Antonin (Kapustin) was a monastic clergyman of the Church of Russia. He was a noted byzantologist and honorary member of many academies and scientific societies. He is noted for his activities in Greece and the Holy Land establishing ecclesiastical facilities and support for Russian pilgrims.
To be completed.
Ahmed Cevdet Pasha (22 March 1822 – 25 May 1895) was an Ottoman scholar, intellectual, bureaucrat, administrator, and historian who was a prominent figure in the Tanzimat reforms of the Ottoman Empire. He was the head of the Mecelle commission that codified Islamic law for the first time in response to the Westernization of law.
Islamic Court of Jerusalem (MSQS)
Friar Paschal Robinson ofm (PCR)
1929-1948: appointed Titular of the new Apostolic Nonciature in Ireland.
“Mshak” was an Armenian language literary and political daily newspaper (weekly when established) published from 1872-1920 in Tiflis, Russian Empire (now Tbilisi, Georgia). It was founded by Grigor Artsruni.
Mshak was famous particularly for its liberal ideas, promoting the creation of a united Armenian state inside Russia.
In 1921, after the Soviet invasion of Georgia, Mshak, along with other anti-Bolshevik media, was closed.
Jerusalem and the East Mission (JEM)
The Diocese of Jerusalem was founded in 1841 under the joint auspices of Queen Victoria and King Frederick William IV of Prussia. The bishops were to be nominated alternately by the English and Prussian sovereigns, to be consecrated by Anglican bishops and to have spiritual jurisdiction over Anglican and Lutheran Christians in Palestine. In 1881, however, a failure to obtain episcopal orders for the Lutherans prepared the way for the withdrawal of Prussia, and the bishopric fell into abeyance for almost six years. It was finally reconstituted on a purely Anglican basis and on 25 March 1887 the Venerable Archdeacon Blyth was consecrated Bishop in Jerusalem with jurisdiction over Syria, Egypt, Asia Minor, Cyprus, the region around the Red Sea, and, later, the Sudan and Iran. The Jerusalem Bishopric Fund, later the Jerusalem and East Mission Fund was set up by Bishop Blyth for the maintenance and development of the work of the diocese. In 1920 Egypt and the Sudan were separated from Jerusalem to form a new diocese with Llewellyn Gwynne as bishop. In 1939 the Archbishop of Canterbury’s Assyrian Mission came fully under the control of J&EM. The diocese of Jerusalem became the seat of a province in July 1957 and at the same time a new diocese of Jordan, Lebanon and Syria was created. At the time of writing the province is composed of the following dioceses: Jerusalem; Cyprus and the Gulf; Egypt; Iran.
Poor Clares of Jerusalem (PCJ)
The monastery of St. Clare of Jerusalem was founded in 1888 by a French community in Paray-le-Monial (Diocese of Autun). The first nuns arrived in 1884 and began by founding the monastery of St. Clare of Nazareth; the foundation of the monastery of Jerusalem followed in a second step. This first community was led by Mother Elisabeth of Calvary and accompanied by Father Gauthey, Vicar General of the Diocese of Autun. The monastery is under the jurisdiction of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, restored as a residential seat by Pope Pius IX in 1847.
Several well-known personalities are linked to the history of the monastery. Thus, the establishment of the monastery was initially marked by the support of Léon Harmel, a French industrialist, a prominent figure in French social Catholicism with Albert de Mun. Indeed, Leon Harmel's daughter, Maria Harmel, first of all clarified in Paray-le-Monial joined the adventure of founding the monastery of St. Clare of Jerusalem. Thus, the establishment of the monastery is under permit financed by Léon Harmel's endowments.
The history of the monastery is also marked by an exile in Egypt during the First World War. The Poor Clares then returned to their premises.
Community of the Augustinian Fathers of the Assumption in Jerusalem (ACJ)
The Congregation of the Augustinians of the Assumption was founded in 1845 by Father Emmanuel d'Alzon. Their establishment in Jerusalem was marked by the purchase in 1882 of the land of the future Notre-Dame de France through Count Pierre de Piellat, "benefactor of French works in Palestine" on the one hand and by the purchase in 1887 of the estate of Saint-Pierre en Gallicante, the year in which the first Assumptionist fathers finally settled in Jerusalem.
Maxime (Paul-Marie in religion) Séjourné, o.p. (MAS)
Born in 1857, priest of the diocese of Sées, entered the Dominican order as a member of the convent of Saint-Etienne, but professed in 1886 as a member of the province of France, Father Séjourné died in Jerusalem in 1922, after having been prior of Saint-Etienne from 1901 to 1904.
Charles (Hyacinthe-Marie in religion) Coüasnon, o.p. (CC)
Born in Rennes in 1904, Charles Couäsnon is the son of an architect, a profession he also chose. He was admitted to the Beaux-Arts de Rennes in 1923, before completing his training at the Beaux-Arts de Paris. He obtained the title of architect graduated by the Government in 1933. He was later appointed ordinary architect of the historic monuments of Ille-et-Vilaine. In 1938, he built the Sainte-Anne chapel near Rennes. It was at this moment that he thought of entering the Dominican order. He was mobilized at the same time and spent three years in captivity, from June 1940 to April 1943.
He entered the novitiate in 1943 and made his profession in 1944. Ordained a priest on July 16, 1948, he was assigned in 1950 to the convent of Saint-Etienne, his only convent of assignment until his death in 1976. He came here to help Fr. de Vaux in his excavations as an architect, which he did at Tell el Far'ah. From 1952 to 1954, he resided in Casablanca to direct the construction of a Dominican convent, which he also did in Mosul afterwards. Then he resumed work with Fr. de Vaux in Qumran, where he was in charge of the overall surveys.
In the Holy Land, he was called upon on all sides, particularly for the Benedictine monastery in Bethlehem, the restoration of the Holy Anne's Church in Jerusalem, or the restoration of the Crusader Church in Abu Gosh.
But his life's work was to cooperate in the restoration of the Holy Sepulchre from 1962 to 1976. The progress of the work can be followed more accurately in his book The Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, Sweich Lectures, 1972, Oxford University Press, 1974.
The basilica had been damaged by a fire in 1808, and an earthquake in 1927 had worsened its condition. In 1954, the three Christian communities owning and using the basilica had succeeded in reaching an agreement to begin its restoration. Work began in 1962, with each community having its chief architect. Fr. Couäsnon was the local representative of Jean Trouvelot, Inspector General of French Historical Monuments, architect for the Custody. On site, a "Joint Technical Office" bringing together Couäsnon and his Greek and Armenian counterparts, carried out the work in constant liaison with the three chief architects, who had remained in Paris and Athens.
The first objective was the restoration of the 12th century Crusader church (transept crosspieces, Katholicon choir, pillars, ground floor ambulatory). This was completed in 1969. The restoration of the Rotunda, whose building had to be supported, was then carried out.
Fr. Couäsnon was struck by a heart attack in 1976, while driving with Fr. Dreyfus. He died immediately.