Catholicos Patriarch
Mar Mattai Beita d'Mshikha
The office of a Catholicos Patriarch is one of the highest ecclesiastical dignities in the Jerusalem Church.
Mar Mattai is regarded as the chief shepherd of the faithful within his jurisdiction which is the Western hemisphere. He is entrusted with safeguarding the doctrine, tradition, and moral teaching of the Church. He is a guardian of the deposit of faith and ensures that worship, liturgy, and sacraments remain pure and apostolic in form.
The Catholicos Patriarch serves as the head of the Holy Synod, which is the governing council of bishops. The Patriarch presides over synodal meetings, convenes them when necessary, and ensures that decisions made are in harmony with the canons of the Church and the consensus of the bishops.
The Catholicos Patriarch ordains bishops, consecrates chrism, and blesses the elevation of clergy into higher ranks. His participation or approval is often required for the consecration of bishops, ensuring apostolic succession and unity of the episcopate under his primacy.
He oversees the administration of dioceses within his patriarchate. This includes supervising bishops, adjudicating disputes, ensuring good order, and intervening in cases of doctrinal or moral deviation. He also has responsibility for monasteries, schools, and charitable institutions under his care.
Mar Mattai represents the Church in relations with other churches, Catholic, Orthodox and others, and often engages in dialogue on matters of faith, unity, and witness. He also represents the Church before civil authorities, defending its rights, privileges, and property.
The Catholicos presides at the most solemn liturgies, especially at feasts and important ecclesiastical gatherings. His presence and blessing are considered a sign of unity for the clergy and faithful alike. He issues liturgical directives, authorizes new liturgical texts when needed, and safeguards the integrity of worship.
Though primarily a bishop of bishops, he still has a pastoral responsibility to the faithful, offering exhortations, pastoral letters, communiques, and guidance in times of crisis or confusion. His role is that of a father to the clergy and laity alike, ensuring that the Church maintains its spiritual vitality.
He guards the historical continuity of the Church. The Catholicos Patriarch embodies the heritage of the apostles and martyrs, ensuring that the faith is transmitted without corruption. He often serves as the final court of appeal in doctrinal or disciplinary disputes.
After serving some years as a priest, Mar Mattai was elevated to the office of hieromonk, then bishop and then to his current office of Catholicos (September 5, 2025). His Holiness primarily presides over the Aramaic Liturgy of Saint James, but is often asked to preside over the Traditional Latin Mass for Roman Catholics within his jurisdiction. He speaks Aramaic/Syriac, English, Greek, Hebrew and Spanish.
