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His Eminence Archbishop  Mor Clemis Eugene Kaplan
Patriarchal Vicar of the Western USA Archdiocese

His Eminence was born in Qamishly, Syria, on December 27th, 1955 as the sixth child of seven to his parents Shukro and Hawa. His parents had emigrated from Azekh (Idil) a town in modern Turkey to Qamishli, Syria, then to Lebanon.

His Eminence Metropolitan Mor Clemis Eugene (Awgen) Kaplan finished elementary school in Qamishly Syria, then moved with his family to Lebanon and there continued his studied. His father passed away during the civil war in Burj Hammoud/Lebanon in 1973, and his mother emigrated with her family members to Melbourne, Australia in 1975.

He completed secondary and high school education. In 1969, His Eminence joined the St. Ephrem Theological Seminary in Atchaneh, Lebanon and graduated in 1973. He then pursued theological, pastoral and liturgical education at Mor Hananya Monastery (Deyr ul-Zaafaran), Turkey and at the same time was teaching there religious and Syriac language. He was called to monastic life on June 26, 1971 at Mor Hananya Monastery, and was ordained to sacred priesthood on December 4, 1983 at St. Gabriel monastery (Turabdin).

From 1974-1981 he served as a teacher of Syriac and Arabic languages and theology at the Za`faran monastery. In 1982, His Eminence was appointed as the Principal of the Theological Seminary of Mor Gabriel Monastery in Turkey until 1990. On April 12, 1991, His Eminence was consecrated Metropolitan and appointed Patriarchal Assistant in Damascus, Syria by H. H. Patriarch Mor Ignatius Zakka I Iwas.

His Eminence was elected to the Patriarchate Vicariate of the Syriac Orthodox Archdiocese of Western United States and assumed responsibilities as Patriarchal Vicar on April 7th, 1996.

His Eminence pursued his theological studies for the Master of Divinity with Liberty University, Virginia. Archbishop Mor Clemis is fluent in both classical and vernacular Syriac/Aramaic as well as Arabic, Turkish and English. He is the author of many theological, historical and linguistic articles and books, and has translated many books and articles from and into Arabic, Syriac, Turkish and English.

The Western Archdiocese of the Syriac Orthodox Church of Antioch, providing spiritual guidance and leadership to the Syriac Orthodox community, is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit, tax-exempt organization comprised of 18 churches and parishes in 17 western states. It was established in 1952 as the Archdiocese of the Syrian Orthodox Church encompassing the entire United States and Canada. In November 1995 by the Holy Synod of Antioch, the Western Archdiocese was formed to exclusively serve the 17 states of the western half United States.

417 E. Fairmount Rd., Burbank, CA 91501
Tel: (818) 845-5089 Fax: (818) 953-7203
E-mail: bishopric@soc-wus.org