Germanos Adam (born in 1725 in
Aleppo
Aleppo is a city in Syria, which serves as the capital of the Aleppo Governorate, the most populous Governorates of Syria, governorate of Syria. With an estimated population of 2,098,000 residents it is Syria's largest city by urban area, and ...
, Syria – died on 10 November 1809 in
Zouk Mikael, Lebanon) was the
Melkite Catholic bishop of the
Archeparchy of Aleppo during the late 18th century and a
Christian theologian.
Life
Germanos Adam was born in 1725
in
Aleppo
Aleppo is a city in Syria, which serves as the capital of the Aleppo Governorate, the most populous Governorates of Syria, governorate of Syria. With an estimated population of 2,098,000 residents it is Syria's largest city by urban area, and ...
,
Syria
Syria, officially the Syrian Arab Republic, is a country in West Asia located in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Levant. It borders the Mediterranean Sea to the west, Turkey to Syria–Turkey border, the north, Iraq to Iraq–Syria border, t ...
, and studied in the
College of the Propaganda in
Rome
Rome (Italian language, Italian and , ) is the capital city and most populated (municipality) of Italy. It is also the administrative centre of the Lazio Regions of Italy, region and of the Metropolitan City of Rome. A special named with 2, ...
. In December 1774 he was appointed eparch and on December 25 of the same year consecrated
Melkite Catholic eparch of Acre by
Melkite Patriarch of Antioch,
Theodosius V Dahan. In July 1777 he became
archbishop of Aleppo, but due to the persecution by the
Greek Orthodox Church of Antioch
The Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch (), also known as the Antiochian Orthodox Church and legally as the Rum (endonym), Rūm Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch and All the East (), is an autocephalous Greek Orthodox church within the wider ...
, he dwelt for most of his life in
Zouk Mikael,
Lebanon
Lebanon, officially the Republic of Lebanon, is a country in the Levant region of West Asia. Situated at the crossroads of the Mediterranean Basin and the Arabian Peninsula, it is bordered by Syria to the north and east, Israel to the south ...
.
From 1792 to 1798 he traveled in
Italy
Italy, officially the Italian Republic, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe, Western Europe. It consists of Italian Peninsula, a peninsula that extends into the Mediterranean Sea, with the Alps on its northern land b ...
, where he came in contact with
Jansenist circles and in particular with
Scipione de' Ricci.
When he returned to Syria he was highly esteemed by Patriarch
Agapius II Matar and played an important role in the
1806 Melkite Catholic Church's synod in Qarqafe (or ''Karkafeh'').
Germanos Adam died in Zouk Mikael on 10 November 1809.
Doctrine
The doctrine of Germanos Adam was deeply influenced by the theological works of the 18th century
Gallicans and
Jansenists (like
Febronius), which he read during his studies in Rome, and mainly by his 1792-8 travel in Italy where he became friend of the Jansenist Scipione de' Ricci.
Consequently, in his 1799 book ''Réponse de Mgr Germanos Adam, évêque d'Alep et de ses environs à l'ouvrage intitulé: Voix des Pères missionaires consultés par S. S. le patriarche Mar-Ignace-Michel, patriarche syrien d'Antioche (1), le tout bienheureux, et par Mgr Ignace, le très respectable évêque de Beyrouth'', Adam supported the doctrine of
Conciliarism, and stated that the
papal authority was more honorary than actual.
Further he affirmed that an explicit
epiclesis
The epiclesis (also spelled epiklesis; from , ) refers to the invocation of one or several gods. In ancient Greek religion, the epiclesis was the epithet used as the surname given to a deity in religious contexts. The term was borrowed into the Ch ...
was essential in the
Eucharistic consecration, a statement that implied the
invalidity of the
Mass
Mass is an Intrinsic and extrinsic properties, intrinsic property of a physical body, body. It was traditionally believed to be related to the physical quantity, quantity of matter in a body, until the discovery of the atom and particle physi ...
as celebrated in the
Latin liturgical rites
Latin liturgical rites, or Western liturgical rites, is a large family of ritual family, liturgical rites and Use (liturgy), uses of public worship employed by the Latin Church, the largest particular church ''sui iuris'' of the Catholic Church ...
of the
Latin Church
The Latin Church () is the largest autonomous () particular church within the Catholic Church, whose members constitute the vast majority of the 1.3 billion Catholics. The Latin Church is one of 24 Catholic particular churches and liturgical ...
.
His works were attacked by the
Maronite
Maronites (; ) are a Syriac Christianity, Syriac Christian ethnoreligious group native to the Eastern Mediterranean and the Levant (particularly Lebanon) whose members belong to the Maronite Church. The largest concentration has traditionally re ...
Patriarch
Joseph Tyan who in March 1801 wrote an
encyclical
An encyclical was originally a circular letter sent to all the churches of a particular area in the ancient Roman Church. At that time, the word could be used for a letter sent out by any bishop. The word comes from the Late Latin (originally fr ...
to his faithfuls against Adam's ideas, but the Melkite Patriarch
Agapius II Matar in June 1801 defended the doctrine of Adam as correct. Moreover, Germanos Adam wrote a
catechism
A catechism (; from , "to teach orally") is a summary or exposition of Catholic theology, doctrine and serves as a learning introduction to the Sacraments traditionally used in catechesis, or Christian religious teaching of children and adult co ...
that was used for popular instruction. Adam's doctrine was confirmed by the 1806 Melkite
Synod of Qarqafe, which acts were signed also by Patriarch Joseph Tyen and by Aloisio Gandolfi, the
Apostolic Legate.
The next years were marked by the reaction to his ideas. Adam himself made amends for the
sacrament
A sacrament is a Christian rite which is recognized as being particularly important and significant. There are various views on the existence, number and meaning of such rites. Many Christians consider the sacraments to be a visible symbol ...
al part of his work and before he died he humbly submitted all his works to
Rome
Rome (Italian language, Italian and , ) is the capital city and most populated (municipality) of Italy. It is also the administrative centre of the Lazio Regions of Italy, region and of the Metropolitan City of Rome. A special named with 2, ...
for examination. In 1812 a formal condemnation of the Jansenist and Gallican doctrine, issued by
Propaganda Fide, was signed by all the
Eastern Catholic Churches
The Eastern Catholic Churches or Oriental Catholic Churches, also known as the Eastern-Rite Catholic Churches, Eastern Rite Catholicism, or simply the Eastern Churches, are 23 Eastern Christian autonomous (''sui iuris'') particular churches of ...
. On 3 June 1816
Pope Pius VII condemned Adam's works and his catechism. The actions of the 1806 Melkite Synod of Qarqafe were finally condemned by the
Apostolic Letter ''Melchitarum Catholicorum Synodus'' () issued by
Pope Gregory XVI
Pope Gregory XVI (; ; born Bartolomeo Alberto Cappellari; 18 September 1765 – 1 June 1846) was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 2 February 1831 to his death in June 1846. He had adopted the name Mauro upon enteri ...
on 3 June 1835.
Notes
Sources
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External links
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Adam, Germanos
1725 births
1809 deaths
18th-century Eastern Catholic bishops
19th-century Eastern Catholic bishops
18th-century Christian theologians
19th-century Christian theologians
Melkite Greek Catholic bishops
Syrian Melkite Greek Catholics
Religious leaders from Aleppo