His Beatitude Gregory III inaugurated the Holy Synod of the Melkite Greek Catholic Church, on Monday, 2nd of June, 2008, at the Patriarchal Residence in Lebanon.

At the conclusion of the meetings, the Synod announced in a statement, a renewal in designations. Bishop George Baker, the Patriarchal Vicar of Jerusalem, was appointed as the new General Patriarch Vicar of the Diocese of Egypt and Sudan. As well as Bishop Joseph Zrei'i, the General Patriarchal Vicar of Egypt and Sudan, was appointed as the new General Patriarch Vicar of the Diocese of Jerusalem.