Publications
In the pastoral and cultural domain, apart from the various and numerous articles in the parish magazine of Aleppo and the magazine "the Message of the Christian workers of Aleppo", he published a historical book on the Convent of St Ephrem Al-Raghem at Chbénié (Metn-Lebanon), and another on the Convent of St Ephrem at Mardin (Turkey).
He
revised all liturgical books of the Catholic Syriac Rite.
Resigned on October 1998
He attended his primary studies at the parish school of Aleppo, and continued his secondary studies at the Seminary of N.D. of the Deliverance in Charfet (Daroun-Harissa, Lebanon).
1927 - 1933 he pursued courses of Philosophy and Theology at the university of "Propaganda Fide" in Rome. He obtained a Doctorate in Philosophy and a Masters in Theology.
1933 he was ordained priest in Rome on June 10.
1936 he registered at the Oriental institute, where he completed his studies of specialization and obtained a Thesis in Italian: "le relazioni della Chiesa Siro-Giacobita colla Santa Sede dal 1143 al 1656".
1985 The Thesis was translated in Arabic and was press released.
1937 he stayed at the Apollinaire for one year, to take up courses in Law.
1937 on his return to his country of origin in Aleppo, he spread his activities of Parish Priest until 1958, giving himself up simultaneously to the teaching and to the direction of the workers' confraternity, chaplain of the catechism society, director of the orphanage, member of the ecclesiastical unified court, and chaplain of the charity society where he served, at a critical time, districts of the poor workers and the refugees of the war that arose from Turkey who lodged in shacks of shanty towns.
During the episcopate of the Archbishop Pierre Hindié, he was named General Vicar of the Aleppo Parish.
1959 he was elected Archbishop of this city by the Synod of the Community, his consecration took place on August 15 in Charfet (Daroun-Lebanon). He served the Parish of Aleppo until 10 March 1968, 1968 he was elected Patriarch of the Syriac Catholic community, in succession to the Patriarch-Cardinal Gabriel I Tappouni.
Being Archbishop of Aleppo, he participated in all sessions of the Second Vatican Council.
As Patriarch he kept intact his spirit first of pastor of souls and Vicar of Parish.
Whilst Archbishop of Aleppo, he gave himself body and soul, he oversaw the construction of the new Cathedral, inlaid like a pearl in the crown of the city, according to the plans of the Italian architect Lucio di Stefano.
The cathedral of of the Annunciation and the church of St Behnam - Phanar, were erected in Beirut in spite of the war and survived the assaults of the fighters.
The Convent of Our Lady of the Deliverance in Charfet (Daroun-Lebanon), at its bi-centennial, saw the gigantic modern restoration works, without losing any of its ancient style.
With courage and shrewdness he founded the Syriaque missions in the United States of America, Canada, Australia, Venezuela and Sweden. He recreated the mission of Paris, and restored the Procure in Rome.