Father lbrahim, the son of Michael lbrahim and Hanneh Mahfouz, was born on March 22, 1962 in the village of Jenesneya in South Lebanon. He is the third son from a large family of seven boys and one girl.
After finishing junior high school in August 1977, Father Ibrahim entered the Seminary of Saint Savior (Deir el Moukhaless) of the Basilian Salvatorian Order. On August 15, 1979, he moved to the novitiate as a novice, where he took his first religious vows on that very same date in 1980. He then moved to the city of Jeita (near Beirut) in order to start his college education.
He was sent to Rome in 1984 by the Order to continue with Philosophical and Theological studies. On November 3, 1985 he took his perpetual vows.
Father lbrahim returned to Lebanon to receive his Deaconal Ordination on July 9, 1987, followed by his Ordination to the Priesthood on July 18, 1987. He then returned to Rome once again to specialize in Moral Theology.
Father lbrahim has Bachelor Degrees in Philosophy, from the Holy Spirit University in Kaslik, Lebanon, and in Theology, from the Gregorian Jesuit University in Rome. He has a Masters Degree in Moral Theology from the Alphonsianum (Lateranum University).
Beginning in November 1989, Father lbrahim directed the Seminary of his Order in Lebanon. For two years he worked to educate future priests despite the difficulties of the war.
In August 1991, Father lbrahim was assigned as Pastor of Saint Elias Church in Cleveland. In September of 1994, Rt. Rev. Ibrahim was appointed Protopresbyter of the Midwest Region of the Melkite Diocese. In October of 1994, he was the recipient of the first Cleveland Community Leadership Award presented by AACCESS (Arab American Community Center for Economic and Social Services).
Rt. Rev. Ibrahim initiated a weekly religious radio broadcast program in February 1997. These half hour programs were designed to reach out to the Arabic community with religious teachings, news and music in Arabic and English. Through the actions and activities of Rt. Rev. Ibrahim, the Catholic Diocese of Cleveland bestowed on St. Elias Church the 1997 Award for the promotion of Christian unity and inter-religious dialogue.
On Sunday, May 20, 2001, during the celebration of the Centenary of St. Elias Church, Patriarch Gregory III Laham elevated our Pastor Ibrahim Ibrahim to Archimandrite.
On May 21, 2002, Rt. Rev. Ibrahim organized the visit of his Beatitude, Gregory III Laham to address the National Association of Diocesan Ecumenical Officers (NADEO) Catholic Program 2002 at the National Workshop on Christian Unity in Cleveland. The Patriarch celebrated the Divine Liturgy at Saint Elias Church. Close to 100 Catholic Clergy, Bishops and Priests, concelebrated. Following the Liturgy our Parish hosted a dinner for the Patriarch and the NADEO Members and parishioners.
On Wednesday, June 18, 2003, His Holiness Pope John Paul II named Rev. Ibrahim Ibrahim, B.S.O., as Bishop of the Holy Saviour Eparchy of Montreal for Greek-Melkite Catholics in Canada. The Eparchy has been without a Bishop since the death of Most Reverend Sleiman Hajjar in March 2002. At the age of 41 Bishop Ibrahim became the youngest Melkite bishop and the youngest eparchial bishop in the Catholic Church in the whole world.
Late Bishop Sleiman Hajjar, 1998 to 2002
Bishop Sleiman was born on May 13, 1950 to a family from Jezzine, Lebanon, well known for their piety and virtue. After completing high school, he continued his studies at St. Joseph University in Beirut, where he received a degree in business administration. He then went on to study Theology and Liturgy at Holy Spirit University in Kaslik, Lebanon.
After joining the Basilian Salvatorian Order, Bishop Sleiman was ordained a priest in 1979. Prior to his arrival in Canada, he was involved in many social and cultural activities. He established a wide range of humanitarian endeavours in the Middle East and abroad, focusing especially on helping children and youth during the massive upheaval of the civil war in Lebanon. Throughout this period, he demonstrated an exceptional level of courage and strength in protecting the lives of many, and standing up for the rights of the most abandoned.
Bishop Sleiman loved the splendid past of the Melkite Catholic Church, with her ornate and magnificent Church buildings, which he graced with his presence. He loved her rich iconography, which is as deep and colourful as was his personality. He loved her melodious chants which he sung with the fullness of his heart; making the walls vibrate, and the minds and thoughts of all believers ascend directly to the throne of God.
He planned for a splendid future, which he was only beginning to realize. Bishop Sleiman’s vision of the whole Church consisted in maintaining close links to her Middle Eastern roots, while at the same time carefully and diligently addressing the numerous needs and challenges found in Canada. Those from Egypt, Lebanon, Palestine, Syria, Jordan, and Iraq, along with those of diverse and various backgrounds, formed for him one church. His desire was to see all singing, praising and rejoicing together.
As bishop, he respected and valued the opinions of all. He felt that his gift was to be with us and for us, rather than above us. He was the spiritual companion of his beloved flock - walking closely and attentively; always very near.
Bishop Michel Hakim, 19xx to 1998
Our former Eparch was Archbishop Michel Hakim. He was born on April 21, 1921 in Maghdoucheh, Lebanon. He was ordained a priest on November 10, 1947 and a bishop on Sepember 10, 1977. Prior to being appointed the Archbishop of Canada, he was the Archbishop of Sidon, Lebanon.
