Francis Siaj was a monk of the
Basilian Salvatorian Order. Between 1760 and 1768 he was an open partisan of
Athanasius Jawhar in the clashes for the patriarchate between patriarch
Theodosius V Dahan and anti-patriarch Athanasius Jawhar. In this frame he went with Jawhar to
Rome in 1762, and when returned to
Lebanon he was consecrated bishop of
Bosra and Hauran a few days after 23 December 1763, and took the name
Cyril. Because his consecration was celebrated by
Euthymius Fadel bishop of
Zahle and Forzol and a partisan of Jawhar, the patriarch Theodosius V Dahan did not recognized his appointment till the appeasement in 1768 between Theodosius Dahan and Athanasius Jawhar. Cyril Francis Siaj was elected patriarch by the synod of bishops on 11 December 1794. His election was confirmed by
Pope Pius VI on 28 June 1796. Cyril VII Siaj died on 6 August 1796 at
Aitanite, where he was buried. == Notes ==