Patriarch Barlassina, was appointed as the Patriarch for the Holy City of Jerusalem in 1920 and remained in this position until 1947. He was contemporary with the First World War in Palestine. His primary concerns were to commission missionaries and to build schools and churches. Many parishes were also established during his time: Na`our (1924), Al-Wahadneh, Arajan, Anaba, Samad and Kafrabil (1926), Ader, Jenin and Burqin (1928), Safout (1933), and finally Al-Mafraq (1941).

       Starting in 1927 and throughout his term as Patriarch, some people began to demonstrate, demanding the Arabisation the administration of the Patriarchate. This began in Madaba, the biggest parish in Jordan with a group of people named the “Reformation Committee” leading the protest. This committee sent applications to the Patriarch and to the Christians in the two banks, demanding that an Arab be appointed vicar for the Patriarch in Amman and as president for the seminary as well as for local teaching positions in the Patriarchate schools.

       This movement was influenced by the Orthodox question that was happening at the same time, but the Patriarchate concluded it. A vicar was appointed in Amman, first monseigneur Anton Zaytoun followed by Mansour Jallad and then Ni`meh Sema`an but they remained vicars to the Patriarch without becoming bishops until the Patriarch Alberto Gori became Patriarch of Jerusalem. He ordinated Ni`meh Sama`an and Hanna Kildani as bishops of Amman and Nazareth.