Georges Iskandar
His Eminence Georges Iskandar, BS | |
|---|---|
| Archbishop of Tyre | |
| Church | Melkite Greek Catholic Church |
| Archdiocese | Tyre |
| Appointed | 20 August 2022 |
| Predecessor | Michel Abrass |
| Successor | Incumbent |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | 11 July 1998 |
| Consecration | 8 October 2022 by Youssef Absi, Elie Bechara Haddad and Ibrahim Ibrahim |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Georges Iskandar 4 February 1968 |
| Alma mater | Holy Spirit University of Kaslik, Saint Paul University |
Georges Iskandar BS (born 4 February 1968) is a Lebanese Melkite Catholic hierarch, who has served as the Archbishop of Tyre since his appointment in August 2022.
Biography
Early life and education
Georges Iskandar was born on 4 February 1968 in Ain al-Mir, a village in the Jezzine District of South Lebanon.[1] He entered the Basilian Salvatorian Order on 18 September 1992 and made his solemn profession of vows on 21 November 1997.[2]
After completed his secondary education, he subsequently studied philosophy and theology at the Holy Spirit University of Kaslik (USEK), obtaining a licence degree in Theology. Between 2000 and 2003 he studied at the Saint Paul University in Ottawa, Canada, and obtained a licentiate in a canon law.[3]
Priesthood
Iskandar was ordained a priest on 11 July 1998 for the Basilian Salvatorian Order[2] Following his ordination he held several pastoral educational and administrative positions within his order and local dioceses including serving as rector of the minor seminary of the Basilian Salvatorian Order in Joun from 1998 to 2003[1] He also worked as chaplain and director of the boarding school of the Holy Savior in Sidon Saida between 1999 and 2006[1] During this period he was parish priest of several Melkite parishes including Saint Elie in Kfar Jerra from 2000 to 2004 and Our Lady of the Dormition in Salhiyeh from 2004 to 2006[3] He later served as parish priest of Saint Elijah in Zahlé from 2007 to 2019[1] Additionally he acted as Judicial Vicar and President of the Unified Patriarchal Ecclesiastical Court of First Instance in Lebanon[4]
Episcopate
On 20 August 2022, Pope Francis assented to his election by the Synod of Bishops of the Melkite Greek Catholic Church as the Archbishop of Tyre, succeeding Michel Abrass.[1] He was consecrated as a bishop on 8 October 2022 by Patriarch Youssef Absi, assisted by co-consecrators Archbishop Elie Bechara Haddad and Archbishop Ibrahim Ibrahim.[2]
During the 2026 conflict affecting southern Lebanon, Archbishop Iskandar remained in Tyre to support the local civilian population, providing shelter and humanitarian aid to displaced families at the archdiocese's headquarters despite active shelling in the region.[5]
References
- ^ a b c d e "Assenso del Santo Padre all'Elezione dell'Arcivescovo Metropolita di Tiro dei Melchiti (Libano)". Sala Stampa della Santa Sede. 20 August 2022. Retrieved 18 May 2026.
- ^ a b c David M. Cheney. "Archbishop Georges Iskandar, B.S." Catholic-Hierarchy.org. Retrieved 18 May 2026.
- ^ a b "انتخاب قدس الأب جورج إسكندر متروبوليتًا لأبرشية صور وتوابعها للروم الملكيين الكاثوليك" [Election of Father Georges Iskandar as Metropolitan of the Melkite Greek Catholic Archeparchy of Tyre and its Dependencies]. Cosmedin Melkite News. 20 August 2022. Retrieved 18 May 2026.
- ^ "ابن عين المير المطران جورج اسكندر راعيا لأبرشية صور" [Son of Ayn al-Mir, Bishop Georges Iskandar, Shepherd of the Diocese of Tyre]. Jezzine Tahki. 20 August 2022. Retrieved 18 May 2026.
- ^ Doreen Abi Raad (3 March 2026). "Lebanese archbishop: 'Innocents are paying the price' of Middle East war". OSV News. Retrieved 18 May 2026.
External links
- Archbishop Georges Iskandar, B.S. at Catholic-Hierarchy.org