His Beatitude was born in 1933 at Daraya (near Damascus, capital of Syria), known as the site of Christ’s apparition to St. Paul. In 1943, the young Lutfi (it means “gentile”) entered the seminary of the Salvatorian fathers at St. Savior Monastery near Saida (south Lebanon) where he finished his philosophical and theological studies. He presented his religious temporary vows in 15 August 1949 and the perpetual vows in 20 January 1952. His supiriors sent him to Rome (Italy) in 1956 to further his theological studies. In 1961, he was granted the Doctorate degree in Oriental Ecclesiastical Studies from the Pontifical Oriental Institute directed by the Jesuit fathers. During his stay in Rome, he was ordained priest in 1959 at the Monastery of Grottaferrata (near Rome).

Back to Lebanon, he was appointed in 1961 rector of the Major Seminary of his Order in St. Savior Monastery, relocated later in Jeita (near Beirut), charge accomplished until the year 1969. At the mean time, he was teaching Theology and Liturgy at the Major Seminary and the University of Holy Spirit in Kaslik (near Beirut).

Moved by the Spirit to the work for the unity of the Church, he founded in 1962 the review “Unity in Faith”. It was the first Arabic review treating of Oriental and Ecumenical questions and problems. Thus, the holy Synod of the Melkite Catholic Church appointed him Secretary of the Ecumenical Commission and the Liturgical Commission. He was the, in 1972, able to prepare in Beirut, the first Liturgical Congress common to both Greek Orthodox and Catholic Churches of Antioch. More than that, he was zealous in pursuing and favoring the Dialogue and Relations between the two churches. He gained later on the sympathy of both Orthodox and Catholic and was member in the ATIME (= Association of Theological Institutes in Middle East). Thus, he was invited to give lectures and participate in Theological congresses either in Germany, Italy, London…
These charges did not stop the dynamic priest to work and serve many and different parishes where he devoted himself to preaching and teaching either in Lebanon and Syria. He was then able to undertake many social activities creating the ambulant centers of “The Young Girl” in 1965 in the Diocese of Saida. Then, with the help of many German friends, and the Salvatorian fathers George Koueiter and Salim Ghazal, he undrtook the realization of the social project of “ The Providence Center for Boys” at Salhieh (near Saida). This center is a multifunctional center comprehending a house for 100 youngsters orphans, a technical school for about 500 students, and a center for the Young people directed towards parish, social and religious activities. At the same time, he proposed in 1971 to open a center for”Religious Studies” for adults. In fact, more than 20 people chose then to serve the Lord in the Priesthood.
 In 1974, with the arrest of Archbishop Hilarion Capucci by the Israeli Authorities, His Beatitude Patriarch Maximos V appointed him Patriarcal General Vicar of the Melkite Greek Catholic Patriarcate in Jerusalem.
 There in Jerusalem, between the years 1974-1975, he finished the projects undertaken there, wich include the restoration of the patriarcal residence, embellishment of the cathedral with frescoes and of the adjacent pilgrim’s hostel. Once again, he devoted his energies to the religious studies creating a special center for them. This center became nowadays a branch to the University of Bethlehem granting the License degree.

 He added to this center, in 1976, the Oriental Library which includes many books in different languages, thus giving the opportunities to pilgrams to know about the Eastern Churches Tradition. From 1977 on, he consecrated lot of his energies in social works, thus creating the “Financial Chest” to provide help for needy students of Jerusalem to pursure their studies.
 The Holy Synod, in his meeting of 9 September 1981, elected him bishop. He was consecrated in Damascus in 27 November of the same year by H.B. Patriarch Maximos V, assisted by H.E. Archbishops Saba Youakim and Francis Abou Mokh.
 At the same year, he initiated the work for a housing project formed of 36 apartments for the needy families of Jrusalem, with a church, a social hall and a health center. The project was terminated in 1983. Since then, he did not stop to further his social activities in constructing houses, schools, restoring churches, health centers… further housing projects are ongoing!
 In 1986, the Holy Synod appointed him as head of the Synofal and Patriarchal Liturgical Commission. He vigorously worked with the Liturgical Commission ti finish in 1992 the book of the “Devine Liturgy”, adding to the old edition many different introductions and variations. He is still caring to finish the book of the “Liturgical Prayers” in 5 Volumes. This kind of books makes our Church be proud of its Byzantine Tradition. Besides these two very important projects, His Beatitude is profilic in many writings and in different languages such “ Introduction to the liturgical rites and their symbols in the Eastern Church”, “Voice of the Pastor”, “Germanos Adam”, “History of the Melkite Church”, “Melkite Church in Vatican II Council”,…
 In June 2000, he invited all the Catholic Archbishops of the Byzantine Churches from Eastern Europe and the Diaspora for a Convention in the Patriarchate Residence in Jerusalem. They studied together the common problems to their Churches. It was the first meeting of his kind among the different Byzantine Churchrs.

 H.B. Maximos V, due to his bad health, resigned of his many important responsabilities as head of the Melkite Greek Catholic Church. The Holy Synod met at Raboueh, patriarchal residence in Lebanon, on 22 November 2000 to accept the resignation of the Patriarch. On 29 November 2000, the Holy Synod elected Archbishop Lutfi Patriarch of Antioch and all the East, of Alexandria and of of Jerusalem. He took the name of Gregorios III. The Greek name Gregory means the “vigilant”