jun 1856 Confirmed, Patriarch of Antiochia {Antioch} (Melkite Greek))
Grégoire II Youssef (Sayyour) † (13 Nov 1856 Ordained Bishop - 27 Mar 1865 Confirmed, Patriarch of Antiochia {Antioch} (Melkite Greek))
Agapio Dumani, B.S. † (4 Dec 1864 Appointed - 1893 Died)
Athanase Sabbagh † (18 Apr 1894 Appointed - 2 Jun 1899 Died)
Grégoire Haggiar † (24 Mar 1901 Appointed - 30 Oct 1940 Died)
Maximos V (George) Hakim † (13 Mar 1943 Appointed - 26 Nov 1967 Confirmed, Patriarch of Antiochia {Antioch} (Melkite Greek))
Joseph-Marie Raya † (9 Sep 1968 Appointed - 21 Aug 1974 Resigned)
Maximos Salloum † (20 Aug 1975 Appointed - 23 Jul 1997 Retired)
Boutros Mouallem, S.M.S.P. (29 Jul 1998 Appointed - 18 Jul 2003 Retired)
Elias Chacour (17 Feb 2006 Confirmed - 27 Jan 2014 Resigned)
Georges Wadih Bacouni (Bakouny) (21 Jun 2014 Confirmed - 24 Nov 2018 Confirmed, Archbishop of Beirut and Jbeil {Bairut e Gibail} (Melkite Greek))
Youssef Abedallah Matta (18 Mar 2019 Confirmed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Eparchy of Akka (Melkite Greek)
1753	Erected		Eparchy of Akka (Melkite Greek) (erected)
Archeparchy of Akka [San Giovanni d’Acri; Tolemaide] (Melkite Greek)
18 November 1964	Elevated	Eparchy of Akka (Melkite Greek)	Archeparchy of Akka [San Giovanni d’Acri; Tolemaide] (Melkite Greek)

Year Catholics Total Population Percent Catholic Diocesan Priests Religious Priests Total Priests Catholics Per Priest Permanent Deacons Male Religious Female Religious Parishes Source

Eparchy of Akka (Melkite Greek)

1950 37,500 500,000 7.5% 20 2 22 1,704 3 28 ap1951

1959 19,560 2,000,900 1.0% 27 2 29 674 18 30 ap1960

Archeparchy of Akka [San Giovanni d’Acri; Tolemaide] (Melkite Greek)

1970 32,000 2,000,000 1.6% 21 21 1,523 10 33 ap1971

1980 40,000 18 6 24 1,666 6 47 25 ap1981

1990 40,000 25 5 30 1,333 1 8 46 38 ap1991

1997 54,000 24 4 28 1,928 4 41 30 ap2000

2000 64,370 24 5 29 2,219 7 32 30 ap2001

2001 65,220 26 5 31 2,103 7 41 30 ap2002

2003 67,890 52 30 82 827 38 604 12 ap2004

2004 80,000 33 3 36 2,222 8 28 32 ap2007

2007 95,000 30 3 33 2,878 8 20 30 ap2010

2012 76,700 32 4 36 2,130 5 10 26 33 ap2013

2015 75,000 29 4 33 2,272 1 6 25 32 ap2016

2018 70,000 31 4 35 2,000 1 13 43 30 ap2019

2020 71,505 36 4 40 1,787 2 13 36 37 ap2021

2022 73,921 36 4 40 1,848 8 28 37 ap2023

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Permanent Deacons	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
Eparchy of Akka (Melkite Greek)
1950	37,500	500,000	7.5%	20	2	22	1,704			3	28	ap1951
1959	19,560	2,000,900	1.0%	27	2	29	674			18	30	ap1960
Archeparchy of Akka [San Giovanni d’Acri; Tolemaide] (Melkite Greek)
1970	32,000	2,000,000	1.6%	21		21	1,523			10	33	ap1971
1980	40,000			18	6	24	1,666		6	47	25	ap1981
1990	40,000			25	5	30	1,333	1	8	46	38	ap1991
1997	54,000			24	4	28	1,928		4	41	30	ap2000
2000	64,370			24	5	29	2,219		7	32	30	ap2001
2001	65,220			26	5	31	2,103		7	41	30	ap2002
2003	67,890			52	30	82	827		38	604	12	ap2004
2004	80,000			33	3	36	2,222		8	28	32	ap2007
2007	95,000			30	3	33	2,878		8	20	30	ap2010
2012	76,700			32	4	36	2,130	5	10	26	33	ap2013
2015	75,000			29	4	33	2,272	1	6	25	32	ap2016
2018	70,000			31	4	35	2,000	1	13	43	30	ap2019
2020	71,505			36	4	40	1,787	2	13	36	37	ap2021
2022	73,921			36	4	40	1,848		8	28	37	ap2023

Note: Any changes in boundaries over time are not indicated in the above table.

Affiliated Bishops, Living

Georges Wadih Bacouni (Bakouny) (Archbishop: 21 Jun 2014 to 24 Nov 2018)
Elias Chacour (Archbishop: 17 Feb 2006 to 27 Jan 2014)
Moussa El-Hage, O.A.M. (Apostolic Administrator: 27 Jan 2014 to 5 Aug 2014)
Georges Nicolas Haddad, S.M.S.P. (Apostolic Administrator: 18 Mar 2003 to 7 Feb 2006)
Youssef Abedallah Matta (Priest: 19 Jun 1999; Archbishop: 18 Mar 2019 - )
Boutros Mouallem, S.M.S.P. (Archbishop: 29 Jul 1998 to 18 Jul 2003)

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

Germanos (Michel) Adam † (Bishop: Dec 1774 to Jul 1777)
Clément Bahous † (Bishop: 7 Aug 1836 to 16 Jun 1856)
Agapio Dumani, B.S. † (Bishop: 4 Dec 1864 to 1893)
Maximos Fakhouri † (Bishop: 1763 - )
Ignatius Ghattas, B.S. †
Théo Habib †
Grégoire Haggiar † (Bishop: 24 Mar 1901 to 30 Oct 1940)
Maximos V (George) Hakim † (Bishop: 13 Mar 1943; Archbishop: 18 Nov 1964 to 26 Nov 1967)
Joseph-Marie Raya † (Archbishop: 9 Sep 1968 to 21 Aug 1974)
Athanase Sabbagh † (Bishop: 18 Apr 1894 to 2 Jun 1899)
Maximos Salloum † (Priest: 20 Jul 1946; Archbishop: 20 Aug 1975 to 23 Jul 1997)
Grégoire II Youssef (Sayyour) † (Bishop: 13 Nov 1856 to 27 Mar 1865)

Source(s)

Archeparchy of Akka [San Giovanni d’Acri; Tolemaide] (Melkite Greek)
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 57, Page 629, and Page 630

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