our leadership  

Our Leadership

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. 2021 Patriarch of Antioch & Jerusalem with jurisdiction over 71 countries. 2025 records jurisdictions reflect more than 100 counters. 

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
Civic Star Silver-Gilt Medal
Gold Medal of the Civic Star
Commander of the Universal League of Public Good
Silver Medal Rifle 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


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The Most Reverend George
Metropolitan Archbishop of Great Britain
 
His Eminence read Theology in the USA where he attained a MA Degree in Divinity. He also holds a MA Degree in Business Administration from Cornell University as well and a PHD in Eastern Theology. On the 22nd of April 1991, on the Vigil of the feast of Saint George the Great Martyr, he formally took the monastic vows in accordance to the Eastern Orthodox Church Tradition. On the 23rd of April 1991 at the Divine Liturgy, he was ordained to the Holy Deaconate. On the 23rd of April 1992, he was ordained to the Holy Priesthood where he served in many parishes in the USA. 

In August 1994 he was elevated to the rank of Archimandrite. In June 1995 he was consecrated Titular Bishop. In 1998, His Eminence was asked to take on reinvigorating the missionary work in Eastern Africa. His mission was to create a strong Christian community mission work and education system in this part of the world. In 2005, he established a missionary school in Elegu, a town in Northern Region of Uganda. It sits across the international border from the town of Nimule, South of Sudan. In an effort to aid the children who lost their parents during South of Sudan civil war, he founded in 2014, an Orphanage in Juba. The Orphanage took care of 52 children and sheltered displaced women. Working in Africa, Bishop George had the opportunity to work closely with many International Humanitarian Organizations and was successful in the many projects he was overseeing. In spending time in these trouble areas in the world, His Eminence  had the opportunity to work closely with many International Humanitarian Organizations and was successful in the many projects he was overseeing.

In 2016, after spending many years in Central Equatoria and East Africa, the Middle East where he worked closely with Refugees’ Camps, Orphanages and Field Hospitals, he moved to the United Kingdom to continue his mission. On Sunday April 1st 2018, Easter Sunday, His Eminence founded Together For Christ (TFC), a Christen International Association For Unity, an association for the promotion of Christian Unity & Faith. 

Part of its  mission is to engage with national and international conferences and facilitate group research projects; and to seek partnership with people and institutions both locally and around the world in order to contribute to their mission of teaching and transmitting the faith; the aim of work is to engage contemporary culture in light of Eastern Christian faith and traditions.

On October 2021, His Eminence, Bishop George then, was elevated to the rank of Metropolitan Archbishop to serve Great Britain. In 2022, he was awarded by the Sovereign Hospitaller Order of Saint John of Jerusalem, Knights of Malta the Ukrainian Relief Medal of Honour in recognition to his aid and support to the refugees of Ukraine.

On the 26th of April 2023, Metropolitan Archbishop George was received into the Patriarchate of Antioch & Jerusalem by His Holiness His Holiness Patriarch James III.

His Eminence is proficient in: English, Arabic, Patristic Greek, Classical Hebrew and Aramaic.