Father Talat Yazji

Biography of Father Talat Yazji

He was born to two virtuous parents, Yaziji Yaziji and Alice Mohsen

He was born in the village of Zaidal – Homs city on February 20, 1972

He studied primary, preparatory and secondary school in his village Zaidal

He studied at the Faculty of Law in the city of Aleppo for one year

After that, he joined the monastery of Al-Sharfa in September 1992

He continued his philosophical and theological studies until he graduated with a diploma in philosophy and theology in 1997

He spent a probationary period of one year in his diocese of Homs, Hama, Al-Nabk , after which he was ordained an evangelical deacon on November 7, 1997

On February 1, 1998, he was ordained a priest by the laying on of hands of the bishop of the diocese at that time, the late Mar Basilius Moussa Daoud (later Patriarch and Cardinal)

He spent a few months in his village Zaidal with the priest of his parish at that time, Father George Kassab (and later The late Mar Theophilus George Kassab, Bishop of the Diocese of Homs, Hama, Nabk and its Dependencies for Syriac Catholics)

He was appointed as a priest of the parish of Mar Elian in Al-Qaryatayn for two years, succeeding the late virtuous Father Abdul-Masih Dabbas until the end of 2000. He was appointed as a priest of the parish of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in Fairouzeh, succeeding the late virtuous Father Philip Barakat

At the same time, he was also appointed as a priest of the parish of Mar Mikhael in Maskana, succeeding the virtuous Father George Ghanem for a period of 7 years until August 2007

During his service in the parishes of Fairouzeh and Maskana, the late Cardinal Patriarch Mar Ignatius Moussa I Daoud celebrated his silver and golden jubilees as a bishop and priest. It was a grand celebration. During it, the Inauguration of the new church St. Michael in the Masakana parish took place on September 22, 2002.

Father Talat took care of the youth and created choirs and brotherhoods, and took care of Christian education in cooperation with the Ephremian nuns during his service in the parish of St. Michael in Masakana. With his efforts and endeavors, and in cooperation with the parishioners, and with the blessing and efforts of the late Mar Theophilus George Kassab, the foundation stone for the hall of the new Church of St. Michael was laid on April 22, 2007.

He was appointed a guide for the fraternity of the Families of Mary in Homs for a period of 7 years, and took care of the (House of Hope) for the mentally disabled.

At the end of August 2007, he joined the St. Ephrem Institute for the Eastern Churches in Rome, and studied canon law for three years until he obtained a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree from the Pontifical Oriental Institute in Rome.

In the summer of 2010, he returned to his diocese in Homs and was appointed again as a priest for the Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish in Fairouzeh, and a priest For the parish of Mar Elias in the villages of Badou and Jabriya

Appointed as an assistant spiritual judge to the general judicial vicar, head of the primary spiritual court, Father  Michel Naaman

In September 2012, he was appointed as the managing priest of the mission of Our Lady of Peace Church in Florida – Jacksonville, affiliated with the Diocese of Our Lady of Salvation in America and Canada (Canada has now become an independent exarchate), by the pastor of the diocese, Bishop Mar Barnabas Youssef Habash.

Bishop Mar Barnabas Youssef Habash appointed him as a special episcopal vicar on November 15, 2014, and a legal advisor to the diocese, and a member of the priestly council of the diocese

On August 13, 2016, he was named and given the title of pastor priest of Our Lady of Peace Church – Jacksonville, during the Mass of the consecration of the new parish church, with the blessing of His Beatitude Mar Ignatius Youssef III, the most blessed, the pastor of the diocese, and a group of bishops, priests, deacons, and a large number of believers

The church building and its annexes were purchased With his efforts and perseverance and in cooperation with his zealous parishioners who did not skimp on their giving and assistance in purchasing the church

He was interested in forming the church’s pastoral councils every two years. He worked with them to establish a hall, beautify and furnish the church and the Christian education center, and transform a building into a beautiful and comfortable home for the priest

He was interested in Christian education in his parish, Our Lady of Peace Church, and youth fraternities for all ages, the women’s fraternity, and the choir. He sought to hold various recitals on several occasions, and he also formed a brass band for the church

Father Talat was interested in pastoral visits and inspecting the conditions of the parish, and was able to attract young people and children of Christian education to the church

He ended his blessed and fruitful service in Our Lady of Peace Church on Sunday, August 15, 2021, on the anniversary of the Feast of Our Lady of the Assumption

On August 15, 2021, the parish priest, Mar Barnabas Youssef Habash, appointed him as a pastoral priest of the Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus – North Halewood – Los Angeles – California

. He cared for the youth and children of Christian education, and founded the Scout team for the church, and cared for the brotherhoods and choir, and pastoral visits, and worked to activate the role of the pastoral councils, women and youth in all church events and activities.

On July 16, 2023, His Beatitude, our father Patriarch Mar Ignatius Joseph III, awarded him the Holy Cross and the ring in honor of his efforts and dedication to service, during the Divine Liturgy that His Beatitude presided over at the Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus – North Halewood – Los Angeles.

Monsignor Talat Yazigi continues to serve in his parish with all love, zeal, dedication and giving.