Abou Rjeily Website

Patriarch Theodosius IV Abou Rjeily (1885-1970)

Theodosius Abou Rjeily was the Greek Orthodox patriarch of Antioch and all the East from 1958 to 1970.

He is Najib Spiridon / Salim / Bechara / Saber / Elias / Atallah / Elias / Atallah Abou Rjeily.

He had five siblings: two sisters and two brothers. These included: Maryam (a nun in the Monastrery of Saint Mary in Ashrafieh, Lebanon); Abraxia (married); Georgi and Gebran.

Najib Spiridon was raised in the Orthodox Christian Faith within the church of Antioch. He was born in Arsoun (Metn, Mount Lebanon, Close to Salima village) in 1885. In 1887 his family moved to Ashrafieh in Beirut, Lebanon.


Theodosius VI Abou Rjeily, Greek Orthodox patriarch of Antioch and all the East	Patriarch Theodosius VI Abou Rjeily surrounded by Lebanese immigrants to the USA. To his right, Anthony Bashir, the Metropolitan Archbishop of America. In the back row, the sixth from the left, Mr. William Samuel Bourjaily (1898-1976). Picture taken in 1936

Patriarch Theodosius Abou Rjeily

Spiridon received his early education at the elementary school " Ecole des Trois Docteurs" in Ashrafieh, Beirut. Then he continued his studies at the Kasibiya school in Damascus, Syria. Later, he joined the theological school at the Monastery of Our Lady of Balamand in Tripoli in north Lebanon.

During the course of his studies, he felt a strong vocation to the monastic way. He moved to Damascus, where he lived in the patriarchal Monastry, under the guidance of Patriarch Meletius II (Doumani), and he continued his studies at the Orthodox Syriac School in Damascus. The patriarch noticed his intelligence and sinserity, and he perceived he nmight eventually become a priest. At an unknown date in Damascus, Patriarch Meletius tonsured Spiridon to be a Monk, and he was given rhe name of Theodosius.

The Monk Theodosius (Abou Rjeily) was then sent to the Balamand Monastery for further formation and education. At the monastery, the Monk Theodosius replaced the cotton mattress in his cell with one stuffed with straw. He showed equal respect to the students and to the teachers. At that time, the seminary of the Balamand Monastery prospered and flourished, and it gave many of its students to the service of the Church. The principal of the school itself at that time and its teachers were secularists. However, amongst his older companions were people who were good examples in true monastic life, such as Antonius Moubayed of Homs, Mikhail Siyoufi of Damascus, and Mikhail Shehada of Kuspa (later of Homs). Due to the good behaviour of the Monk Theodosius, his attention and diligence about his studies, and his continual achievement of high grades, the teachers and students respected him.

In 1905, the Monk Theodosius (Abou Rjeily) was ordained to the Holy Diaconate by Metropolitan Gregory (Haddad) of Tripoli.
In 1908, the Hierodeacon Theodosius (Abou Rjeily) was transferred to the Archdiocese of Diyar Bak (Diyarbakir) in Southeastern Turkey to help Metropolitan Sylvester (Zerouni). There, he also learnt the Turkish language. That diocese of the Church of Antioch still existed at that time. After the repose of Archbishop Sylvester, he remained in the diocese. After the election of Archbishop Matthias (Qatni) to the Diyarbakir diocese in 1912, he returned to Damascus and resumed his studies.
In 1912, he was sent to Constantinople (Istanbul) to study and improve his theological education. He first received a degree from a school in Istanbul. Then he studied for a time in the Halki Theological Seminary of the Patriarchate of Constantinople on the Island of Halki. At that time, Aristokles Spyrou (later Ecumenical Patriarch Athenagoras (Spyrou)) was also a student there. At this time, Hierodeacon Theodosius also improved his Greek language skills.
In 1914, Hierodeacon Theodosius (Abou Rjeily) was assigned to serve as a representative of the Church of Antioch to the Church of Greece in Greece Athens, Greece.
In 1914, Hierodeacon Theodosius was assigned to serve as a liaison officer between the Antiochian Patriarchate and the Turkish government, and he served the Orthodox Christian communities both in Syria and in Lebanon.
In 1915, Hierodeacon Theodosius successfully completed all his studies in Istanbul and Halki. He returned to Damascus.
In 1915, the Hierodeacon Theodosius (Abou Rjeily) was ordained to the Holy Priesthood by Patriarch Gregory IV (Haddad). Patriarch Gregory IV immediately elevated the Hieromonk Theodosius (Abou Rjeily) to the dignity of archimandrite. Archimandrite Theodosius (Abou Rjeily) became the personal secretary to Patriarch Gregory IV (Haddad), during which time, he received the nickname “the translator” because of his language abilities. By this time, he had become fluent in speaking the Arabic, French, Greek, Turkish, and Syriac languages, and he had a working knowledge of the English and Russian languages as well. He was given the responsibility of translating amongst these languages in the patriarchate.
The Diocese of Tyre and Sidon and its dependencies passed through a severe financial crisis. After their Bishop Elias (Dib) obtained a travel permit from Patriarch Gregory to go abroad for fundraising purposes, Archimandrite Theodosius (Abou Rjeily) was assigned to administer the diocese. However, after a time, the Holy Synod received a message from Bishop Elias that he chose to remain in Chile, and that he would not return to the Diocese of Tyre and Sidon.
In 1923, Archimandrite Theodosius (Abou Rjeily) was elected by the Holy Synod of the Church of Antioch to become a bishop. Then he was ordained to the Holy Episcopate by Patriarch Gregory IV (Haddad) and the bishops of the Church of Antioch.
Bishop Theodosius was assigned to serve as the Metropolitan Archbishop of the Diocese of Tyre and Sidon in south Lebanon. He was ordained as the sixth bishop of this diocese, after the first Bishop Anastasius in 1583. He held this position for 25 years.
On 27-28 October, 1931, Metropolitan Theodosius (Abou Rjeily) represented the Antiochian Orthodox Church as he participated in the Orthodox-Old Catholic Conference in Bonn, Germany.
In 1935–1936, on behalf of Patriarch Alexander III (Tahan), Metropolitan Theodosius made a tour of the parishes of the Antioch Orthodox Church in the USA. During this time, he guided the very difficult process towards the election of a new archbishop for the Syrian Orthodox in North America that resulted in the election and episcopal ordination of Metropolitan Antony (Bashir) of New York City.
On 19 April, 1936, Archimandrite Anthony (Bashir) was ordained to the Holy Episcopate in the Cathedral of Saint Nicholas in Brooklyn, New York. He was ordained by Metropolitan Theodosius (Abou Rjeily) of the Diocese of Tyre, Sidon and Dependencies, together with Archbishop Vitaly (Maximenko). Despite the agreements that had been achieved about unity on the part of all, divisions once again appeared and persisted for a time. Nevertheless, the work which Metropolitan Theodosius (Abou Rjeily) accomplished under the blessing of Patriarch Alexander III (Tahan) established a firm foundation for the Antiochian Archdiocese and for the fuller reconciliations which would come later.
In 1945, Metropolitan Theodosius (Abou Rjeily) accompanied Patriarch Alexander III (Tahan) on his visit to the Church of Russia in the Soviet Union. This visit was in connexion with the enthronement of Patriarch Alexei I (Simansky).
In 1948, Metropolitan Theodosius was transferred and assigned by the Holy Synod of the Church of Antioch to lead the Archdiocese of Tripoli and al-Koura in Lebanon.
Metropolitan Theodosius was an example of a good and faithful shepherd whose priority was worshipping his Lord, and nurturing the diocese he led. During his episcopal service, many activities and projects were undertaken in Tripoli, North Lebanon. Several associations were established in the diocese, including the Association of the Orthodox Faith Soldiers. Several schools were established : Al-Islah in Amioun, and the Orthodox "Al-Qayyah". He also built and restored many churches, such as the Church of Saint Michael, and also the Church of Saint John the Baptist Church in Kfar Aaqa. During the last years of the life of Patriarch Alexander III, Metropolitan Theodosius was the oldest member of the episcopate of the Antioch Orthodox Church. As the senior bishop, in 1953, he led the celebrations of the 50th anniversary of the episcopacy of Patriarch Alexander.
In September, 1954, Metropolitan Theodosius again accompanied Patriarch Alexander III (Tahan) on his visit to the Church of Russia in the Soviet Union. Patriarch Alexander was one of several heads of Orthodox Churches to write to the Soviet authorities in order to ask for an end to the very harsh treatment which the Russian Orthodox Church was at that time receiving from the Soviet State. These letters proved to contribute to a change in attitude by the state, which occurred in November, 1954.
On 17 June, 1958, after the repose in Christ of Patriarch Alexander III (Tahan), Metropolitan Theodosius (Abou Rjeily) was assigned by the Holy Synod of Antioch to serve as the Locum Tenens of the Patriarchal Throne of Antioch.
On 14 November, 1958, Metropolitan Theodosius was elected and enthroned to become Patriarch Theodosius VI (Abou Rjeily) of Antioch in the Mariamite Cathedral in Damascus, following Patriarch Alexander's death on June 17, 1958.
Patriarch Theodosius became known as Patriarch Theodosius VI (Abou Rjeily), because he was the sixth Patriarch of Antioch to serve since Apostolic times who bore the name Theodosius. His official title was Patriarch Theodosius VI (Abou Rjeily) of Antioch and All the East. The physical territory of the Patriarchate of Antioch includes Syria, Lebanon (the political distinction between Syria and Lebanon was introduced in the 20th century), Jordan and Iraq (Mesopotamia). Beyond this territory, there is “all the East”, which includes the Arabian Peninsula and beyond (historically, this included Persia, India and China). Since the days of emigration in the 20th century, the patriarchal pastoral responsibility began to include “non-territorial” Archdioceses and Exarchates which were at their beginning, and in the early states of development abroad : Australia and New Zealand, Central America, North America, South America, and Western Europe.
In 1960, Patriarch Alexei I (Simansky) of Moscow and All Rus' awarded Patriarch Theodosius an honourary doctorate degree from the Moscow Theological Academy during the Patriarch of Russia's visit to Damascus.
Patriarch Theodosius visited the Church of Bulgaria and Patriarch Kyril (Konstantinov) in 1960.
During his visits in 1961 to the heads of the Autocephalous Churches of Constantinople, Moscow, Czechoslovakia and Greece, the Patriarch of Constantinople asked Patriarch Theodosius (Abou Rjeily) to be a mediator between the Churches of Constantinople and Bulgaria to find an understanding between the 2 Churches. After the negotiations between the Churches of Constantinople, Russia and Bulgaria, the desired understanding was achieved. Thus, the Patriarchate of Constantinople recognised the legality of the independence of the Orthodox Church in Bulgaria. This was eagerly awaited by the heads of the Churches, especially the Bulgarian Patriarch Kyril (Konstantinov). Thus, the Patriarch of Antioch had an important and pivotal role on the level of inter-Orthodox relations in the world. Patriarch Theodosius founded the Patriarchal Museum in 1961. This museum includes manuscripts, books, collectibles, precious items and precious utensils. The Patriarchal Library was organised by Dr. Najeeb Mikhael Al-Sahati, director of the Institute of Greek Studies in Alexandria. He organised the manuscripts, the books, the sources and the references. Patriarch Theodosius laid the foundation stone of the first Saint John Theological Institute (Balamand) in Lebanon and the Middle East. Metropolitan Antony (Bashir) of New York and North America donated the cost of its creation. Patriarch Theodosius engaged in similar activities in the construction of Temples and Orthodox schools in Damascus. He re-published the magazine “The Journal of Grace” in 1959, which had not been published since 1914.
In 1961, Patriarch Theodosius (Abou Rjeily) sent a delegation, representing the Antiochian Orthodox Church, to the First Pan-Orthodox consultation in Rhodes, Greece. The delegation was composed of Bishop Ignatius (Hiraika) of Hama, Bishop Alexandros (Geha) of Homs, Archbishop Elias (Muawad) of Aleppo, and Dr. Najeeb Mikhael al-Sahati.
On 18 March, 1962, Patriarch Theodosius VI (Abou Rjeily), together with bishops of the Holy Synod of Antioch, ordained Archimandrite Elias (Kourban) to the Holy Episcopate. He was assigned to serve as the Metropolitan of the Archdiocese of Tripoli, al-Koura and Dependencies in Lebanon. He had been ordained to the Holy Diaconate by Patriarch Alexander III (Tahan), and to the Holy Priesthood by Metropolitan Antony (Bashir). In addition to his written works, Metropolitan Elias (Kourban) led a material and spiritual renaissance in the Archdiocese of Tripoli that included the establishment or renovation of many parishes, schools, technical institutes, charitable institutes, centres for the mentally disabled, homes for the elderly, health centres, and a school of church music.
Also in 1962, Patriarch Theodosius visited Patriarch Kyril (Markov) of Sofia and All Bulgaria, during which he led a high-level delegation. In 1963, Patriarch Theodosius (Abou Rjeily) toured the diocese of the Church of Antioch.
On 14 August, 1966, Patriarch Theodosius VI (Abou Rjeily), together with bishops of the Holy Synod of Antioch, ordained Archimandrite Philip (Saliba) (of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America) to the Holy Episcopate at the Patriarchal Monastery of the Prophet Elias in Dhour El Choueir, Lebanon. Metropolitan Philip (Saliba) later became the head of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America, which he served capably and productively for more than 40 years.
On 15 September, the patriarch returned to visit the Monastery of Saint Elias (Shwayya) in the Metn District.
In February, 1967, Patriarch Theodosius met the Armenian Orthodox Patriarch Vazgen I (Baljian). He also met with the “Standing Committee of the Eastern Churches” Conference, the antecedent of the Middle East Council of Churches. During the time of his service as patriarch, clergy were sent to Canada to serve the main centres of Syrian and Lebanese settlement : in Halifax, Charlottetown, Montréal, Ottawa, Toronto and Windsor. Newcomers to Canada were settling in the Western Provinces as well, but it was later that they formed their own distinct communities apart from the other Orthodox Christian parishes in which they worshipped. One of the patriarch’s nephews became a Hierodeacon and a Hieromonk in Canada.
On 19 September, 1970, Patriarch Theodosius (Abou Rjeily) reposed in Christ in Saint George’s Hospital in Ashrafieh, Beirut. The funeral Services for the Burial of a Hierarch were offered by the Bishops of the Holy Synod of Antioch and others in the Mariamite Cathedral in Damascus. After the funeral services, his body was interred in the Patriarchate Cemetery of the Mariamite (Mariameh) Cathedral in Damascus.
Theodosius VI was preceded by : Patriarch Alexander III (Tahan) and he was succeeded by : Patriarch Elias IV (Muawad).

His Beatitude was fluent in Arabic, French, Greek and Turkish, and had a working knowledge of English and Russian.

As Patriarch of Antioch and all the East, His Beatitude Theodosius VI had spiritual jurisdiction over 1,500,000 Orthodox Christians located mainly in Syria and Lebanon, with large communities in North, Central and South America, and Australia.