Mar Antonios Boutros Khoreiche, a great patriarch soon we commemorate the event represented in its time of resignation, 17 November 1985, Bishop Khoreiche patriarch of his seat (he died nine years later, August 19, 1994). We all still remember this very difficult time which passed through Lebanon and in which a man's destiny has been closely linked.
Mar Antonios Boutros be Khoreiche was a wonderful, kind and generous which has suffered greatly as a witness the difficulties in which struggling community and his country. But over the years, his task was over a man could stand and age was his enemy. He preferred, and it is not easy to take such a decision, make way for a patriarch younger and more dynamic. This phase of the history of Lebanon is a pivotal time in the future of the Maronite community and Lebanon.
This patriarch remains in our memory as a being of great simplicity and kindness, which also has great intelligence and great capacity for work, and it For all these reasons he was elected. Doctor of Philosophy in Rome at age 16, he was director of the seminary's school of Wisdom, a member of the committee of bishops of Vatican II, a member of the committee in charge of the status of the clergy and Christian people during the period of Council II, a member of the Roman Curia for the trial of the saints. Until his patriarchate, he remains a member of the committee in charge of the revision of canon law and oriental president of the Legal Committee of the Assembly of Catholic Patriarchs and Bishops in Lebanon (APECL), curator and assistant general patriarchal, with Bishop Nasrallah Sfeir, the patriarchal church of April 11, 1974 until his election as patriarch February 3, 1975. Ain Ebel, the wonderful, which has seen so many heroes, he mixed with all communities and border problems experienced by almost since he was also at one point patriarchal vicar of the Holy Land.
He understood, presenting his resignation to the Holy Father at the age of 78 years, the Maronite community has within it the prelates gifted high capacity, would make the right choice. What they did indeed naturally by electing his successor. He made the right choice if we think of his fatigue and functions that have exacting was due to his strength but not his wisdom.
He did not see fit to fight against that tired, afraid to make decisions that would not help the Maronite community, or Lebanon, but, by contrast, would use and greatly weaken their forces as they led a fierce struggle for survival. He thought, perhaps, its decisions are not necessarily the best, and he had the intellectual and moral honesty, and courage to withdraw. Nobody forced them, he was master of himself, and that's what made it great.
We bow to his memory and we say here below: we still keep you a special memory for the courage you had and more for your admirable humility and modesty, you were the greatest among us.
May God always has in His great mercy and gives you the space you deserve from Him. With us here, you have it in our hearts and our minds.
Joseph W. ZOGHBI
hilda.barhoum @ wanadoo.fr
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