Macarius, who took the name Michael upon his enthronement, resigned in 1581 under intense pressure from the Orthodox community of Damascus, where the seat of the patriarchate was located.
During the feud with Michael, Joachim was forced to spend huge sums of money to buy support from both Church and governmental authorities.
In fear for his life, the patriarch briefly went into hiding in the mountains of modern Lebanon before journeying to Constantinople to seek financial aid from the wealthy Greeks of the capital.
The trip was successful, and when he returned to Damascus, he paid off his debts and had more than enough left over to solidify his fragile authority over all the Orthodox bishops of Syria.
For the remainder of his term as patriarch, his main assistant was Metropolitan Anastasius of Triploli, Beirut, Tyre, and Sidon.