V. Rev. Fr. Boutros Touma Issa Ramo Khoshaba Marya's Background

1. Born in Bartleh, Iraq on 8th February 1931, speaking the colloquial Aramaic.  His father the late Malphono Deacon Touma Issa Rammo Khoshaba Marya, and his mother the late Kurty the daughter of Hanna Haçii.

2. Received his elementary education “Bartleh Boys School”, while he received his Bible studies, the Syriac language lessons, and the holy liturgy through the summer school ran at St. Shmouney Church in Bartleh.

3.  In the year 1945 joined the St. Ephraim Seminary in Mosul.

4. In the year 1951 received his high diploma in Philosophy, Theology and Common Law.  The same year, he left Iraq heading to join the Archdiocese of Beirut and Damascus.

5. Worked at this diocese travelling between Syria and Lebanon during the period 1951-1958, and during this period he held the following positions:

o   Archbishopric secretary

o   Legal secretary at the Ecclesiastical Court.

o   Teacher – teaching religious education, Syriac, and Arabic languages for high school, and at the Syriac Institute (ܬ ܡ ܣ) (the Syriac Orphanage – Al-Khandaq Al-Ghameek), and St. Severious High School, Museidbeh – Beirut.

o   Spiritual mentor, and general secretary and one of the founders of the Syriac Lebanese Scouts.