Joseph Tyan
Encyclopedia
Joseph VII Peter Tyan (or Youssef Tyan, Youssef Tiyen, Thian, Tian, Tyen, Al-Tiyyan), was the Maronite Patriarch of Antioch from 1796 until his resignation in 1809.
, Lebanon
on March 15, 1760. He studied in Rome in the College of the Propaganda where he remained from 1773 to 1782. In 1783 and 1784 he played an important role in supporting Patriarch Joseph Estephan
reconciliation with the Roman authorities. Joseph Tyan was ordained priest
in 1784, and he was appointed Maronite bishop
of Damascus
and consecrated on August 6, 1786 by Patriarch Joseph Estephan. Even if Rome
judged his episcopal ordination as not in line with the current rules, Tyan in 1788 was appointed Patriarchal Vicar.
After the death of Patriarch Joseph Estephan in 1793, two short-reigning Patriarchs followed, and finally on April 28, 1796 Joseph Tyan was elected patriarch, even if opposed by the Khazen
Sheikh
es. His election was confirmed by Pope Pius VI
on July 24, 1797.
In March 1801 Joseph Tyan wrote an encyclical to his faithful against the Jansenistic doctrine of Germanos Adam
, thus defending the papal primacy.
Patriarch Joseph Tyan took a stand against the Ottoman
government, and during the French Campaign in Egypt and Syria he supported Napoleon in the siege of Acre (1799)
, urging Maronites to volunteer and asking Emir
Bashir II to ally himself with Napoleon. Despite Tyan's hopes, Emir Bashir remained neutral and the British-Ottoman alliance defeated Napoleon in Akko.
The difficulties of the Patriarchate of Joseph Tyan increased: he came in conflict with Emir Bashir II not only about his support to Napoleon, but also about the excessive taxes imposed by the Emir on the Maronite peasants. He also had to face the discontent of some of his bishops, led by the Khazen Sheikhes, which already in the 1800 wrote to Rome complaining that Tyan took illegally church properties and instigated discord. Actually the real reason of the opposition to him by the Khazen Sheikhes seems to have been his attempt to implement the reform of the administration of the monasteries, which in great measure were owned by the Sheikhes. Only Tyan's successor, John Helou
, could start such reform with the 1818 synod.
Due to the above difficulties, already in 1805 the Vatican
appointed a Apostolic visitor
in the Maronite Patriarchate, Germanos El Khazen bishop of Damascus, followed on March 7, 1807 by Aloisio Gandolfi, who took a stand against Joseph Tyan, and advised him to retire. On October 3, 1807 Patriarch Joseph Tyen wrote a letter to Rome with own resignation, that was communicated to the Maronite bishops on September 24, 1808. Consequently Aloisio Gandolfi summoned a meeting of all the bishops in Harissa
in April 1809. Short time later, on June 8, 1809, John Helou
was elected Patriarch.
Joseph Tyan retired in a hermitage and later moved in Kfarhaye (Batroun District) to teach theology in the newly erected seminary
of Saint Maron. He died in odour of sanctity
on February 20, 1820 in the patriarchal residence of Qannubin Monastery, into the Kadisha Valley
.
Life
Joseph Tyan was born in BeirutBeirut
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...
, 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...
on March 15, 1760. He studied in Rome in the College of the Propaganda where he remained from 1773 to 1782. In 1783 and 1784 he played an important role in supporting Patriarch Joseph Estephan
Joseph Estephan
Joseph VI Estephan , , was the Maronite Patriarch of Antioch from 1766 until his death in 1793.-Life:...
reconciliation with the Roman authorities. Joseph Tyan was ordained priest
Priesthood (Catholic Church)
The ministerial orders of the Catholic Church include the orders of bishops, deacons and presbyters, which in Latin is sacerdos. The ordained priesthood and common priesthood are different in function and essence....
in 1784, and he was appointed Maronite bishop
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
of Damascus
Damascus
Damascus , commonly known in Syria as Al Sham , and as the City of Jasmine , is the capital and the second largest city of Syria after Aleppo, both are part of the country's 14 governorates. In addition to being one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, Damascus is a major...
and consecrated on August 6, 1786 by Patriarch Joseph Estephan. Even if Rome
Holy See
The Holy See is the episcopal jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in Rome, in which its Bishop is commonly known as the Pope. It is the preeminent episcopal see of the Catholic Church, forming the central government of the Church. As such, diplomatically, and in other spheres the Holy See acts and...
judged his episcopal ordination as not in line with the current rules, Tyan in 1788 was appointed Patriarchal Vicar.
After the death of Patriarch Joseph Estephan in 1793, two short-reigning Patriarchs followed, and finally on April 28, 1796 Joseph Tyan was elected patriarch, even if opposed by the Khazen
Khazen
Khazen is the name of a prominent Noble Levantine family based in Keserwan District, Lebanon, Damascus, Syria, Nablus, Palestine as well as other distrits around the Levant. The Khazen family have traced their lineage through DNA testing to Jericho, Palestine also known as Tell el-Sultan 8500 B.C....
Sheikh
Sheikh
Not to be confused with sikhSheikh — also spelled Sheik or Shaikh, or transliterated as Shaykh — is an honorific in the Arabic language that literally means "elder" and carries the meaning "leader and/or governor"...
es. His election was confirmed by Pope Pius VI
Pope Pius VI
Pope Pius VI , born Count Giovanni Angelo Braschi, was Pope from 1775 to 1799.-Early years:Braschi was born in Cesena...
on July 24, 1797.
In March 1801 Joseph Tyan wrote an encyclical to his faithful against the Jansenistic doctrine of Germanos Adam
Germanos Adam
Germanos Adam was the Melkite Catholic bishop of Aleppo during the late 18th century and a Christian theologian.-Life:Germanos Adam was born in 1725 in Aleppo, Syria, and studied in the College of the Propaganda in Rome. In 1774 he was consecrated Melkite Catholic bishop of Acre...
, thus defending the papal primacy.
Patriarch Joseph Tyan took a stand against the Ottoman
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
government, and during the French Campaign in Egypt and Syria he supported Napoleon in the siege of Acre (1799)
Siege of Acre (1799)
The Siege of Acre of 1799 was an unsuccessful French siege of the Ottoman-defended, walled city of Acre and was the turning point of Napoleon's invasion of Egypt and Syria.-Background:...
, urging Maronites to volunteer and asking Emir
Emir
Emir , meaning "commander", "general", or "prince"; also transliterated as Amir, Aamir or Ameer) is a title of high office, used throughout the Muslim world...
Bashir II to ally himself with Napoleon. Despite Tyan's hopes, Emir Bashir remained neutral and the British-Ottoman alliance defeated Napoleon in Akko.
The difficulties of the Patriarchate of Joseph Tyan increased: he came in conflict with Emir Bashir II not only about his support to Napoleon, but also about the excessive taxes imposed by the Emir on the Maronite peasants. He also had to face the discontent of some of his bishops, led by the Khazen Sheikhes, which already in the 1800 wrote to Rome complaining that Tyan took illegally church properties and instigated discord. Actually the real reason of the opposition to him by the Khazen Sheikhes seems to have been his attempt to implement the reform of the administration of the monasteries, which in great measure were owned by the Sheikhes. Only Tyan's successor, John Helou
John Helou
John XI Helou , was the Maronite Patriarch of Antioch from 1809 until his death in 1823.-Life:...
, could start such reform with the 1818 synod.
Due to the above difficulties, already in 1805 the Vatican
Holy See
The Holy See is the episcopal jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in Rome, in which its Bishop is commonly known as the Pope. It is the preeminent episcopal see of the Catholic Church, forming the central government of the Church. As such, diplomatically, and in other spheres the Holy See acts and...
appointed a Apostolic visitor
Apostolic visitor
In the Catholic Church, an apostolic visitor is a papal representative with a transient mission to perform a canonical visitation of relatively short duration...
in the Maronite Patriarchate, Germanos El Khazen bishop of Damascus, followed on March 7, 1807 by Aloisio Gandolfi, who took a stand against Joseph Tyan, and advised him to retire. On October 3, 1807 Patriarch Joseph Tyen wrote a letter to Rome with own resignation, that was communicated to the Maronite bishops on September 24, 1808. Consequently Aloisio Gandolfi summoned a meeting of all the bishops in Harissa
Harissa
Harissa is a Tunisian hot chili sauce commonly eaten in North Africa whose main ingredients are piri piri , serrano peppers and other hot chili peppers and spices such as garlic paste, coriander, red chili powder, caraway as well as some vegetable or olive oil...
in April 1809. Short time later, on June 8, 1809, John Helou
John Helou
John XI Helou , was the Maronite Patriarch of Antioch from 1809 until his death in 1823.-Life:...
was elected Patriarch.
Joseph Tyan retired in a hermitage and later moved in Kfarhaye (Batroun District) to teach theology in the newly erected seminary
Seminary
A seminary, theological college, or divinity school is an institution of secondary or post-secondary education for educating students in theology, generally to prepare them for ordination as clergy or for other ministry...
of Saint Maron. He died in odour of sanctity
Odour of Sanctity
The odour of sanctity or odor of sanctity, according to the Catholic Church, is commonly understood to mean a specific scent that emanates from the bodies of saints, especially from the wounds of stigmata.-Meanings:...
on February 20, 1820 in the patriarchal residence of Qannubin Monastery, into the Kadisha Valley
Kadisha Valley
The Kadisha Valley is a valley that lies within the Becharre and Zgharta Districts of the North Governorate of Lebanon. The valley is a deep gorge carved by the Kadisha River, also known as the Nahr Abu Ali when it reaches Tripoli...
.