Timoteo Hikmat Beylouni

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Timoteo Hikmat Beylouni (Arabic: تيموثاوس حكمت بيلوني; 18 November 1945 – 30 July 2026) was a Syrian-born Venezuelan Syriac Catholic hierarch, who served as the Apostolic Exarch of Venezuela for the Syriac Catholics from 2011 until his death in 2026.

Early life and ordination

Beylouni was born in Aleppo, Syria, on 18 November 1945. He made his primary and secondary education in his hometown before entering the Seminary of Charfet in Lebanon to study philosophy and theology and continuing his education at the Holy Spirit University of Kaslik in Lebanon.[1][2][3]

He was ordained a priest for the Syriac Catholic Archeparchy of Aleppo on 26 November 1972.[4] Following his ordination, he served in several pastoral roles within the Archeparchy of Aleppo and in Lebanon, including as a parish priest and as a member of the patriarchal tribunal. In 1990 he was transferred to Venezuela, where served in the different parishes and since 2006 until 2011 he was a Protosyncellus of the Syriac Catholic Apostolic Exarchate of Venezuela. In August 2023, the Exarchate celebrated the 50th anniversary of his priestly ordination with a special Mass of Thanksgiving in Venezuela.[5]

Episcopal ministry

On 1 March 2011, Pope Benedict XVI confirmed his election by the Synod of Bishops of the Syriac Catholic Church as the Apostolic Exarch of Venezuela for the Syriac Catholics, and replaced his predecessor, Iwannis Louis Awad.[3] He was also appointed Titular Bishop of Sabrata.

Beylouni received his episcopal consecration on 22 May 2011 from the Syriac Catholic Patriarch of Antioch, Ignatius Joseph III Yonan, assisted by co-consecrators Denys Antoine Chahda and Raboula Antoine Beylouni.[4]

As Exarch, he was a member of the Episcopal Conference of Venezuela (CEV).[6] His ministry focuses on the spiritual care of the Syriac Catholic diaspora in Venezuela, maintaining their liturgical traditions and Eastern heritage within the predominantly Latin Catholic country.[2]

Death

Beylouni died at the San Bernardino Hospital in Caracas on 30 July 2026, at the age of 80.[7]

References

  1. 1."Excmo. Mons. Timoteo Hikmat Beylouni". Conferencia Episcopal Venezolana. Archived from the original on 19 April 2026. Retrieved 15 April 2026.
  2. 2.[2.2]"Nuestro Obispo". Catedral La Asunción. Retrieved 15 April 2026.
  3. 3.[3.2]"Rinunce e Nomine, 01.03.2011". Holy See Press Office. 1 March 2011. Retrieved 15 April 2026.
  4. 4.[4.2]Cheney, David M. "Bishop Timoteo Hikmat Beylouni". Catholic-Hierarchy.org. Retrieved 15 April 2026.
  5. 5."Exarcado Sirio Católico Antioqueno: Eucaristía en acción de gracias por el 50 aniversario sacerdotal de Mons. Timoteo Hikmat Beylouni". Conferencia Episcopal Venezolana. 14 August 2023. Retrieved 15 April 2026.
  6. 6."Arzobispos y Obispos". Conferencia Episcopal Venezolana. Retrieved 15 April 2026.
  7. 7."Lutto nell'episcopato". L'Osservatore Romano (in Italian). 31 July 2026. Retrieved 3 August 2026.