Saint Rita School
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Melkite Catholic Archdiocese History
The Archbishopric of Zahle and Bekaa was founded in the early fifth century (AD) by Saint Bishop Berdanos and was known to the Roman (Chambers) by the Latin name "Marianne". In 1727 the Archbishopric Center was relocated to the City of Zahle after a number of chambers (rooms) were built on the ground level of the current Archbishopric Center.
The first Bishop of the center was Bishop Aftemos Fadel who announced his total and eternal union with the head of the Catholic Church, His Holiness the Pope. From 1727 to date there has been a succession of fifteen Bishops who have undertaken the management of this Archbishopric. The current Bishop is Bishop Issam John Darwish.
Since its inception, the Archbishopric of Furzol, Zahle and Bekaa, has played a distinctive role in the history of the city of Zahle, the entire region and Lebanon as a whole. Under the Ottoman Empire, the French mandate and during the period of independence, the "Episcopal House" or the "bishop's Home" was, and remains today, the headquarters for all the auspicious meetings held there with the purpose of building up the city and the whole region. This center, from which all major decisions emerged, was and still is a haven for each and every person who finds themselves a victim or in need. The Bishop held the title of "the Roman Catholic Melkite Archbishop of Furzol, Zahle, and Bekaa" and his every word was heard and valued by both the people and rulers of the region. he has always been the savior of the city during days of tribulation. The Archbishop of Furzol, Zale and Bekaa includes the city of Zahle and its district, and the district of the western Bekaa Valley.
The Melkite Catholic community members number about one hundred and twenty thousand (120,000) in total. The number of churches belonging to the Archbishopric is fifty five (55), split between extended pastoral, semi extended pastoral, and private churches. The number of parishes is thirty nine (39) and their service is attended to by thirty three (33) priests who belong to the Proctor Association and the Diocesan Clergy.
The first Bishop of the center was Bishop Aftemos Fadel who announced his total and eternal union with the head of the Catholic Church, His Holiness the Pope. From 1727 to date there has been a succession of fifteen Bishops who have undertaken the management of this Archbishopric. The current Bishop is Bishop Issam John Darwish.
Since its inception, the Archbishopric of Furzol, Zahle and Bekaa, has played a distinctive role in the history of the city of Zahle, the entire region and Lebanon as a whole. Under the Ottoman Empire, the French mandate and during the period of independence, the "Episcopal House" or the "bishop's Home" was, and remains today, the headquarters for all the auspicious meetings held there with the purpose of building up the city and the whole region. This center, from which all major decisions emerged, was and still is a haven for each and every person who finds themselves a victim or in need. The Bishop held the title of "the Roman Catholic Melkite Archbishop of Furzol, Zahle, and Bekaa" and his every word was heard and valued by both the people and rulers of the region. he has always been the savior of the city during days of tribulation. The Archbishop of Furzol, Zale and Bekaa includes the city of Zahle and its district, and the district of the western Bekaa Valley.
The Melkite Catholic community members number about one hundred and twenty thousand (120,000) in total. The number of churches belonging to the Archbishopric is fifty five (55), split between extended pastoral, semi extended pastoral, and private churches. The number of parishes is thirty nine (39) and their service is attended to by thirty three (33) priests who belong to the Proctor Association and the Diocesan Clergy.
