Appointment of the eparchial bishop of Saïdā of the Maronites, Lebanon

The Synod of Bishops of the Patriarchal Maronite Church has elelcted as eparchial bishop of Saïdā of the Maronites, Lebanon, His Excellency Msgr. Maroun Ammar, currently apostolic administrator sede vacante of the same eparchy.

Msgr. Maroun Ammar

Msgr. Maroun Ammar was born in Hajé, in southern Lebanon, on 10 February 1956. After completing his secondary studies at the minor seminary of Ghazir, he continued his philosophical and theological formation at the “Saint Esprit” University of Kaslik, obtaining a licentiate in theology (1982).

He was ordained a priest on 17 September 1983 for the eparchy of Tiro of the Maronites. He obtained a licentiate in Arabic language and literature from the Lebanese University (1986), a doctorate in canon law from the Institut Catholique in Paris in 1994, and a diploma in European legislation, and until 1986 was one of the animators of the minor seminary of Ghazir. In this period, he gave Sunday service in the “Saint Georges” parish in Sarba. From 1986 to 1991 he was parish priest of “Notre Dame” in Alma Chaab in the diocese of Tiro; from 1991 to 1995 he collaborated in the “Saint Médard” parish in Paris. In 1996 he was appointed as president of the Maronite Tribunal of Haifa in Israel. From 1997 to 2007 he was responsible for the preparatory year of the major seminary of Ghazir, where he became rector in 2007. He is judge of the Court of Appeals of the Maronite Tribunal of Lebanon from 1997.

He was granted the title of chorbishop in 2008.

In 2012 he was elected as patriarchal vicar of Joubbé, Lebanon, and titular bishop of Canata.

Since January 2017 he has served as apostolic administrator sede vacante of the eparchy of Saïdā. He speaks Arabic and French.