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The Melkites, or Byzantine (Greek) rite Catholics of Middle Eastern origin, are the descendants of the early Christians of Antioch (Syria) (cf. Acts 11:26).Melkites are perhaps the oldest continuous Christian community in the world. Antioch was one of the first cities to become a center of the Christian faith. As the capital of the province, Antioch was to become the site of the area’s most prestigious Church.The beginnings of The Melkite Greek Catholic Church is documented in the Book called Acts of the Apostles in the New Testament of the Holy Bible. Antioch is the second most frequently mentioned city in Acts of the Apostles.Christianity was established in this area of the Middle East by St. Peter where he started his apostolic journey before he traveled on to the imperial city of Rome and he became its Bishop. In the 5th century, there arose individuals who said that Christ was not truly God and truly man as well. They would not accept the teaching of the Catholic Church as defined by the Council of Chalcedon (451A.D.) Those in the Middle East who did accept the decision of Chalcedon followed the lead of the Byzantine emperor and were dubbed Melkites or King's Men from the Aramaic word "melek" meaning King.Today, the term Melkite is used to refer to those Catholics whose ancestry is Middle Eastern and who follow the Byzantine Catholic tradition in worship, theology, and spirituality. Rome was the most powerful city in early Western Europe and spread her manner of worship throughout the surrounding area, and to the Greek capital, Constantinople (originally called Byzantium), spread her traditions and customs to the nearest countries.Life of St. John Chrysostom, our PatronSaint John Chrysostom was born in Antioch, Syria around the middle of the fourth century. His father was an officer in the Roman army and his mother a woman of devout faith. At the age of twenty he retired to the desert, outside the city of Antioch for prayer and fasting and eventually became a monk. After seven years in the desert, he was forced by failing health to return to Antioch in 381 A.D. and was ordained to the diaconate later that year. In 386 A.D., he was ordained to the priesthood and became what amounted to chancellor for the Archbishop of Antioch.In 397 A.D., upon the death of Nectarius, Archbishop of Constantinople, Saint John was elected as his successor and installed as Patriarch of the capital city of the empire in 398 A.D. Saint John was critical of many superfluous concerns of the Church of Constantinople and redirected much of the wealth of the Church to assist the poor, establish monasteries, support hospitals and house the homeless. Through his preaching, Saint John won for himself the Empress Eudoxia as a violent enemy. She was disturbed by his public condemnations of her lavish living and had Saint John exiled in 403 A.D. The population of Constantinople along with an earthquake fored the Empress Eudoxia to reconsider the exile of the Patriarch and he returned to the city. For a period of four years, Saint John fluctuated between exile and his Patriarchal See at the instigation of the Empress Eudoxia and Emperor Arcadios. In 407 A.D., he died during a final exile at Comanos on 14 September.Saint John Chrysostom, meaning the "Golden-mouthed", is remembered for his great homiletic eloquence and ranks as one of the greatest pastors of the Church. He is also commemorated on two other dates of our Church calendar. On January 27th, the transfer of His Holy remains from Comanos to Constantinople and on January 30th along with Saint Basil the Great and Saint Gregory the Theologian, the Feast of the Three Holy Hierarchs.The members include the holy Cherubim, Seraphim, Thrones,Dominations, Virtues, Powers,Principalities, Archangels and Angels.
Influences: THE CATHOLIC CHURCH AND HER SISTER CHURCHES. INCLUDING ALL THE PATRIARCHS OF THE EAST. THE MELKITE, ORTHODOX. COPTIC CHURCHES.
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