Maronite Cathedral of Saint George, Beirut
Saint George Maronite Cathedral | ||
---|---|---|
Year consecrated 1894 | | |
Status | active | |
Location | ||
Location | Beirut, Lebanon | |
Geographic coordinates | 33°53′43″N 35°30′19″E / 33.895272°N 35.505310°E | |
Architecture | ||
Architect(s) | Giuseppe Maggiore | |
Style | Neo-Classical | |
Groundbreaking | 1884 | |
Completed | 1894 | |
Specifications | ||
Direction of façade | South | |
Materials | Sandstone, marble, granite, limestone |
Saint George Maronite Cathedral (
The cathedral was heavily hit and shelled during the
Construction
The Cathedral of Saint George was built by
The nave is covered with a coffered ceiling with gilded and a double wooden structure, covered with golden leaves on a beige background. The walls are decorated with stucco and marble. Above the main altar is a canopy four columns. At the rear, in the choir, is the cathedra (bishop throne) of the Archbishop of Beirut, and the chair used by Pope John Paul II during his pastoral visit to Lebanon in 1997.[5]
Architecture
Inspired by the
On 19 November 2016, Beirut Archbishop Paul Matar inaugurated the new campanile which took a decade to construct. The campanile stands 72 meters (236 ft) high; the original design envisaged a 75 meters (246 ft) tall bell tower to match the height of the campanile of the Santa Maria Maggiore basilica in Rome. According to the archbishop, the reduction in the campanile's height to stand equal to that of the minarets of the adjacent Mohammad Al-Amin Mosque aims to send a message of interfaith solidarity and harmony.[6]
On 4 August 2020, the cathedral was damaged in the
Location
The Church of Saint George is located in the downtown area of Beirut. It is one of the most important
Timeline
1884–1894: Construction of the cathedral, which was inspired by the Basilica Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome.
1954: Restoration works inside the cathedral undertaken by Antoun Tabet.
1975–1990: Civil War badly damaged the cathedral.
1997: Post war rehabilitation of the Cathedral led to the recovery of its original Renaissance cruciform shape. Significant archaeological remains were unearthed and preserved.
April 2000: Cathedral inauguration.
19 November 2016: Campanile inauguration.[6]
4 August 2020:
See also
- Beirut Central District
- Maronite Church
- Maronite Christianity in Lebanon
- Christianity in Lebanon
- Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore
- Garden of Forgiveness
Further reading
- Tubiya ABI 'AD, Katidra'iya Mar Jirjis al-Maruniya, Beirut: Chahine Printing Press, 2000.
Sources
- Kassir, Samir (2003) Histoire de Beyrouth, Fayard, Paris. ISBN 2-213-02980-6, Les lieux de culte au Liban. Ministère du Tourisme, Beyrouth.
References
- ^ Discover Lebanon. "Beirut Saint George Cathedral, Mosque El Omari". Retrieved 2009-12-27.
- ^ Archdiocese of Beirut. "cathedrale". Archdiocese of Beirut (in Arabic). Archived from the original on September 11, 2007. Retrieved 2010-01-08.
- ^ Lebanese Ministry of Tourism. "Ministry of Tourism :: Destination Lebanon". Archived from the original on 2021-02-24. Retrieved 2009-12-27.
- ^ [Vloeberghs, Ward (2008), "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-02-25. Retrieved 2010-01-13.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link), PDF). ISSN 1028-3625. Retrieved 2010-01-13.] - ^ [Morel, Elodie. "The places of worship in Down-Town: a gleam of diversity". iloubnan. Retrieved 2010-01-08.]
- ^ a b Perry, Tom (23 November 2016). "Beirut skyline captures religious rivalry and harmony". Reuters. Retrieved 12 December 2016.
- ^ a b Rea, Naomi (5 August 2020). "'I Doubt It Is Worth Reopening': Art Spaces in Beirut Are Decimated by the City's Deadly Explosions". Art Net. Retrieved 6 August 2020.