The Catholic Melkites.

THE PATRIARCHATE OF MAXIMOS MAZLOUM In the early nineteenth century the major problem facing the Catholic Melkite church was to find a way of dealing with the factions created by the activities of Germanos Adam. Patriarch Agapios II believed that a first, sure step would be better education for the clergy. A synodal decision of 1811 established a seminary approximately fifteen miles south of Beirut at Ἀyn Traz where a secular clergy might be formed. All parties in the church agreed that the seminary constituted a useful step, but the appointment of its rector renewed old conflicts, for Patriarch Agapios selected Bishop Maximos Mazloum for the post. Maximos Mazloum had been one of the protégés of Germanos Adam, who had ordained him, associated him with his family of clerics in Aleppo, and brought him as his personal secretary to the synod of Karkafeh where Germanos won his most important victory. When Germanos died in 1809, a majority on the Melkite episcopal synod chose Maximos Mazloum to succeed him, but the minority opposed to Germanos and led by Ignatios Sarruf of Beirut immediately challenged the election and appealed to Rome over the head of the patriarch. Their remonstrance won over a majority of the Catholic Melkites in Aleppo so that Maximos was unable to take possession of his see. The contest over Maximos' election occurred while Rome was in turmoil and the pope a prisoner of Napoleon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]