Archbishop of Antélias (Maronite)
Archbishop Antoine Bou Najem was born in Harhariya al-Qattine, Keserwan District, on 10 August 1967. He entered the seminary in Ghazir on behalf of the Eparchy of Antelias in 1983. He pursued philosophy and theology studies at the Pontifical Faculty of Theology in Kaslik and was ordained a priest on 10 July 1994 by the laying on of hands of the late Bishop Youssef Bechara. He completed an intensive one-year course on priestly spirituality in Italy, then moved to Paris, where he obtained a master's degree in pastoral theology from its Catholic Institute, with a specialization in Christian-Islamic dialogue. The new bishop gained experience in pastoral, administrative, educational, and guidance activities and responsibilities, which marked his priesthood with spirituality, closeness to young people in their various groups, and pastoral breadth.