Ignatius Zakka I facts for kids
Quick facts for kids His Holiness Moran Mor Ignatius Zakka I Iwas Patriarch of Antioch and All the East |
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| 122nd Patriarch of the Universal Syriac Orthodox Church | |
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| Native name | ܐܝܓܢܐܛܝܘܣ ܙܟܝ ܩܕܡܝܐ ܥܝܘܐܨ إغناطيوس زكا الأول عيواص, |
| Church | Syriac Orthodox Church |
| See | See of Antioch |
| Appointed | 14 September 1980 |
| Reign ended | 21 March 2014 |
| Predecessor | Ignatius Ya`qub III |
| Successor | Ignatius Aphrem II |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | 17 November 1957 |
| Consecration | 17 November 1963 (as Bishop) 14 September 1980 (as Patriarch) by Ignatius Ya`qub III (as bishop) Baselios Paulose II (as Patriarch) |
| Personal details | |
| Birth name | Sanharib Iwas |
| Born | 21 April 1931 Mosul, Iraq |
| Died | 21 March 2014 (aged 82) Kiel, Germany |
| Buried | Sts. Paul and Peter Cathedral, Marrat Saidnayya, Damascus, Syria |
| Nationality | Iraqi/Syrian/Lebanese |
| Denomination | Syriac Orthodox |
| Previous post | Archbishop of Baghdad and Basra Archbishop of Central Europe Metropolitan Bishop of Mosul |
| Alma mater | City University of New York General Theological Seminary |
Ignatius Zakka I Iwas was a very important leader of the Syriac Orthodox Church. He was the 122nd Patriarch of Antioch and All the East. This means he was the main spiritual head of the entire Universal Syriac Orthodox Church.
He was born Sanharib Iwas on April 21, 1931. He passed away on March 21, 2014. People also knew him by his special church name, Severios. He became Patriarch on September 14, 1980, in Damascus, Syria. He took over from Ignatius Ya`qub III. It's a tradition for the head of the church to adopt the name Ignatius.
Patriarch Zakka was well-known for working with other Christian churches. This effort is called ecumenism. He was also a president of the World Council of Churches. He wrote many books. Before becoming a metropolitan bishop, he attended the Second Vatican Council as an observer. When he was chosen as Patriarch, he was serving as the archbishop of Baghdad and Basra. As Patriarch, he started a special school for monks. He also met with Pope John Paul II when the Pope visited Syria in 2001. He helped many bishops take on their roles, including Baselios Thomas I in India. He celebrated 25 years as Patriarch in 2005.
He was admitted to a hospital in Germany on February 20, 2014. He died there on March 21, 2014.
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Early Life and Education
Sanharib Iwas was born in Mosul, Iraq, on April 21, 1931. His parents named him after Sennacherib, who was the father of Saint Behnam. He went to elementary school at Our Lady's Parish. Then he moved to St. Thomas Syriac Orthodox Church School in Mosul.
In 1946, he began studying theology at the Mor Ephrem seminary in Mosul. At the seminary, his birth name was changed to Zakka. In 1948, he became a deacon with the rank of Reader. In 1953, he was promoted to the rank of subdeacon. The next year, Iwas decided to become a monk. He left Mosul to work as a secretary for two patriarchs: Ignatius Aphrem I Barsoum and then Ignatius Jacob III. In 1955, he became a full deacon.
On November 17, 1957, Patriarch Ya`qub III made Deacon Zakka a priest. Two years later, he gave him a special cross as an rabban. In 1960, he went to New York City to study more. He studied oriental languages and earned a master's degree in English from the City University of New York. He also got another master's degree in pastoral theology from the General Theological Seminary.
Becoming a Metropolitan Bishop
In 1962 and 1963, Rabban Zakka was chosen by the patriarch to be an observer at the Second Vatican Council. This was a very important meeting for the Catholic Church. On November 17, 1963, Patriarch Ya'qub made him a metropolitan bishop. He was given the name Mor Severios Zakka.
The next year, something interesting happened in Mosul. During repairs at the metropolitan church, what were believed to be the remains of Apostle Thomas were found. In 1969, Mor Severios became the archbishop of Baghdad and Basra. Nine years later, he also became responsible for the new diocese in Australia.
Patriarch of the Syriac Orthodox Church
After Patriarch Ignatius Ya`qub III passed away on June 25, 1980, Mor Severios Zakka was chosen to be the next Patriarch. The church's synod (a council of bishops) elected him as the 122nd Syriac Patriarch of Antioch. He officially became Patriarch on September 14, 1980. This day is known as the feast of the Cross.
He was enthroned by Mor Baselios Paulose (Paul) II at St. George's Patriarchal Cathedral in Damascus, Syria. It is a tradition for the head of the church to take the name Ignatius. Since he was the first Patriarch named Zakka, his full name is often written as Ignatius Zakka I Iwas. His full title in Syriac means:
- His Holiness Ignatius Zakka I Iwas, Patriarch of Antioch
Patriarch Zakka was very active in ecumenism. This means he worked to build understanding and cooperation among different Christian churches. He also served as the president of the World Council of Churches.
Zakka was a member of several important groups that study history and culture. He wrote many books about Christian education, theology, history, and culture. He wrote in Syriac, Arabic, and English. He started a special school for monks called the Monastery of St. Ephrem The Syrian. This monastery opened on September 14, 1996, in Marrat Saidnaya. It is part of a bigger plan for different church centers.
In 2001, Pope John Paul II visited Syria. He made a historic visit to Patriarch Zakka in Damascus on May 6. The meeting took place at St. George's Patriarchal Cathedral. The next year, Iwas installed Mor Dionysius Thomas as the Catholicos of India. He was given the title Mor Baselios Thomas I. In 2005, celebrations were held to mark the Patriarch's 25th anniversary as leader.
Pastoral Visits Around the World
Ignatius Zakka traveled outside Syria many times to visit his church members. He mainly visited India, where most Syriac Orthodox Christians live. He also visited Europe, where many Syriac Orthodox people have moved.
- His first visit to India was from February 3 to March 27, 1982. He met with Indian government officials and leaders of different Indian churches.
- He visited India again in April 2000 for three days. This was to attend the 50th anniversary of Mor Cleemis Abraham.
- His third visit to India was in September 2004. This two-week trip was for his 25th anniversary as Patriarch.
- His fourth and last visit was in 2008. This two-week trip was for the 80th birthday celebration of Catholicos Mor Baselios Thomas I.
Death
Patriarch Zakka was taken to a hospital in Kiel, Germany, on February 20, 2014. He passed away on March 21, 2014, after a heart attack. He was buried on March 28 at St. Peter's and St Paul's Cathedral in Marrat Saidnayya, Damascus.
On May 29, 2014, Mor Ignatius Aphrem II became the new Patriarch after him.
See also
- List of Syriac Orthodox Patriarchs of Antioch
- Malankara Jacobite Syriac Orthodox Church
