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