Melkite Greek Catholic Patriarchal Exarchate of Istanbul

Patriarchal Exarchate of Istambul (Melkite Greek)
Location
Country	Turkey
Ecclesiastical province	Patriarchate of Antioch
Statistics
Population - Catholics	(as of 2013) 20
Parishes	1
Information
Denomination	Melkite Greek Catholic Church
Rite	Byzantine Rite
Established	11 June 1911
Current leadership
Pope	Francis
Patriarch	Gregory III Laham
Patriarchal Exarch	Sede vacante

Melkite Greek Catholic Patriarchal Exarchate of Istanbul is a immediate Exarchate of the Melkite Greek Catholic Church in Istanbul. It reports directly to the Melkite Patriarch of Antioch.

Territory and statistics

The Patriarchal Exarchate covers all territory of Turkey and its seat is in Istambul. Its Cathedral episcopal see is the Ayatriada Rum Katoliki Kilise in Istanbul (Holy Trinity Rum Catholic Church). As of 2013 it was the sole parish of the exarchate and has 20 parishioners. It is currently without a parish priest.

History

Melkite Catholic Patriarchal Exarchate of Istambul was founded on June 11, 1911. From 1946 to September 1955, Archimandrite Maximos Mardelli was its Patriarchal Exarch. On November 25, 1996 Louis Pelâtre, AA, was named the Patriarchal administrator. On April 16, 2016, Fr. Rubén Tierrablanca Gonzalez, O.F.M, was named administrator of the exarchate with the retirement of Bishop Pelâtre.

Exarchs

• Maximos Mardelli (1946 - September, 1955)
• Louis Pelâtre (November 25, 1999 - 2016, Patriarchal Administrator)
• Rubén Tierrablanca Gonzalez (since April 16, 2016, Administrator)

External links

• http://www.gcatholic.org/dioceses/diocese/ista3.htm
• http://www.pgc-lb.org/eng/melkite_greek_catholic_church/Patriarchal-Exarchate-of-Istanbul