Background
Germanos Adam was born in 1725 in Aleppo, Syria, and studied in the College of the Propaganda in Rome.
Germanos Adam was born in 1725 in Aleppo, Syria, and studied in the College of the Propaganda in Rome.
In December 1774 he was appointed eparch and on December 25 of the same year consecrated Melkite Catholic eparch of Acre by Melkite Patriarch of Antioch, Theodosius V Dahan. From 1792 to 1798 he traveled in Italy, where he came in contact with Jansenist circles and in particular with Scipione de" Ricci. Germanos Adam died in Zouk Mikael on 10 November 1809.
Consequently, in his 1799 book "Réponse de Manager Germain Adam éveque d"Alep et de ses environs à l"ouvrage intitulé: Voix des Perés missionaires" Adam supported the doctrine of Conciliarism, and stated that the papal authority was more honorary than actual.
Further he affirmed that an explicit epiclesis was essential in the Eucharistic consecration, a statement that implied the non-validity of the Latin Rite Massachusetts
Moreover, Germanos Adam wrote a catechism that was used for popular instruction. Adam"s doctrine was confirmed by the 1806 Melkite synod of Qarqafe, which acts were signed also by Patriarch Joseph Tyen and by Aloisio Gandolfi, the Apostolic Legate.
The next years were marked by the reaction to his ideas. On 3 June 1816 Pope Pius VII condemned Adam"s works and his catechism.
The actions of the 1806 Melkite Synod of Qarqafe were finally condemned by the Apostolic Letter Melchitarum Catholicorum Synodus (English: Of the synod of Melkite Catholics) issued by Pope Gregory XVI on 3 June 1835.