The Melkite Greek Catholic Archeparchy of Akka, Haifa, Nazareth, and All Galilee is one of the oldest Christian communities in the world. Rooted in the land where Christianity was born, the Archeparchy serves nearly 74,000 faithful across 37 parishes throughout the Galilee region — from the Mediterranean port of Haifa to the hills of Nazareth, from ancient Acre to the villages of Upper Galilee.
We are the largest Christian community in Israel, comprising approximately 60% of the country’s Christians.
Our Identity
The Melkite Greek Catholic Church stands at a unique crossroads of Christian tradition:
- Eastern — heir to the Patriarchate of Antioch, traditionally founded by the Apostle Peter
- Byzantine — following the ancient Byzantine liturgical rite in worship and sacraments
- Catholic — in full communion with the Holy See in Rome
- Arabic-speaking — virtually the entire Byzantine liturgy is celebrated in Arabic, except for the familiar Greek refrain Kyrie Eleison
The word "Melkite" derives from the Semitic root m-l-k (meaning "royal") and was historically applied to Eastern Christians who accepted the Council of Chalcedon (451 AD).
This unique intersection — Eastern yet Catholic, Byzantine yet Arabic — is our gift to the universal Church.
Our History
The Melkite Christian presence in Galilee reaches back to the dawn of Christianity, to the very land where Christ walked, preached, and called His first disciples.
Key milestones:
- 1753 — Diocese restored as a Melkite see by Patriarch Cyril VI Tanas, attached to Tyre
- 1804 — Melkite bishops began permanent residence in Acre
- November 18, 1964 — Elevated to an Archeparchy by Pope Paul VI
The Cathedral
St. Elias Greek-Melkite Cathedral, Haifa serves as the cathedral and headquarters of the Archeparchy. It is the spiritual center of the Melkite community in Haifa and throughout Galilee.
The Melkite Church in the Holy Land
The Melkite Greek Catholic Church is the largest Catholic community in both Israel and Syria, and the second largest in Lebanon. Our faithful are centered primarily in the Levant — Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Israel, and Palestine — with significant diaspora communities worldwide.
The Archeparchy is part of the Melkite Catholic Patriarchate of Antioch, led by His Beatitude Patriarch Joseph Absi, Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, Alexandria, and Jerusalem.
Our Mission
The Archeparchy of Galilee is committed to:
- Strengthening faith and unity among the Melkite faithful in Galilee and beyond
- Preserving the holy sites and ecclesiastical heritage in the land where Christianity began
- Expanding our reach to younger generations and international communities
- Serving the community through educational, charitable, and social initiatives
- Promoting dialogue — carrying a message of peace and respect for all