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{{Short description|Syrian Melkite Catholic archbishop}}
{|style="float: right;"
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2019}}
|-
{{Infobox Christian leader
|<!-- Deleted image removed: [[Image:Kyr coussa jpg.jpg|thumb|200px|Archbishop Gabriel Acacius Coussa]] -->
| type = cardinal
|-
| honorific-prefix = His Eminence
|{{Eastern Christianity}}
| name = Gabriel Acacius Coussa
|}
| honorific-suffix = [[Basilian Aleppian Order|BA]]
'''Gabriel Acacius Coussa''' (August 3, 1897 - July 29, 1962) was a [[Melkite Greek Catholic Church|Melkite Catholic]] archbishop, expert in [[canon law]] and [[Cardinal (Catholicism)|cardinal]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fiu.edu/~mirandas/bios-c.htm#Coussa|title=COUSSA, B.A., Gabriel Acacius (1897-1962)|last=Miranda|first=Salvador|work=The Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church|publisher=Florida International University|accessdate=2008-10-16}}</ref> He served as secretary of the Congregation for the Eastern Churches and was the first [[Eastern Catholic Churches|Eastern Catholic]] to hold this position.
| native_name =
| native_name_lang =
| title = [[Congregation for the Oriental Churches|Secretary of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches]]
| church = [[Melkite Greek Catholic Church]]
<!-- Commented out because image was deleted: | image = Coat of arms of Cardinal Coussa.jpg -->
| image_size = 200px
| alt =
| caption = Coat of arms of Cardinal Coussa
| archdiocese =
| province =
| metropolis =
| diocese =
| see =
| elected =
| appointed =
| term =
| term_start = 4 August 1961
| quashed =
| term_end = 29 July 1962
| predecessor = [[Amleto Giovanni Cicognani]]
| opposed =
| successor = [[Gustavo Testa]]
| other_post = [[Sant'Atanasio|Cardinal-Priest of Sant'Atanasio]]
<!---------- Orders ---------->
| ordination = 25 December 1920
| ordained_by = [[Isaias Papadopoulos]]
| consecration = 16 April 1961
| consecrated_by = [[Pope John XXIII]]
| cardinal =
| created_cardinal_by =
|
<!---------- Personal details ---------->
| birth_name = Léon Gabriel Coussa
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1897|8|3|df=yes}}
| birth_place = [[Aleppo]], [[Aleppo Vilayet]], [[Ottoman Empire]]
| death_date = {{Death date and age|1962|7|29|1897|8|3|df=yes}}
| death_place = [[Rome]], [[Italy]]
| buried = [[Sant'Atanasio]]
| nationality = Syrian
| religion = [[Melkite Greek Catholic Church|Melkite Catholic]]
| residence =
| parents =
| spouse =
| children =
| occupation =
| profession =
| previous_post = {{unbulleted list|Secretary of the Pontifical Commission for the Authentic Interpretation of the Code of Canon Law (1946–1961)|Titular [[Archbishop of Hierapolis in Syria]] dei Greco-Melkiti (1961–1962)}}
| education =
| alma_mater =
| motto = Misericordiam Et Veritatem Diligit Dominus
| signature =
| signature_alt =
| coat_of_arms =
| coat_of_arms_alt =
<!---------- Sainthood ---------->
| feast_day =
| venerated =
| saint_title =
| beatified_date =
| beatified_place =
| beatified_by =
| canonized_date =
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| canonized_by =
| attributes =
| patronage =
| shrine =
| suppressed_date =
<!---------- Other ---------->
| other =
}}{{Infobox cardinal styles
| cardinal name = Gabriel Acacius Coussa
| dipstyle = His Eminence
| offstyle = Your Eminence
| see = [[Sant'Atanasio]]
}}
'''Gabriel Acacius Coussa''', [[Basilian Aleppian Order|BA]] (3 August 1897 – 29 July 1962) was a [[Syrian]] [[Melkite Greek Catholic Church|Melkite Catholic]] archbishop, expert in [[canon law]] and [[Cardinal (Catholicism)|cardinal]]. He served as secretary of the Congregation for the Eastern Churches and was the first [[Eastern Catholic Churches|Eastern Catholic]] to hold this position.


==Early life==
==Early life==


Léon Gabriel Coussa was born in in [[Aleppo]], [[Syria]] in 1897 to Rizcallah Coussa and his wife, Suzanne. He had two brothers, Georges and Nsri. His primary and part of his secondary education was at the Franciscan and Jesuit schools in Aleppo. Coussa joined the Order of St. Basil of the Melkites of Aleppo at the monastery of Saint-Georges Deir-es-Chir in 1911. When admitted to the novitiate in 1912, he took the name Acacius. He was then sent to Rome to Collège Saint-Atanase.
Léon Gabriel Coussa was born in [[Aleppo]], [[Syria]], in 1897 to Rizcallah Coussa and his wife, Suzanne. He had two brothers, Georges and Nasri. His primary and part of his secondary education was at the [[Franciscans|Franciscan]] and [[Jesuit]] schools in Aleppo. Coussa joined the [[Basilian Aleppian Order|Order of St. Basil of the Melkites of Aleppo]] at the monastery of Saint-Georges Deir-esh-Chir in 1911. When admitted to the novitiate in 1912, he took the name Acacius. He was then sent to Rome to Collège Saint-Atanase.


Coussa made the simple profession on November 21, 1914 in the church of the Navicella. During [[World War I]] he fled to Switzerland because he was a Turkish citizen. He spent eighteen months in the Benedictine monastery of Einsiedeln, where he continued his theological studies. He returned to Rome on November 9, 1916 thanks to the intervention of the Holy See with the Italian government. He continued his studies at the [[Pontifical Urbanian Athenaeum]] and resided at the Pontifical Greco-Roman College.
Coussa made the simple profession on 21 November 1914 in the church of the Navicella. During [[World War I]] he fled to Switzerland because he was a Turkish citizen. He spent eighteen months in the [[Benedictines|Benedictine]] monastery of Einsiedeln, where he continued his theological studies. He returned to Rome on 9 November 1916 thanks to the intervention of the Holy See with the Italian government. He continued his studies at the [[Pontifical Urban University]] and resided at the Pontifical Greco-Roman College.


He made the solemn profession on July 6, 1918 at the church of the Navicella, and received the minor orders. On July 11, 1920, he was ordained a [[deacon]]. He then obtained a doctorate in both canon and civil law on November 4, 1922. Coussa was ordained a priest of the [[Basilian Aleppian]] order on December 20, 1920 in Rome by Isaïe Papadopoulos, titular bishop of Grazianopoli, assessor of the Sacred Congregation of the Oriental Church.
He made the solemn profession on 6 July 1918 at the church of the Navicella, and received the minor orders. On 11 July 1920 he was ordained a [[deacon]]. He then obtained a doctorate in both canon and civil law on 4 November 1922. Coussa was ordained a priest of the [[Basilian Alepian Order]] on 20 December 1920 in Rome by [[Isaias Papadopoulos]], titular bishop of Grazianopoli, assessor of the Sacred Congregation of the Oriental Church.


==Priesthood and episcopal service==
==Priesthood and episcopal service==


Coussa served as director of the Melkite Scholasticate in Beirut from 1921 to 1925. He was then chosen as assistant general of his order, a position he occupied from December 19, 1925 to May 20, 1934. While in that role he also acted as Superior of the monastery of Deir-es-Cheir in 1929.
Coussa served as director of the Melkite Scholasticate in Beirut from 1921 to 1925. He was then chosen as assistant general of his order, a position he occupied from 19 December 1925 to 20 May 1934. While in that role he also acted as Superior of the monastery of Deir-esh-Chir in 1929.


In late 1929 he left for Rome, where he was the delegate of the Melkite hierarchy in the commission for the preparatory studies for the codification of the Oriental canon law. While in Rome he also assumed the position of professor of canon law at the Pontifical Roman Athenaeum from 1932 until 1936. Coussa began service as the assistant to the Pontifical Commission for the Preparation of the Oriental Canon Law on March 21, 1933; when the commission was charged with the redaction of the Code of Oriental Canon Law, he became its secretary, July 16, 1935. From 1936 until 1953 he served as professor of the Latin Code of Canon Law, at the Pontifical Institute "Utriusque Iuris," Rome. Beginning in 1946 he served as dean of the faculty of canon law at the university. On March 3, 1946 Father Coussa was appointed Secretary of Interpretation of the Code of Canon Law for the Roman Curia.<ref>[http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bcoussag.html Catholic Hierarchy], retrieved May 2007</ref> He was an acquaintance of [[Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli]], who later was elected [[Pope John XXIII]].<ref>Sabrina Arena Ferrisi. [http://www.catholic.net/RCC/Periodicals/Igpress/2001-01/vatican.html Reaching to the East]. Catholic.net, retrieved May 2007</ref>. Coussa was elected Assessor of the Sacred Commission for the Oriental Church on January 15, 1953.
In late 1929 he left for Rome, where he was the delegate of the Melkite hierarchy in the commission for the preparatory studies for the codification of the Oriental canon law. While in Rome he also assumed the position of professor of canon law at the Pontifical Roman Athenaeum from 1932 until 1936. Coussa began service as the assistant to the Pontifical Commission for the Preparation of the Oriental Canon Law on 21 March 1933; when the commission was charged with the redaction of the Code of Oriental Canon Law, he became its secretary, 16 July 1935. From 1936 until 1953 he served as professor of the Latin Code of Canon Law, at the Pontifical Institute "Utriusque Iuris", Rome. Beginning in 1946 he served as dean of the faculty of canon law at the university. On 3 March 1946 Father Coussa was appointed Secretary of Interpretation of the Code of Canon Law for the Roman Curia.<ref>[http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bcoussag.html Catholic Hierarchy], retrieved May 2007</ref> He was an acquaintance of [[Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli]], who later was elected [[Pope John XXIII]].<ref>Sabrina Arena Ferrisi. [http://www.catholic.net/RCC/Periodicals/Igpress/2001-01/vatican.html Reaching to the East]. Catholic.net, retrieved May 2007</ref> Coussa was elected Assessor of the Sacred Commission for the Oriental Church on 15 January 1953.


On February 26, 1961 he was consecrated titular Archbishop of Hierapolis/Gerapoli for the Melkite Church. Coussa was consecrated bishop April 16, 1961 in the [[Sistine chapel]], by Pope John XXIII, assisted by Giovanni Mele, bishop of Lungro, for the Italo-Albanians of Continental Italy, by Giuseppe Perniciaro, titular bishop of Arbano, auxiliary and vicar general of the apostolic administrator of Piana degli Albanesi, by Archmandrite Théodore Minisci, higoumène of the Italo-Greek monastery of Grottaferrata, and by Archmandrite Ambroise Kassis, superior general of the Basilian Order of Aleppo. He was then named Pro-Secretary of the [[Congregation for the Oriental Churches|Congregation for the Eastern Churches]] on August 4, 1961.
On 26 February 1961 he was elected titular Archbishop of Hierapolis/Gerapoli for the Melkite Church. Coussa was consecrated bishop 16 April 1961 in the [[Sistine Chapel]], by Pope John XXIII, assisted by Giovanni Mele, bishop of Lungro, for the Italo-Albanians of Continental Italy, by Giuseppe Perniciaro, titular bishop of Arbano, auxiliary and vicar general of the apostolic administrator of Piana degli Albanesi, by Archmandrite Théodore Minisci, higoumène of the Italo-Greek monastery of Grottaferrata, and by Archmandrite Ambroise Kassis, superior general of the Basilian Order of Aleppo. He was then named Pro-Secretary of the [[Congregation for the Oriental Churches|Congregation for the Eastern Churches]] on 4 August 1961.


In March 1962 Coussa was elevated to Secretary of the Congregation for the Eastern Churches and appointed Cardinal-Priest of [[Sant'Atanasio|Saint Atanasio]]<ref>[http://www.gcatholic.com/churches/cardinal/119.htm Cardinal Title S. Atanasio] Giga Catholic Information</ref>. He was the first [[Eastern Catholic Churches|Eastern Catholic]] to serve as the head of the Congregation. His tenure, however, was short. Coussa died unexpectedly in Rome due to peritonitis caused by appendicitis<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fiu.edu/~mirandas/bios-c.htm#Coussa|title=COUSSA, B.A., Gabriel Acacius (1897-1962)|last=Miranda|first=Salvador|work=The Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church|publisher=Florida International University|accessdate=2008-10-16}}</ref> on July 29, 1962, just as the [[Second Vatican Council]] was opening.<ref>[http://www.melkite.org/xCouncil/Council-1.htm "The Melkite Church at the Council"]. www.Melkite.org, retrieved May 2007</ref> His remains were transferred to the church of [[Sant'Atanasio|S. Atanasio]], Rome, his cardinalitial title, in May 1963.
On 13 August 1961, Coussa was appointed Pro-Secretary of the [[Congregation for the Eastern Churches]].<ref>{{cite book |url = http://www.vatican.va/archive/aas/documents/AAS-53-1961-ocr.pdf | page= 575 |access-date = 20 June 2020 | date= 1961 | volume = LIII |title = Acta Apostolicae Sedis }}</ref> On 19 March 1962, he was appointed Cardinal-Priest of [[Sant'Atanasio|Saint Atanasio]].<ref>[http://www.gcatholic.org/churches/cardinal/119.htm Cardinal Title S. Atanasio] GCatholic.org</ref> He was the first [[Eastern Catholic Churches|Eastern Catholic]] to serve as the head of the Congregation. His tenure, however, was short. Coussa died unexpectedly in Rome due to peritonitis caused by appendicitis<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fiu.edu/~mirandas/bios-c.htm#Coussa|title=COUSSA, B.A., Gabriel Acacius (1897-1962)|last=Miranda|first=Salvador|work=The Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church|publisher=Florida International University|accessdate=16 October 2008}}</ref> on 29 July 1962, just as the [[Second Vatican Council]] was opening.<ref>[http://www.melkite.org/xCouncil/Council-1.htm "The Melkite Church at the Council"]. www.Melkite.org, retrieved May 2007</ref> His remains were transferred to the church of [[Sant'Atanasio|S. Atanasio]], Rome, his cardinalitial title, in May 1963.


==See also==
==See also==


*[[Maximos IV Sayegh]], Melkite Greek Catholic Patriarch
*[[Maximos IV Sayegh]], Melkite Greek Catholic Patriarch
*[[Joseph Raya]]
*[[Joseph Raya]]

==References==

{{Reflist}}


==External links==
==External links==
*[http://www.pgc-lb.org/english/index.shtml Melkite Greek Catholic Patriarchate of Antioch, Alexandria and Jerusalem]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20030417235752/http://www.kwtelecom.com/heraldry/lazarus/history.html#T5 Melkite Greek Catholic Patriarchate of Antioch, Alexandria and Jerusalem]
*[http://www.opuslibani.org.lb/melkitmenu.html L'Église Melkite/The Melkite Church].
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20030417235752/http://www.kwtelecom.com/heraldry/lazarus/history.html#T5 L'Église Melkite/The Melkite Church].
*[http://www.mliles.com/melkitecatholic/index.shtml Melkite Catholic Web Ring].
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20080927014042/http://www.mliles.com/melkitecatholic/index.shtml Melkite Catholic Web Ring].
*[http://www.melkite.org Official Website of the Melkite Church in the US].
*[http://www.melkite.org Official Website of the Melkite Church in the US].
*[http://phoenicia.org/melkites.html Extensive history of the Melkite Church]
*[http://phoenicia.org/melkites.html Extensive history of the Melkite Church]


{{Authority control}}
==References==

{{Reflist}}


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[[Category:20th-century Syrian people]]

[[Category:20th-century Eastern Catholic archbishops]]
[[de:Gabriel Acacius Coussa]]
[[fr:Gabriele Acacio Coussa]]
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Revision as of 13:29, 20 July 2024

His Eminence

Gabriel Acacius Coussa

Secretary of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches
ChurchMelkite Greek Catholic Church
Installed4 August 1961
Term ended29 July 1962
PredecessorAmleto Giovanni Cicognani
SuccessorGustavo Testa
Other post(s)Cardinal-Priest of Sant'Atanasio
Previous post(s)
  • Secretary of the Pontifical Commission for the Authentic Interpretation of the Code of Canon Law (1946–1961)
  • Titular Archbishop of Hierapolis in Syria dei Greco-Melkiti (1961–1962)
Orders
Ordination25 December 1920
by Isaias Papadopoulos
Consecration16 April 1961
by Pope John XXIII
Personal details
Born
Léon Gabriel Coussa

(1897-08-03)3 August 1897
Died29 July 1962(1962-07-29) (aged 64)
Rome, Italy
BuriedSant'Atanasio
NationalitySyrian
DenominationMelkite Catholic
MottoMisericordiam Et Veritatem Diligit Dominus
Styles of
Gabriel Acacius Coussa
Reference styleHis Eminence
Spoken styleYour Eminence
Informal styleCardinal
SeeSant'Atanasio

Gabriel Acacius Coussa, BA (3 August 1897 – 29 July 1962) was a Syrian Melkite Catholic archbishop, expert in canon law and cardinal. He served as secretary of the Congregation for the Eastern Churches and was the first Eastern Catholic to hold this position.

Early life

Léon Gabriel Coussa was born in Aleppo, Syria, in 1897 to Rizcallah Coussa and his wife, Suzanne. He had two brothers, Georges and Nasri. His primary and part of his secondary education was at the Franciscan and Jesuit schools in Aleppo. Coussa joined the Order of St. Basil of the Melkites of Aleppo at the monastery of Saint-Georges Deir-esh-Chir in 1911. When admitted to the novitiate in 1912, he took the name Acacius. He was then sent to Rome to Collège Saint-Atanase.

Coussa made the simple profession on 21 November 1914 in the church of the Navicella. During World War I he fled to Switzerland because he was a Turkish citizen. He spent eighteen months in the Benedictine monastery of Einsiedeln, where he continued his theological studies. He returned to Rome on 9 November 1916 thanks to the intervention of the Holy See with the Italian government. He continued his studies at the Pontifical Urban University and resided at the Pontifical Greco-Roman College.

He made the solemn profession on 6 July 1918 at the church of the Navicella, and received the minor orders. On 11 July 1920 he was ordained a deacon. He then obtained a doctorate in both canon and civil law on 4 November 1922. Coussa was ordained a priest of the Basilian Alepian Order on 20 December 1920 in Rome by Isaias Papadopoulos, titular bishop of Grazianopoli, assessor of the Sacred Congregation of the Oriental Church.

Priesthood and episcopal service

Coussa served as director of the Melkite Scholasticate in Beirut from 1921 to 1925. He was then chosen as assistant general of his order, a position he occupied from 19 December 1925 to 20 May 1934. While in that role he also acted as Superior of the monastery of Deir-esh-Chir in 1929.

In late 1929 he left for Rome, where he was the delegate of the Melkite hierarchy in the commission for the preparatory studies for the codification of the Oriental canon law. While in Rome he also assumed the position of professor of canon law at the Pontifical Roman Athenaeum from 1932 until 1936. Coussa began service as the assistant to the Pontifical Commission for the Preparation of the Oriental Canon Law on 21 March 1933; when the commission was charged with the redaction of the Code of Oriental Canon Law, he became its secretary, 16 July 1935. From 1936 until 1953 he served as professor of the Latin Code of Canon Law, at the Pontifical Institute "Utriusque Iuris", Rome. Beginning in 1946 he served as dean of the faculty of canon law at the university. On 3 March 1946 Father Coussa was appointed Secretary of Interpretation of the Code of Canon Law for the Roman Curia.[1] He was an acquaintance of Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli, who later was elected Pope John XXIII.[2] Coussa was elected Assessor of the Sacred Commission for the Oriental Church on 15 January 1953.

On 26 February 1961 he was elected titular Archbishop of Hierapolis/Gerapoli for the Melkite Church. Coussa was consecrated bishop 16 April 1961 in the Sistine Chapel, by Pope John XXIII, assisted by Giovanni Mele, bishop of Lungro, for the Italo-Albanians of Continental Italy, by Giuseppe Perniciaro, titular bishop of Arbano, auxiliary and vicar general of the apostolic administrator of Piana degli Albanesi, by Archmandrite Théodore Minisci, higoumène of the Italo-Greek monastery of Grottaferrata, and by Archmandrite Ambroise Kassis, superior general of the Basilian Order of Aleppo. He was then named Pro-Secretary of the Congregation for the Eastern Churches on 4 August 1961.

On 13 August 1961, Coussa was appointed Pro-Secretary of the Congregation for the Eastern Churches.[3] On 19 March 1962, he was appointed Cardinal-Priest of Saint Atanasio.[4] He was the first Eastern Catholic to serve as the head of the Congregation. His tenure, however, was short. Coussa died unexpectedly in Rome due to peritonitis caused by appendicitis[5] on 29 July 1962, just as the Second Vatican Council was opening.[6] His remains were transferred to the church of S. Atanasio, Rome, his cardinalitial title, in May 1963.

See also

References

  1. ^ Catholic Hierarchy, retrieved May 2007
  2. ^ Sabrina Arena Ferrisi. Reaching to the East. Catholic.net, retrieved May 2007
  3. ^ Acta Apostolicae Sedis (PDF). Vol. LIII. 1961. p. 575. Retrieved 20 June 2020.
  4. ^ Cardinal Title S. Atanasio GCatholic.org
  5. ^ Miranda, Salvador. "COUSSA, B.A., Gabriel Acacius (1897-1962)". The Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church. Florida International University. Retrieved 16 October 2008.
  6. ^ "The Melkite Church at the Council". www.Melkite.org, retrieved May 2007