New Patriarchal Vicar for Melkites

(HLCCC) Most Reverend Archbishop Joseph Zrei'i took his new post as the Patriarchal Vicar for the Greek Catholic Melkites of the Diocese of Jerusalem during a holy significant divine liturgy that was held on Saturday, August 9th 2008 in the Greek Catholic Cathedral in the Old City of Jerusalem, after he came from Egypt Thursday August 7th, 2008. Fr. Jacob Abu Sa'da, parish priest of Bethlehem was there to welcome his Excellency, along with Fr. Mamdouh Abu Sa'da, parish priest of Ramallah, as well as Fr. Boulos Aramly, parish priest of Beit-Sahour, with Fr. Josef Sa'adeh, parish priest of Rafidia and Archimandrite Fr. Joseph Sughbeini. The procession was led by a group of Syriac Orthodox scouts.

Attendance

Rev. Elias Shakkour, Greek Melkite Catholic Archbishop of Akko, concelebrated the mass along with Rev. Yasser Ayyash, Archbishop of Melkite Catholic Church in Jordan, and Bishop Giacinto Boulos Marcuzzo, Patriarch Vicar of Israel, as well as Archbishop Anba Abarahm, the Patriarch Vicar of Coptic Orthodox, with Rev Mar Sewerios, Archbishop of Syrian Orthodox, and His Excellency Nuncio, as well as a number of parish priests and a group of faithful.Then, a welcoming speech followed, where his Excellency thanked God for his presence in Jerusalem. He also mentioned the former Patriarch Vicar, Bishop George Baker, who was appointed as the New General Patriarch Vicar in Egypt and Sudan. After the final blessing, the group of faithful paid homage to the new Patriarch Vicar of Jerusalem.

Biography of Josef Zrei'i

He was born in Alexandria on June 9th 1941. He studied in Frère's school in Alexandria, and in Greek Melkite Catholic Patriarchate School in Cairo.He studied philosophy and theology in Jerusalem. He was ordained as a priest on May 5th 1967. He speaks English, French, Italian, and Latin fluently. He served in many dioceses, such as the diocese of Our Lady of Peace, and then he worked in several Greek Catholic schools till the year 2001.He also worked as a supervisor to the Nile Catholic Scout group since 1968 and as a preacher in Al-Kanater prison until 1985.In 1997, he became the head of the ecclesiastical tribunal for the Greek Catholic Melkite Church in Egypt. He was elected as a Patriarchal Vicar in Egypt, and was ordained on November 19th 2001.In June 2008, he was appointed from the Holy Synod of the Greek Melkite Catholic Church as the Patriarchal Vicar of Jerusalem.