John Elya

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Bishop John Adel Elya (born September 16, 1928) was the Melkite Greek Catholic eparch of the United States.

[edit] Biography

Bishop Elya, a native of Maghdouché, Lebanon, entered the Melkite Basilian Order, where he professed his solemn vows in 1949. After completing his philosophical and theological studies, Elya was ordained a priest on February 17. 1952. He later obtained a licenciate in theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University and taught moral theology and philosophy in the Monastery of Saint Savior in Lebanon and served as rector of the seminary of Saint Basil in Methuen.

Elya went on to serve as a parish priest in Zerka, Jordan. He also served as pastor of churches in Manchester, Toronto, Lawrence, and at the Cathedral Church of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Roslindale, Massachusetts. While a priest in the United States he earned a masters degree from Boston College.

In 1977 Elya was confirmed archimandrite. He was appointed titular Bishop of Abilene of Lysanias and auxiliary to the Eparch of Newton. On Novemver 25, 1993 he was appointed eparch of Newton, succeeding the deceased Archbishop Ignatius Ghattas. Elya was installed January 25, 1994, serving as eparch until his retirement on June 22, 2004. He was succeeded as eparch by Archbishop Cyril Salim Bustros.