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Rt. Rev. Nersès Joseph Zabbara

Armenian Catholic Apostolic Administrator of Baghdad and
Armenian Catholic Patriarchal Exarch of Jerusalem and Amman

Born June 6, 1969 in Aleppo, Syria, he studied philosophy and theology in Rome at the Pontifical Oriental Institute and the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas. On October 31, 1999, he received the sacrament of Holy Orders for the Archeparchy of Aleppo (Armenian) where he worked in pastoral and educational fields. In 2016, he was appointed Eparchial Administrator of Baghdad.

On 23 June 2018, Pope Francis appointed him Armenian Catholic Apostolic Administrator of Baghdad. On May 10, 2019, he was also appointed Patriarchal Exarch of Jerusalem and Amman.

He speaks Armenian and Arabic, as well as Italian, French and English.

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Armenian Catholic Patriarchal Exarchate of Jerusalem

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In 1856, Rev. Serope Tavitian came to Jerusalem, sent by H.B. Patriarch Grégoire Pierre III Der Asdouazadourian.  At the time, the area on Via Dolorosa where the Third Station is now located was a vacant lot except for the presence of an old Turkish public bath.  Because tradition held that a church had once stood on that site, he became interested in it.  Thanks to the generosity of a distinguished Armenian Catholic, Andon Bey Missirli, he was able to purchase the land.  He became the first Patriarchal Vicar.  The present chapel at the Third Station served as his oratory.  It was blessed by the Latin Patriarch in 1897.

 In 1881, the Vicar at the time, Father Joachim Toumaian who had been appointed in 1877, discovered the mosaic pavement depicting in its center a pair of sandals, thought to represent the spot where Jesus met his Mother (Fourth Station).  A small chapel was erected on El Wad Street to commemorate this event.

The construction of the church marking the Third and Fourth Stations began at the same time as that of the Vicariate.  The latter was finished in 1885 and the church in 1905.  Enlargements followed in 1950 and 1964.

Patriarchal Exarch: Rt. Rev. Nersès Joseph Zabbara

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PARISHES:

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Most Rev. Maroun Lahham

Emeritus Archbishop and Patriarchal Vicar  for Jordan

Born on July 20, 1948 in Irbed, Jordan, he was ordained Priest on June 24, 1972; appointed Bishop of Tunis on September 8, 2005 and consecrated Bishop on October 2, 2005; promoted to the title of the first Archbishop of Tunis on May 22, 2010. On January 19, 2012, he was transferred to Titular Bishopric of Madaba and appointed Auxiliary and Patriarchal Vicar for Jordan. Resigned on February 4, 2017. 

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Most Rev. Krikor-Okosdinos Coussan

Bishop of Iskanderiya (Alexandria) and
Armenian Catholic Patriarchal Exarch of Jerusalem and Amman

Born in Aleppo, Syria, on June 17, 1953, was ordained Priest on December 24, 1980, appointed Bishop of Alexandria (Iskanderiya) on September 9, 2003 and ordained on May 9, 2004. Without interrupting his function as Bishop of Iskanderiya, on November 25, 2015 he was appointed Patriarchal Exarch of Jerusalem and Amman.

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Rt. Rev. George Dankayé 

Patriarchal Administrator of the

Armenian Catholic Patriarchal Exarchate of  Jerusalem and Amman

Mgr. George Dankayé (Kévork Noradounguian) was born in Aleppo, Syria, on November 16, 1968. Served as Rector of the Pontifical Armenian College (Rome). Mitred Archpriest. Appointed Apostolic Administrator ad nutum Sanctae Sedis of the Armenian Catholic Patriarchal Exarchate of Jerusalem and Amman on April 30, 2014.

Address:         Via Dolorosa, III Station (Old City)

P.O.B. 19546

9119401 Jerusalem

Tel.: (02) 628 42 62
Fax: (02) 627 21 23

E-mail: [email protected]     

E-mail: [email protected]

Most Rev. Msgr. Joseph Kelekian

Armenian Catholic Patriarchal Exarch of Jerusalem

Born in Beyrouth in April 18, 1950; ordained as Priest on December 1973, in the Armenian Catholic Cathedral of St. Gregory and the Prophet Elija of Lebanon; appointed Patriarchal Exarch on August 8 and arrived in Jerusalem on December 20,2011.