His Grace the Most Reverend Bishop Gibran Ramlawey (14 September 1931 to 16 January 1999), was Patriarchal Vicar of the Antiochian Orthodox Diocese of Australia, New Zealand, and All Oceania, from 1969-1999.

Early Life and Education

*1931 Sep 14 - Gibran Ramlawey born in Tripoli Mina, Lebanon, to Yacoub Ramlawey and Farfoura (nee Ishak).
*1948 - Gibran graduates from Saint Elias Orthodox College, and is tonsured under the tutelage of Metropolitan Theodosius of Tripoli.  Brother Gibran serves as his personal secretary until 1953.
*1954 - Brother Gibran graduates from College of Three Holy Hierarchs in Beirut, with diploma in psychology and philosophy.
*1954 - Metropolitan Elia of Beirut ordains him deacon on Pentecost Sunday.  Father Deacon Gibran teaches Arabic, French, Literature, and Ethics at Saint Elias College.
*1959 - Metropolitan Elia ordains Deacon Gibran priest.  Reverend Father Gibran continues to teach.
*1962 - Father Gibran receives graduate diploma in literature from Saint Joseph University in Beirut.

United States of America

*1962 - Metropolitan Anthony Bashir of New York calls Father Gibran to join the Syrian Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese of North America. Father Gibran serves at Saint Nicholas Church in Montreal, Canada.
*1963 - Archimandrite Gibran transferred to Saint Mary Church in Johnstown, Pennsylvania.  Archimandrite Gibran continues theological and academic studies.
*1964 - Archimandrite Gibran receives Bachelor of Theology from Christ the Saviour Seminary, Johnstown, Pennsylvania.  He begins to teach Logic and Ethics.
Archimandrite Gibran also teaches French at Johnstown branch of University of Pittsburgh, and continues postgraduate work at Duquesne University.  He also serves as president of Council of Orthodox Clergy of Greater Johnstown.
*1966 - Archimandrite Gibran assigned to Saint George Church in Cleveland, Ohio.
*1967 - Archimandrite Gibran completes coursework for Doctorate in Philosophy at Duquesne University.
*1968-69 - Archimandrite Gibran teaches philosophy at John Carroll University.
*1969 Apr - Archimandrite Gibran elected president of Greater Cleveland Council of Orthodox Clergy.

Australia

*1969 Archimadrite Gibran is despatched from USA to Australia to as PAtriarchal Exarch to study problems of Australia and New Zealand and make recommendations for their resolution.

*1969 Oct 17 - Holy synod of Antioch creates Antiochian Orthodox Diocese of Australia, New Zealand, and All Oceania, and elects Archimandrite Gibran as Patriarchal Vicar.
*1969 Oct 22 - Archimandrite Gibran notified of election.  North American archdiocese asked to consecrate him.  Bishop Gibran returns to Australia as Patriarchal Vicar for the next 30 years.
*1998 Northern Autumn - Holy Synod of Antioch nominates Bishop Gibran for elevation to rank of Archbishop, but he reposes before elevation.
*1999 Jan 16 - Bishop Gibran reposes of ischaemic heart disease. 
*1999 Jan 22 - Bishop Gibran is buried in the bishops section of the Greek Orthodox Cemetery, Rookwood, immediately behind the Greek Orthodox Chapel of Saint Athanasios.

Administrative problems concerning repose

Bishop Gibran's death certificate incorrectly records burial at Rookwood Independent Orthodox Lawn Cemetery. In fact burial was changed at the last moment to the bishop's section of the Greek Orthodox Cemetery, Rookwood, Sydney, immediately behind the Greek Orthodox Chapel of Saint Athanasios.

His headstone records his date of repose as 14 January 1999, however a coronial inquiry found that he died "on or about 16 January 1999, of ischaemic heart disease".

Subdeacon Hanna and Father Elias of Punchbowl parish found the late Bishop Gibran about 9.30am on the morning of Saturday 16 January 1999.  Subdeacon Hanna says there was fresh blood on the floor where Bishop Gibran hit his head when he collapsed, proving he died that morning.

Difficulties with name

Bishop Gibran was born in an Arabic speaking country. His name was written in Arabic.  There is no standard for transliteration of Arabic names into the French language or the English language.

In Australia his surname was usually spelt Ramlawey. This spelling is used on his Australian passport, his NSW death certificate, and his gravestone. His passport and his death certificate are held in the Australian Archdiocesan Archives.

Succession

Following his death, the diocese was elevated to Archdiocese and at the Northern Autumn 1999 meeting of the Holy Synod of Antioch, Archimandrite Paul Saliba, parish priest of Washington DC, USA, was elected as archbishop to head the Archdiocese of Australia, New Zealand, and All Oceania.

Articles

* Christ is Risen from the Dead April 1968
* Nationalism, Man and Orthodoxy June 1969
* A Spiritual Memoir January 1999, translated from Arabic

External links

* Biography from the Orthodox Research Institute
* Bishop Gibran's Consecration Sermon from the Orthodox Research Institute
* Obituary from the Orthodox Research Institute