The Catechism of the Catholic Church declares that “[t]he mystery celebrated in the liturgy is one, but the forms of its celebration are diverse . . . . The liturgical traditions or rites presently in use in the Church are the Latin [principally the Roman Rite] and the Byzantine, Alexandrian or Coptic, Syriac, Armenian, Maronite, and Chaldean rites . . . . Holy Mother Church holds all lawfully recognized rites to be of equal right and dignity, and that she wishes to preserve them in the future and to foster them in every way’ (Sacrosanctum Concilium)” (CCC paragraphs 1200-1203).

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The Melkite Catholic Church falls under the Byzantine Rite, in full communion with the Pope of Rome while maintaining our unique and ancient forms of worship, theology, and spirituality. We trace our roots back to the apostolic age in the city of Antioch, where, according to Holy Tradition, our church was founded by St. Peter on his way to Rome. Our Church has celebrated the Liturgies of St. John Chrysostom and St. Basil the Great since the 4th century AD, what we call Divine Liturgy, the Eastern equivalent to the Roman Catholic Mass. Because we reaffirmed union with the Roman Catholic Church in 1724, all Catholics, Roman or otherwise, are welcome and permitted to receive the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ in the Eucharist at our parish.

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Our Church remains headquartered in Damascus, Syria, where resides Patriarch Youssef Absi. Here in America, our parish is part of the Eparchy of Newton, and our Bishop is Francois Beyrouti. Our liturgical languages are Greek and Arabic, but the majority of our liturgy is in English at our parish here in Akron, OH.

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Learn more about the Melkite Catholic Church at melkite.org.