His Holiness Patriarch James III Patriarch of Antioch & Jerusalem
His Holiness was bornin Le Mans (Sarthe) on December 17th1945. In 1984 he joined the Orthodox Church of France. He entered the monastic life on July 8, 1984 as a Novice Monk. He was ordained as a Subdeacon on November 1st, 1986, a Deacon on January 3rd, 1988 and a Priest on December 17th, 1988. In 1994, he joined the Melkite Orthodox Church and was elevated to the rank of Archimandrite.
In 2011 he founded the Orthodox Church of Europe, on April 2nd, 2011 he was consecrated by Orthodox Patriarch Moses of Ukraine for the Orthodox Church of Europe, as Bishop of Lyon in Paris. On May 7th , 2012, he was elevated to the rank of Archbishop of Paris and given the dignity of Metropolitan of Europe.
On April 17th, 1915 in Paris, he took the monastic vows of Grand Habit. On October 10th 2015, he was elected Primate and President of the Holy Synod of the Orthodox Church of Europe. On April 17th, 2015, he took the monastic vows of the Great Habit (Great Schema) on the feast day of the Mother of God Life-Giving Source.
In 2021 then Metropolitan Jacques was elected Patriarch with 160,000 Orthodox faithful voted for Metropolitan Jacques to head the newly established Patriarchate. The enthronement ceremonies of His Beatitude James III took place on April 30 and May 1st, 2021, near Orleans, at the monastery of the Most Holy Mother of God and Saint Nectarios of Aegina, seat of the Patriarchate.
Today the Patriarch of Antioch & Jerusalem have jurisdictions in over 95 countries in five continents, plus 400 Bishops and 1800 Priests and more than 30,000 faithful. The Patriarchate by the Grace of God is flourishing every day where jurisdictions and churches are being established.
Education, Degrees & Work 2017 Honorary Doctorate Doctor Honoris Causa in Theology Honoris Causa of the Frederico II Academy Doctor Honoris Causa of the International Orthodox Academy of Advanced Theological Studies 2018 Co-Chair of the World Alliance of Canonical Orthodox Churches Doctor hc from the School of Advanced Studies in Theology, Saint Melaine Dott. prof. Honoris Causa of the Frederico II Academy Co-Chair of the World Alliance of Canonical Orthodox Churches President of Orthodox Relief President of the International Orthodox Academy of Advanced Theological Studies Doctor hc from the School of Advanced Studies in Theology, Saint Melaine Dott. prof. Honoris Causa of the Frederico II Academy Co-Chair of the World Alliance of Canonical Orthodox Churches President of Orthodox Relief President of the International Orthodox Academy of Advanced Theological Studies
His Holiness established & co-chaired with General Savoiu, Archon of the Ecumenical Patriarch, since 2016, the World Alliance of Canonical Orthodox Churches which brings together all Orthodox Churches, large, medium and small in the Orthodox Tradition and the same Love in our Lord Jesus Christ. The goal is to unite several million Orthodox faithful in agreement with the Ecumenical Patriarch Batholome I.
In 2017, he established with Pastor Sostha Muvuma: The World of United Christians which brings together all Christians beyond the borders of religions, Catholics, Protestants and Orthodox without exclusivity in order to proclaim together the divine Brotherhood of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Children of the same Father, we want to achieve the goal of proudly carrying the Love of our God and acting for Peace in the world. The goal is to unite several tens of millions of Christians.
Medals Gold Medal and Grand Necklace of Heads of State (Senate 2022) Silver Medal of the City of Paris Medal of Honor of the Austrasian Regiment Gold Medal of the Civic Star Civic Star Silver-Gilt Medal Gold Medal of the Civic Star Commander of the Universal League of Public Good Silver MedalRifle Regiment Fürst Karl Anton von Bohenzollern No. 40 European Police Gold Medal NATO Medal Medal of the City of Milan Caesar of the Frederico II Academy Knight of the Military Order of Saint George