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Melkite Greek Catholic Church Information Center

Melkite Greek Catholic Church in Turkey - Turk

No Current Parish

My understanding from several sources is that there is no Melkite Parish.

Previous Parish

There was a Melkite Parish in Instanbul / Constantinope. Archimandrite Maximos Mardelli was the pastor when the parish closed.
In 1946, Archimandrite Maximos Mardelli, was appointed Patriarchal Vicar in Istanbul, Turkey. He represented the Melkite Patriarch there and also the Maronite, Syrian and Armenian Catholic Patriarchs. Patriarch Maximos IV Sayegh elevated him to the honor of Archimandrite in 1953 for his success in advancing the Melkite Church.
The Melkite Church building was destroyed in Anti-Greek roits. Some sources say the date was Sept. 1955 and other say 1957.
Because Archimandrite Maximos Mardelli was not aTurkish citizen, he could not remain in Istanbul.
Archimandrite Maximos Mardelli went to the United States as Assistant Pastor at the Church of the Virgin Mary in Brooklyn, NY.
My understanding is that the Melkite Church property eventually passed to the Chaldean Church.

Cave Church in Turkey Caving In Authorities Close St. Peter's Grotto

By Marta Lago

ANTIOCH, Turkey, MARCH 12, 2008 (Zenit.org).- The Cave Church of St. Peter, considered the first Christian church in Antioch, has been closed due to structural concerns.

Capuchin Father Egidio Picucci, noted historian of Turkey and the Early Church, confirmed Sunday to L'Osservatore Romano that Turkish authorities closed the church March 1 due to risks that the structure could cave in.

Also known as St. Peter's Grotto, the church is a natural cave on the western face of Mount Stauris, which towers over Antioch.

After the collapse of large sections, said Father Picucci, "the possibility that further collapses could constitute a serious danger for the security of visitors led the museum directors -- for the Turkish government St. Peter's Grotto is only a museum -- to take these measures."

It is widely believed that St. Peter himself dug the cave as a place for the first community of Christians in Antioch to gather.

Father Picucci explained that St. Peter's Grotto, although it is "full of ancient Christian symbols [...] is a place dear to all inhabitants of Antioch, including Muslims."

"On the feast of St. Peter," he said, "everyone comes to get blessed bread and to drink water," which is considered "miraculous," and is brought home by residents and to the sick.

The stone church, he added, is "particularly dear to the Catholic and Orthodox communities," who always celebrate Christmas and Easter together in the grotto.

email this article: http://www.zenit.org/article-22036?l=english

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Melkite Greek Catholic Church Information Center is dedicated to my cousins: Bucky (Richard C. Liles), Shirley (Shirley Jean Liles Buck), and Donna (Donna Bertha Liles Campbell). Bucky fell asleep in the Lord on Dec. 12, 2000, Shirley fell asleep in the Lord on Nov. 8, 2001, and Donna fell asleep in the Lord on March 9, 2020.
O God of all spirits and of all flesh, who have destroyed death, overcome the devil, and given life to the world: grant, O Lord, to the souls of your servants Bucky and Shirley, who has departed from this life, that it may rest in a place of light, in a place of happiness, in a place of peace, where there is no pain, no grief, no sighing. And since You are a gracious God and the Lover of Mankind, forgive him/her every sin he/she has committed by thought, or word, or deed, for there is not a man who lives and does not sin : You alone are without sin, your righteousness is everlasting, and your word is true. You are the Resurrection and the Life, and the repose of your departed servants Bucky and Shirley. O Christ our God, and we send up glory to You, together with your eternal Father and your all-holy, good and life-giving Spirit, now and always and for ages upon ages. Amen.

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