MORAN MOR IGNATIUS ELIAS THE THIRD PATRIARCH OF ANTIOCH AND ALL THE EAST
1917 - 1932

 Extracts from H.H.'s Biography

       H.H. was originally named NASRI by his parents. H.H. is the son of Rev. Chorepiscopus (Archpriest) Ibrahim Shaker, from Malatya - Turkey.

       H.H. was born in Mardin-Turkey on 30OCT1867.

       H.H. joined Za'faran Monastery (Syrian Orthodox Monastery-the See of Antioch then) in Mardin, Turkey in the year 1887, at which time H.H. was ordained Deacon.

       In the year 1889 became a Monk.

       In the year 1892 he was promoted to the rank of Priest.

       In the year 1895 was appointed the head of Mor Koryakos' Monastery in Bsherieh - Turkey, and in the year 1896 became the head of Za'faran Monastery.

       In the year 1899 was sent as a delegate to Torabdeen. In the 1902 became responsible on Dyarbaker Parish in Turkey.

       On 02MAR1908 was promoted and ordained as Bishop in the name Ewaness by H.H. Patriarch Abdallah the Second, and appointed him as Bishop for Hattach, Turkey.

       In the year 1911 H.H. Patriarch Abdallah the Second sent him as an Apostolic Visitor to Torabdeen and Jassera.

       In March 1912 his services were transferred to Musol, Iraq.

       On 27FEB1916 was elected the Regent of the Holy See of Antioch. This election was followed, and on 17OCT1916 was elected and selected as the Patriarch of Antioch.

       On Sunday 12FEB1917 (25FEB1917 GREGORIAN) H.H. as Moran Mor Ignatius Elias The Third was installed as Patriarch of Antioch.

       On 19APR1919 H.H. started his Apostolic visits to Dyarbaker, Edessa, Aleppo, Hama, Homs, Damascus, Zahleh, Beirut, Istanbul. During these Apostolic visits H.H. obtained the necessary decree to maintain the safety of all Christians in Mardin and Diarbaker. During difficult time of persecutions H.H. displayed His Ecumenical Spirit, purely looked after all Christians, and not only the Syrian Orthodox Community members. Following the submission of this decree, H.H., deputised H.E. Bishop Afram Barsoum (H.H. Afram the First 1933-1957) to attend a Peace Convention in Paris, at which time H.H. visited the Ottoman Sultan Wahid Eddine, hence it can be noticed what a great role H.H., and the other Clergy men played during such a rough and tough times.

       In the year 1922 H.H. visited Mustafa Kamal (the founder of the Turkish Republic), attended the opening ceremonies of the Great National Council.

       On 19MAY1923, returned to Mardin at which time H.H. was welcomed lavishly to this city in Turkey.

       In the year 1925 sanctified St. Ephraim's Church in Aleppo.

       On 22MAR1926 declared the commencement of the building of Our Lady's Church in Bethlehem.

       In October 1930 chaired the Synod at St. Matthew Monastery in Iraq.

       In February 1931 went on a visit to Malabar-India (Currently known as the State of Kerala). During this trip H.H. visited King Faisal the First, the King of Iraq then.

       In India H.H. met Lord Erwin, King of England's Deputy, and Kings of Travacore and Coshin.

       On Saturday 13 February 1932 (Gregorian) H.H. departed this earthy world to the eternal life after suffering a heart attack.

       On 14 February 1932 H.H. was buried in Omellour, India.

       H.H., and throughout the time as Patriarch ordained ten Bishops. From those Bishops, H.E. Mor Severius Afram Barsoum, the Bishop of Syria and Lebanon on 20MAY1918. H.E. Afram Barsoum became the Patriarch 120th on the See of Antioch in the name of Moran Mor Ignatius Afram the First Barsoum on 12 February 1933 (Gregorian).

       H.H. was gifted by God with miraculous strength, and had done several miracles during His life on earth and following the departure of this earthy world.

Source: The Light, Volume 2.16, 16 FEB 1997
Produced by St.Ephaim's Syrian Orthodox Church; Perth - Western Australia

Links

1. Mor Elias III booklet 2007
2. Commandments and spiritual guidance to the visitors of the Holy Places in Jerusalem

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