Former Maronite Patriarch Mar Nasrallah Boutros Sfeir passed away at an age of 99 years after a long battle with illness.
Here is a biography of Patriarch Sfeir:
Early life
Nasrallah Sfeir was born in Rayfoun, Lebanon, on 15 May 1920. His father was Maroun Sfeir and his mother was Hanneh Fahed from the town of Ghosta. He has five sisters Matila, Jawhara, Odette, Laure and Melanie.
He completed his primary and complementary studies at Mar Abda School in Harharaya and he completed his secondary studies at St. Maron seminary in Ghazir. He graduated in philosophy and theology in 1950 at Saint Joseph's University in Beirut.
His ordination
On the 7th of May 1950, he was ordained to the priesthood and served as priest to the parish of Rayfoun. He was also appointed as the secretary of the Maronite Patriarchate, based in Bkerke.
On 23 June 1961 Sfeir was appointed Titular bishop and Patriarchal vicar.
Patriarch and Cardinal
He was elected to the primacy of the Maronite Church by the Council of Maronite Bishops, on 19 April 1986. He was the 76th patriarch for the Maronite sect.
He was President of the Assembly of the Catholic Patriarchs and Bishops in Lebanon.
He participated in 66 General Assemblies of Synod of Bishops, the Synod of Bishops Association for Lebanon and Synod of the Christians of the Middle East.
He is a founding member of the Assembly of the Catholic Patriarchs in the East: in 2003, the Maronite Patriarchal Synod was held, the first the last one in 1736.
Sfeir was made a cardinal by Pope John Paul II in the consistory of 26 November 1994. He was also a member of the Pontifical Council for legislative interpretation and the Pastoral Health Service.
Writings and Translations:
He wrote the books: From the Sources of the Gospel; Disappeared Faces, Volume I & II; The Sunday Sermons, 12 Volumes; Fourteen Lenten Pastoral Letters, on various topics.
He translated many works into Arabic, chief among which “Jesus: The life of the Soul” (from French).
Achievements:
He appointed Patriarchal Vicars to reside in the regions of Byblos, Batroun, El-Jebbeh, Deir-el-Ahmar, Sarba and Jounieh. He presided over the ordination of one of them as the incumbent Patriarch.
He created the opportunity to terminate the partnership situation on the land of Diman, Wadi Qannoubin, Blouza and Saraal. He established the Maronite Maronite Fund, developed the land in Diman (The summer Patriarchal See), established the common fund for retired bishops, helped in declaring of the Holy Valley of Qannoubin and the region of the Cedars as an International Patrimonial Reservation.
In addition to renovating the Patriarchal See in Diman and the Patriarchal Seminary in Ghazir, Patriarch Sfeir is also responsible for the following:
The construction of a private cemetery for patriarchs and bishops, construction of a center to house the Maronite Tribunal and the Maronite Social Fund, building of a new wing, south of the Patriarchal See, with a large documentation hall, a library, a hall dedicated to Pope John Paul II and bedrooms for the bishops and building of a new Wing, north of the Patriarchal See, containing a residence for nuns, employees and assistant to the bishops and a large hall for meetings of the Assembly of the Catholic Patriarchs and Bishops in Lebanon.
He is also responsible for the housing of the Patriarchal Commission for Liturgical Affairs and the General Secretariat of the Assembly of the Catholic Patriarchs and Bishops and of the Synod of the Catholic Patriarchs in the East, building of Patriarch Sfeir’s Medical Center in Reyfoun, Kesrouan and building of a twenty thousand seat courtyard facing the Patriarchal Residence for official religious ceremonies.
Patriarch Sfeir also paid attention to Maronite institutions outside of Lebanon and contributed to the renovation of Our Lady of Lebanon Church and the Franco-Lebanese Dorm in Paris, Our Lady of Lebanon Church and the Franco-Lebanese Dorm in Marseille.
Pastoral and Official Visits
Patriarch Sfeir went on Pastoral and Official visits to Vatican, Soviet Union, Algeria, United States, Kuwait, Cyprus, Germany, South Africa, Egypt, Jordan, Australia, Brazil, Nigeria, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Togo, Benin, Senegal, Canada, Argentina, Mexico, Uruguay, Belgium, Switzerland, Sweden, Britain, Qatar and Spain.
Cardinal Sfeir submitted his resignation to the Congregation for the Oriental Churches in Rome in late 2010. He was succeeded by Bishop Bechara Boutros Rahi who was elected as the new Patriarch for Antioch on 15 March 2011.