Apostolic Exarchate of Venezuela, Venezuela 🇻🇪 (Greek-Melkite Rite)

Continent: South America

Rite: Greek-Melkite (Byzantine)

Type: Apostolic Exarchate

Name: Venezuela / Caracen(sis) Græcorum Melkitarum (Latin)

Immediately subject to the Holy See

Neighbouring Dioceses: Nuestra Señora del Paraíso en México (↖), Nossa Senhora do Paraíso em São Paulo (↓)

Depends on: Dicastery for the Eastern Churches

Website:

Celebrations

Patron Saint: San Jorge (April 23)

History

1990.02.19: Established as Apostolic Exarchate of Venezuela / Caracen(sis) Græcorum Melkitarum (Latin)

Present Prelates

Apostolic Exarch (2019.12.20 – ...):

Bishop Joseph Antoine Khawam, B.A. (58)

Titular Bishop of Apamea in Syria of the Greek-Melkites

Apostolic Administrator of Nuestra Señora del Paraíso en México of the Greek-Melkites (Mexico)

Ordinaries

Apostolic Exarchs of Venezuela (Greek-Melkite Rite)

Bishop Joseph Antoine Khawam, B.A. (58)
(2019.12.20 – ...)

Apostolic Exarch of Venezuela of the Greek-Melkites (Venezuela)
Titular Bishop of Apamea in Syria of the Greek-Melkites
Apostolic Administrator of Nuestra Señora del Paraíso en México of the Greek-Melkites (Mexico)

Born:	1968.04.14 (Aleppo, Syria)
Ordained Priest:	1995.12.16
Consecrated Bishop:	2020.03.07

Titular Bishop of Apamea in Syria of the Greek-Melkites (2019.12.20 – ...)

Apostolic Administrator of Nuestra Señora del Paraíso en México of the Greek-Melkites (Mexico) (2019.12.20 – ...)

Apostolic Exarch of Venezuela of the Greek-Melkites (Venezuela) (2019.12.20 – ...)

Bishop Georges Kahhalé Zouhaïraty, B.A. (87)
(1995.10.12 – 2019.12.20)

Titular Bishop of Abila Lysaniæ
Apostolic Exarch emeritus of Venezuela of the Greek-Melkites (Venezuela)

Born:	1938.08.01 (Aleppo, Syria)
Ordained Priest:	1966.02.02
Consecrated Bishop:	1995.12.21

Apostolic Exarch of Venezuela of the Greek-Melkites (Venezuela) (1995.10.12 – 2019.12.20)

Titular Bishop of Abila Lysaniæ (1995.10.12 – ...)

Archbishop Boutros Raï, B.A.
(1990.11.30 – 1994.06.07)

Born:	1922.11.08 (Aleppo, Syria)
Ordained Priest:	1948.06.26
Consecrated Bishop:	1968.11.10
Died:	1994.06.07 (Caracas, Venezuela † 71)

Superior General of Basilian Alepian Order (1965 – 1968.09.09)

Titular Archbishop of Edessa in Osrhoëne of the Greek-Melkites (1968.09.09 – 1988.02.27)

Bishop of Nuestra Señora del Paraíso en México of the Greek-Melkites (Mexico) (1988.02.27 – 1994.06.07)

Apostolic Exarch of Venezuela of the Greek-Melkites (Venezuela) (1990.11.30 – 1994.06.07)

Special Churches

Cathedral: Catedral San Jorge, Caracas, Distrito Federal

Nuestra Señora del Paraíso en México (↖), Nossa Senhora do Paraíso em São Paulo (↓)

Statistics (2022.12.31)

Population: 24,570 Catholics

Pastoral Centres: 3 parishes, 1 mission

Personnel: 4 priests (diocesan), 2 seminarians

Greek-Melkite Apostolic Exarchate of