His Holiness Patriarch James III
Patriarch of Antioch & Jerusalem
His Holiness was bornin Le Mans (Sarthe) on December 17th1945. In 1984 he joined the Orthodox Church of France. He entered the monastic life on July 8, 1984 as a Novice Monk. He was ordained as a Subdeacon on November 1st , 1986, a Deacon on January 3rd, 1988 and a Priest on December 17th, 1988. In 1994, he joined the Melkite Orthodox Church and was elevated to the rank of Archimandrite.
In 2011 he founded the Orthodox Church of Europe, on April 2nd, 2011 he was consecrated by Orthodox Patriarch Moses of Ukraine for the Orthodox Church of Europe, as Bishop of Lyon in Paris. On May 7th 2012, he was elevated to the rank of Archbishop of Paris and given the dignity of Metropolitan of Europe. On April 17th, 2015 in Paris, he took the monastic vows of Grand Habit.
On October 10th 2015, he was elected Primate and President of the Holy Synod of the Orthodox Church of Europe. On April 17th, 2015, he took the monastic vows of the Great Habit (Great Schema) on the feast day of the Mother of God Life-Giving Source. In 2021 then Metropolitan Jacques was elected Patriarch with 160,000 Orthodox faithful voted for Metropolitan Jacques to head the newly established Patriarchate.
The enthronement ceremonies of His Beatitude James III took place on April 30 and May 1st, 2021, near Orleans, at the monastery of the Most Holy Mother of God and Saint Nectarios of Aegina, seat of the Patriarchate.
Today the Patriarch of Antioch & Jerusalem have jurisdictions in over 95 countries in five continents, plus 400 Bishops and 1800 Priests and more than 30,000 faithful.
The Patriarchate by the Grace of God is flourishing every day where jurisdictions and churches are being established.
His Education, Degrees & Work
Doctor Honoris Causa in Theology, Saint Melaine School;
Doctor Honoris Causa, International Orthodox Academy of Advanced Theological StudiesDoctor. hc Prof. Academico - Frederico II
Corona Reale Uomo di Pace - Frederico II
Ambasciatore umanista nel Mondo - Frederico IIPresident of the International Orthodox Academy of Advanced Theological StudiesHonorary Member of the Padre Pio Academy,
Superior General of the Chaplaincy Corps,
President of the Council for Peace of Nations,
Co-President of the World Alliance of Canonical Orthodox Churches Honorary President of the International Court of Mediation and Arbitration Former Labour Court Judge in Paris
President of the Orthodox Relief NGO
In 2017, he established with Pastor Sostha Muvuma: The World of United Christians which brings together all Christians beyond the borders of religions, Catholics, Protestants and Orthodox without exclusivity in order to proclaim together the divine Brotherhood of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Children of the same Father, we want to achieve the goal of proudly carrying the Love of our God and acting for Peace in the world. The goal is to unite several tens of millions of Christians.
His Medals
Gold Medal and Grand Necklace of Heads of State (Senate 2022)
Silver Medal of the City of Paris
Medal of Honor of the Austrasian
Regiment Civic Star Silver
Gold Medal of the Civic Star
Commander of the Universal League of Public Good Silver
Medal Rifle Regiment Fürst Karl Anton von Bohenzollern No. 40
European Police Gold Medal
NATO Medal Medal of the City of Milan
Caesar of the Frederico II Academy
Knight of the Military Order of Saint George