Episcopal Diocese of Haiti
Encyclopedia
The Episcopal Diocese of Haiti is the Anglican Communion
diocese
consisting of the entire territory of Haiti
. It is part of Province 2 of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America
. Its cathedral
, Holy Trinity
located in the corner of Ave. Mgr. Guilloux & Rue Pavée in downtown Port-au-Prince
, has been destroyed six times, including in the 2010 Haiti earthquake
.
It is the largest diocese in the Episcopal Church, with 83,698 members reported in 2008.
The Rt. Rev. Jean-Zache Duracin is the current bishop of Haiti.
was established in Port-au-Prince
on Pentecost
, May 25, 1863. Its church has since been destroyed six times. The first church was set on fire by Sylvain Salnave
in 1866; possibly the second, and definitely the third, were destroyed by fire in 1873; yet another by fire on July 4, 1888; and a fifth by fire on July 5, 1908. Construction of the sixth Holy Trinity began in 1924.
In 1864, the first Diocesan Synod
was held. Then known as the Haitian Apostolic Orthodox Church, it was recognized as a member of the Anglican Communion
in 1870. The Diocese of Haiti formally joined The Episcopal Church of the United States on May 15, 1875.
destroyed much of the infrastructure of the diocese, including Holy Trinity Cathedral
and its school, the diocesan offices, the Couvent Sainte Marguerite, the College Saint Pierre, at least four of the diocese's more than 200 schools, and the home of Bishop Duracin and his injured wife.
Bishop Duracin and the church leadership set up a camp in Port-au-Prince "the size of a football field" where destitute and injured Haitians could seek refuge. Episcopal Relief and Development
began working with the Episcopal Diocese of the Dominican Republic to help with Haitians who cross the border, and with IMA World Health to medical help to the wounded around Port-au-Prince. Prior to the earthquake the Episcopal Diocese of Haiti’s Development Office had trained a network of 28 community development workers for disaster management. Since the quake, these development agents completed initial needs assessments for their own communities. Two weeks after the quake the Episcopal Diocese of Haiti and Episcopal Relief & Development were helping over 25,000 survivors in 23 camps. Many of the camps are located at the sites of Episcopal churches and schools and range in size from a few hundred people to approximately 8000. Six of the camps inhabited by more than 15,000 survivors were not accessible by vehicles were and were supplied by helicopter. Sanitation and clean water facilities were constructed for many of the camps.
Anglican Communion
The Anglican Communion is an international association of national and regional Anglican churches in full communion with the Church of England and specifically with its principal primate, the Archbishop of Canterbury...
diocese
Diocese
A diocese is the district or see under the supervision of a bishop. It is divided into parishes.An archdiocese is more significant than a diocese. An archdiocese is presided over by an archbishop whose see may have or had importance due to size or historical significance...
consisting of the entire territory of Haiti
Haiti
Haiti , officially the Republic of Haiti , is a Caribbean country. It occupies the western, smaller portion of the island of Hispaniola, in the Greater Antillean archipelago, which it shares with the Dominican Republic. Ayiti was the indigenous Taíno or Amerindian name for the island...
. It is part of Province 2 of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America
Province 2 of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America
Province 2 is one of nine ecclesiastical provinces making up the Episcopal Church in the United States of America. It comprises the six dioceses of the State of New York, the two dioceses of the State of New Jersey, the diocese in the Republic of Haiti and the diocese in the Virgin Islands , as...
. Its cathedral
Cathedral
A cathedral is a Christian church that contains the seat of a bishop...
, Holy Trinity
Holy Trinity Cathedral, Port-au-Prince
The Holy Trinity Cathedral, Port-au-Prince is the main cathedral within the Episcopal Diocese of Haiti. The present Holy Trinity Cathedral is located in downtown Port-au-Prince at the corner of Ave. Mgr. Guilloux & Rue Pavée...
located in the corner of Ave. Mgr. Guilloux & Rue Pavée in downtown Port-au-Prince
Port-au-Prince
Port-au-Prince is the capital and largest city of the Caribbean nation of Haiti. The city's population was 704,776 as of the 2003 census, and was officially estimated to have reached 897,859 in 2009....
, has been destroyed six times, including in the 2010 Haiti earthquake
2010 Haiti earthquake
The 2010 Haiti earthquake was a catastrophic magnitude 7.0 Mw earthquake, with an epicentre near the town of Léogâne, approximately west of Port-au-Prince, Haiti's capital. The earthquake occurred at 16:53 local time on Tuesday, 12 January 2010.By 24 January, at least 52 aftershocks...
.
It is the largest diocese in the Episcopal Church, with 83,698 members reported in 2008.
The Rt. Rev. Jean-Zache Duracin is the current bishop of Haiti.
History
Holy Trinity parishParish
A parish is a territorial unit historically under the pastoral care and clerical jurisdiction of one parish priest, who might be assisted in his pastoral duties by a curate or curates - also priests but not the parish priest - from a more or less central parish church with its associated organization...
was established in Port-au-Prince
Port-au-Prince
Port-au-Prince is the capital and largest city of the Caribbean nation of Haiti. The city's population was 704,776 as of the 2003 census, and was officially estimated to have reached 897,859 in 2009....
on Pentecost
Pentecost
Pentecost is a prominent feast in the calendar of Ancient Israel celebrating the giving of the Law on Sinai, and also later in the Christian liturgical year commemorating the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the disciples of Christ after the Resurrection of Jesus...
, May 25, 1863. Its church has since been destroyed six times. The first church was set on fire by Sylvain Salnave
Sylvain Salnave
Sylvain Salnave was a Haïtian general. He was the President of Haïti from 1867 to 1869. In 1867 he was elected president after he led the overthrow of President Fabre Geffrard. During his term there were constant civil wars between the various factions.-Footnotes:...
in 1866; possibly the second, and definitely the third, were destroyed by fire in 1873; yet another by fire on July 4, 1888; and a fifth by fire on July 5, 1908. Construction of the sixth Holy Trinity began in 1924.
In 1864, the first Diocesan Synod
Diocesan Synod
In the Anglican Communion, the model of government is the 'Bishop in Synod', meaning that a diocese is governed by a bishop acting with the advice and consent of representatives of the clergy and laity of the diocese. In much of the Communion the body by which this representation is achieved is...
was held. Then known as the Haitian Apostolic Orthodox Church, it was recognized as a member of the Anglican Communion
Anglican Communion
The Anglican Communion is an international association of national and regional Anglican churches in full communion with the Church of England and specifically with its principal primate, the Archbishop of Canterbury...
in 1870. The Diocese of Haiti formally joined The Episcopal Church of the United States on May 15, 1875.
2010 earthquake
The 2010 Haiti earthquake2010 Haiti earthquake
The 2010 Haiti earthquake was a catastrophic magnitude 7.0 Mw earthquake, with an epicentre near the town of Léogâne, approximately west of Port-au-Prince, Haiti's capital. The earthquake occurred at 16:53 local time on Tuesday, 12 January 2010.By 24 January, at least 52 aftershocks...
destroyed much of the infrastructure of the diocese, including Holy Trinity Cathedral
Holy Trinity Cathedral, Port-au-Prince
The Holy Trinity Cathedral, Port-au-Prince is the main cathedral within the Episcopal Diocese of Haiti. The present Holy Trinity Cathedral is located in downtown Port-au-Prince at the corner of Ave. Mgr. Guilloux & Rue Pavée...
and its school, the diocesan offices, the Couvent Sainte Marguerite, the College Saint Pierre, at least four of the diocese's more than 200 schools, and the home of Bishop Duracin and his injured wife.
Bishop Duracin and the church leadership set up a camp in Port-au-Prince "the size of a football field" where destitute and injured Haitians could seek refuge. Episcopal Relief and Development
Episcopal Relief and Development
Episcopal Relief & Development is the international relief and development agency of the Episcopal Church. It helps to rebuild after disasters and aims to empower people by offering lasting solutions that fight poverty, hunger and disease...
began working with the Episcopal Diocese of the Dominican Republic to help with Haitians who cross the border, and with IMA World Health to medical help to the wounded around Port-au-Prince. Prior to the earthquake the Episcopal Diocese of Haiti’s Development Office had trained a network of 28 community development workers for disaster management. Since the quake, these development agents completed initial needs assessments for their own communities. Two weeks after the quake the Episcopal Diocese of Haiti and Episcopal Relief & Development were helping over 25,000 survivors in 23 camps. Many of the camps are located at the sites of Episcopal churches and schools and range in size from a few hundred people to approximately 8000. Six of the camps inhabited by more than 15,000 survivors were not accessible by vehicles were and were supplied by helicopter. Sanitation and clean water facilities were constructed for many of the camps.
External links
- Eglise Episcopale D'Haïti — official website
- La Liturgie ou Formulaire des Prières Publiques à l’usage du Collège Royal et des Ecoles Nationales d’Hayti c. 1815 liturgical text for use by this church, digitized by Richard Mammana