Spiritual Protector

His Beatitude Gregory III Laham,
Patriarch of Antioch and of all the East, of Alexandria, and of Jerusalem
of the Melkite Greek Catholic Church,
Spiritual Protector of the Military and Hospitaller Order of St. Lazarus of Jerusalem

gregoriii

Patriarch Gregory III was horn in Daraya, near Damascus, Syria, in 1933. The village of Daraya is known traditionally to be the place of the conversion of St. Paul on his way to Damascus. His Beatitude entered the Seminary of the Holy Savior of the Basilian Salvatorian Fathers in the Shoof, Lebanon in 1944. He took his simple religious vows in the Basilian Salvatorian Order in 1949 and his solemn religious vows in 1954. He received his religious and philosophy education at the Holy Savior Seminary, Joun, Lebanon. He continued his Theological studies in Rome where he was ordained priest in 1959. He obtained ta doctorate in oriental theology at the Pontifical Oriental Institute in Rome. He was superior of the Holy Savior Major Seminary in 1961-1964.

In 1974, he became Administrator of the Patriarchal Vicanate of Jerusalem. In 1981, he was consecrated Archbishop and continued his work as Patriarchal Vicar of Jerusalem He is well known throughout the Middle East and Europe as an Ecumenist and Theologian. By the grace of God, at the Electoral Synod of the Melkite Greek Catholic Church held at Rabweh, Lebanon, on November 27-29, 2000, the Most Reverend Archbishop Lutfi Laham, Patriarchal Vicar of Jerusalem was elected as the new Patriarch of Jerusalem, Alexandria, Antioch and of all the East. The new Patriarch took a new name, as is the custom. He chose the name of Gregory III to follow Patriarch Gregory II Youssef, the great champion of Eastern traditions and of the rights of Patriarchs in the First Vatican Council (1870). Upon taking office as Patriach His Beatitude Gregory III became Spiritual Protector of the Military and Hospitalle
Order of St. Lazarus of Jerusalem.

Chaplains to the Grand Priory of Ireland:

Most Reverend Robert MacCarthy, Dean of St. Patrick’s Cathedral, SChLJ
Very Reverend Denis Ryan, Pastor Emeritus,Willington, ChLJ
Very Reverend Fergal McGrady, Parish Priest Derriaghy, ChLJ
Very Reverend Damien Farnon, Curate, Clondalkin, ChLJ
Very Reverend John Marchant, Interfaith Centre DCU, ChLJ