Cyril Salim Bustros
Encyclopedia
Cyril Salim Bustros is the archbishop
of the Melkite Greek Catholic Archeparchy of Beirut and Byblos
. A native of Lebanon
, he formerly served as archbishop
of Baalbeck and later as eparch for the Melkite Church in the United States
.
, a prominent clan in Lebanese society.
in Gap, France. He then studied theology for four years (1958–1962) at the Major Seminary at St. Anne of Jerusalem.
From 1962 to 1970, he was Professor of Classical Greek and of French Literature at the Minor Seminary. Then from 1972-1974 Professor of Philosophy and Theology at St. Paul Institute in Harissa.
Interrupting his teaching, he pursued a Doctorate of Theology at the Catholic University of Louvain
in Belgium, and received his degree in 1976. Bustros then served for eleven years as director of the St. Paul Institute of Philosophy and Theology at the Paulist Missionaries at Harissa. During this period he also held an appointment as professor at St. Joseph University in Beirut
.
of the Melkite Catholic Church elected him archbishop of Baalbeck, succeeding Elias Zoghby
. He was ordained to the episcopate on November 27, 1988, in the Basilica of St. Paul in Harissa, by Maximos V Hakim
, assisted by Archbishops Zoghby and Joseph Raya
.
Bustros was appointed to lead the Melkite Catholic Church in the United States
on June 22, 2004, replacing the retiring bishop John Elya
. He was enthroned as Eparch of Newton, Massachusetts at Annunciation Cathedral on August 18, 2004.
The archbishop is a member of the International Commission for Dialogue between the Catholic Church and the Assyrian Church of the East
, and of the Standing Conference of American-Middle Eastern Christian and Muslim Religious Leaders.
In June 2011 the Holy Synod of the Melkite Church elected Archbishop Cyril Bustros to the Metropolitan See of Beirut
. Taking his place as eparch of the United States is Bishop Nicholas Samra
.
Archbishop
An archbishop is a bishop of higher rank, but not of higher sacramental order above that of the three orders of deacon, priest , and bishop...
of the Melkite Greek Catholic Archeparchy of Beirut and Byblos
Melkite Greek Catholic Archeparchy of Beirut and Byblos
The Archeparchy of Beirut and Byblos is an metropolitan eparchy of the Melkite Greek Catholic Church, an Eastern Catholic church in communion with the Roman Catholic Church. Located in Lebanon, it includes the cities of Beirut and Byblos , and in terms of population, it is the largest Melkite...
. A native of Lebanon
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
, he formerly served as archbishop
Archbishop
An archbishop is a bishop of higher rank, but not of higher sacramental order above that of the three orders of deacon, priest , and bishop...
of Baalbeck and later as eparch for the Melkite Church in the United States
Melkite Greek Catholic Eparchy of Newton
The Eparchy of Newton is an eparchy of the Melkite Greek Catholic Church, an Eastern Catholic church in communion with the Roman Catholic Church...
.
Life
Archbishop Cyril was born at Ain-Borday, near Baalbeck, Lebanon on January 26, 1939. He is a member of the Bustros familyBustros family
The Bustros family is a prominent Christian Lebanese family. It is one of the original Beirut aristocratic families along with Ferneini, Sursock, Trad, Tueini, Araman, and Fayad families, who constituted the traditional high society of Beirut and Lebanon for a long time...
, a prominent clan in Lebanese society.
Education
After his primary and secondary studies at the Minor Seminary of St. Paul at Harissa, he pursued his philosophical studies at St. Paul Institute in 1956 and 1957, and made his novitiate at the White FathersWhite Fathers
The missionary society known as "White Fathers" , after their dress, is a Roman Catholic Society of Apostolic Life founded in 1868 by the first Archbishop of Algiers, later Cardinal Lavigerie, as the Missionaries of Our Lady of Africa of Algeria, and is also now known as the Society of the...
in Gap, France. He then studied theology for four years (1958–1962) at the Major Seminary at St. Anne of Jerusalem.
Priesthood
He was ordained to the priesthood in the Society of the Missionaries of Saint Paul on June 29, 1962.From 1962 to 1970, he was Professor of Classical Greek and of French Literature at the Minor Seminary. Then from 1972-1974 Professor of Philosophy and Theology at St. Paul Institute in Harissa.
Interrupting his teaching, he pursued a Doctorate of Theology at the Catholic University of Louvain
Université catholique de Louvain
The Université catholique de Louvain, sometimes known, especially in Belgium, as UCL, is Belgium's largest French-speaking university. It is located in Louvain-la-Neuve and in Brussels...
in Belgium, and received his degree in 1976. Bustros then served for eleven years as director of the St. Paul Institute of Philosophy and Theology at the Paulist Missionaries at Harissa. During this period he also held an appointment as professor at St. Joseph University in Beirut
Beirut
Beirut is the capital and largest city of Lebanon, with a population ranging from 1 million to more than 2 million . Located on a peninsula at the midpoint of Lebanon's Mediterranean coastline, it serves as the country's largest and main seaport, and also forms the Beirut Metropolitan...
.
Episcopate
In 1988 the Holy SynodSynod
A synod historically is a council of a church, usually convened to decide an issue of doctrine, administration or application. In modern usage, the word often refers to the governing body of a particular church, whether its members are meeting or not...
of the Melkite Catholic Church elected him archbishop of Baalbeck, succeeding Elias Zoghby
Elias Zoghby
Elias Zoghby was the Melkite Greek Catholic Archbishop of Baalbek and a leading advocate of Catholic-Orthodox ecumenism...
. He was ordained to the episcopate on November 27, 1988, in the Basilica of St. Paul in Harissa, by Maximos V Hakim
Maximos V Hakim
Maximos V Hakim was elected Melkite Greek Catholic Patriarch in 1967 and served until 2000. He guided the church through tubulent changes in the Middle East and rapid expansion in the Western hemisphere.-Life:...
, assisted by Archbishops Zoghby and Joseph Raya
Joseph Raya
Joseph Raya , born in Zahlé, Lebanon, was a prominent Melkite Greek Catholic archbishop, theologian, civil rights advocate and author. He served as metropolitan of Akko, Haifa, Nazareth and All Galilee from 1968 until 1974 and was particularly known for his commitment to seeking reconciliation...
.
Bustros was appointed to lead the Melkite Catholic Church in the United States
Melkite Greek Catholic Eparchy of Newton
The Eparchy of Newton is an eparchy of the Melkite Greek Catholic Church, an Eastern Catholic church in communion with the Roman Catholic Church...
on June 22, 2004, replacing the retiring bishop John Elya
John Elya
John Adel Elya is a bishop of the Melkite Greek Catholic Church. From 1993 to 2004, he served as Eparch of Newton, with jurisdiction over Melkite churches in the United States.-Biography:...
. He was enthroned as Eparch of Newton, Massachusetts at Annunciation Cathedral on August 18, 2004.
The archbishop is a member of the International Commission for Dialogue between the Catholic Church and the Assyrian Church of the East
Assyrian Church of the East
The Assyrian Church of the East, officially the Holy Apostolic Catholic Assyrian Church of the East ʻIttā Qaddishtā w-Shlikhāitā Qattoliqi d-Madnĕkhā d-Āturāyē), is a Syriac Church historically centered in Mesopotamia. It is one of the churches that claim continuity with the historical...
, and of the Standing Conference of American-Middle Eastern Christian and Muslim Religious Leaders.
In June 2011 the Holy Synod of the Melkite Church elected Archbishop Cyril Bustros to the Metropolitan See of Beirut
Melkite Greek Catholic Archeparchy of Beirut and Byblos
The Archeparchy of Beirut and Byblos is an metropolitan eparchy of the Melkite Greek Catholic Church, an Eastern Catholic church in communion with the Roman Catholic Church. Located in Lebanon, it includes the cities of Beirut and Byblos , and in terms of population, it is the largest Melkite...
. Taking his place as eparch of the United States is Bishop Nicholas Samra
Nicholas Samra
Nicholas Samra is the eparch of the Melkite Catholic Eparchy of Newton in the United States, elected in 2011. He has written extensively on the subject of ecumenism and the Eastern Catholic Churches.-Early life and priesthood:...
.