Syriac Patriarchal Exarchate of

Basra and the Gulf

Iraq Iraq

Continent: Central and Southwest Asia

Rite: Syriac (Antiochian)

Type: Patriarchal Exarchate Patriarchal Exarchate

Name: Basra and the Gulf (English) / Bassorah e Golfo (Italiano)

Subject to the Patriarch

Neighbouring Dioceses: Baghdad (↖)

Depends on: Dicastery for the Eastern Churches

History

Present Prelates

Patriarchal Exarch (2020.09.10 – ...):Bishop Firas Mundher Drdr (51)Bishop Firas Mundher Drdr (51)

Titular Bishop of Tagritum of the Syriacs

Ordinaries

Patriarchal Exarchs of Basra and the Gulf (Syriac Rite)

Bishop Firas Mundher Drdr (51)Bishop Firas Mundher Drdr (51)
(2020.09.10 – ...)

Patriarchal Exarch of Basra and the Gulf of the Syriacs (Iraq)
Titular Bishop of Tagritum of the Syriacs

Born:1975.01.03 (Qaraqosh, Iraq)
Ordained Priest:2009.04.30
Consecrated Bishop:2020.10.30

Priest of Beirut of the Syriacs (Lebanon) (2009.04.30 – 2020.09.10)

Titular Bishop of Tagritum of the Syriacs (2020.09.10 – ...)

Patriarchal Exarch of Basra and the Gulf of the Syriacs (Iraq) (2020.09.10 – ...)

Msgr. Emad Ekleemes
(2014 – 2020.09.10)

Patriarchal Exarch of Basra and the Gulf of the Syriacs (Iraq) (2014 – 2020.09.10)

Fr. Eshak Marzena
(2003 – 2014)

Patriarchal Exarch of Basra and the Gulf of the Syriacs (Iraq) (2003 – 2014)

Fr. Charbel Issou
(2001 – 2003)

Patriarchal Exarch of Basra and the Gulf of the Syriacs (Iraq) (2001 – 2003)

Archbishop Athanase Matti Shaba Matoka
(1997 – 2001)

Born:1930.06.20 (Bartelli, Syria)
Ordained Priest:1954.10.17
Consecrated Bishop:1979.12.08
Died:2025.03.19 (Beirut, Lebanon † 94)

Titular Bishop of Dara Syrorum of the Syriacs (1979.08.25 – 1983.07.15)

Auxiliary Bishop of Baghdad of the Syriacs (Iraq) (1979.08.25 – 1983.07.15)

Archbishop of Baghdad of the Syriacs (Iraq) (1983.07.15 – 2010.05.25)

Patriarchal Exarch of Basra and the Gulf of the Syriacs (Iraq) (1997 – 2001)

Special Churches

Baghdad (↖)

Statistics (2022.12.31)

Population: 1,000 Catholics

Pastoral Centres: 2 parishes

Personnel: 1 priest (diocesan), 1 deacon, 2 religious (2 sisters), 1 seminarian

Population

Pastoral Centres

Priests

Deacons

Religious

Seminarians

Last updated on 2026.03.30

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