| Saint George Maronite Cathedral | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Maronite Church |
| Year consecrated | 1894 |
| Status | active |
| Location | |
| Location | Beirut, Lebanon |
  The Cathedral shown within Beirut | |
| Coordinates | 33°53′43″N35°30′19″E / 33.895272°N 35.505310°E /33.895272; 35.505310 |
| Architecture | |
| Architect | Giuseppe Maggiore |
| Style | Neo-Classical |
| Groundbreaking | 1884 |
| Completed | 1894 |
| Specifications | |
| Direction of façade | South |
| Materials | Sandstone, marble, granite, limestone |
Saint George Maronite Cathedral (Arabic:كاتدرائية مار جرجس للموارنة) is the cathedral of theMaronite Catholic Archeparchy of Beirut, located in downtown Beirut, Lebanon. Constructed between 1884 and 1894 under Archbishop Joseph Debs, the cathedral stands on the site of an earlier 18th-century church dedicated to Saint George. ItsNeoclassical facade and interior draw inspiration from theBasilica di Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome, featuring a basilica plan with a coffered gilded ceiling, marble and stucco walls, and a prominent altar canopy. The cathedral suffered extensive damage during theLebanese civil war and was further affected by the 2020 Beirut explosion. It has undergone multiple restorations, including a major post-war rehabilitation completed in 1997 and reopening in 2000 by Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Boutros Sfeir. The cathedral houses the cathedra of the Archbishop of Beirut and the chair used by Pope John Paul II during his 1997 visit. In 2016, a new 72-meter campanile was inaugurated, symbolizing interfaith harmony by matching the height of nearbyAl-Amin mosque minarets. Beneath the cathedral's forecourt, significant archaeological remains, including a Hellenistic structure and Roman street fragments, have been preserved.
The Cathedral of Saint George was built byMonsignorJoseph Debs, the Archbishop of Beirut, on the site of an earlier church that was also dedicated to the same saint. The earlier structure was built in 1755 to serve the Maronites of Beirut.[1] Work began in 1884 using Roman columns from the temple of Deir El Qalaa inBeit Mery.[2] The edifice was completed and consecrated onPalm Sunday in 1894. Built on the plan of a basilica with its nave and two lateral aisles separated by two rows of columns, the cathedral has a façade of neo-classical style designed by Italian architect Giuseppe Maggiore. The interior bears a general resemblance to that ofSanta Maria Maggiore in Rome.[3]
The nave is covered with acoffered 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 thechoir, is thecathedra (bishop throne) of the Archbishop of Beirut, and the chair used byPope John Paul II during his pastoral visit to Lebanon in 1997.[4]
Inspired by theBasilica of Santa Maria Maggiore inRome, Saint George Maronite Cathedral was constructed between 1884 and 1894 and inaugurated byBishop Youssef Debs. TheMaronite community ofBeirut previously worshiped in a small nearbychurch dating back to 1753. In 1954, engineer Antoun Tabet carried out restoration work inside thecathedral. Originally designed in the shape of across, the transept was shortened, and arches were added at both ends. Severely damaged during theLebanese Civil War (1975–1990), the cathedral was fully rehabilitated by 1997, restoring its original Renaissance cruciform form. It was re-inaugurated in April 2000.Beneath the forecourt of the cathedral’s annex, significantarchaeological remains were uncovered and preserved, including a Hellenistic structure, part of theRomanDecumanus Maximus colonnaded street, and an Ottoman wall. On 19 November 2016, Beirut Archbishop Paul Matar inaugurated a newcampanile that took ten years to complete. The campanile stands 72 meters (236 ft) tall; the original design planned a 75 meters (246 ft) tower to match the height of the Santa Maria Maggiore basilica’s campanile in Rome. According to the archbishop, reducing the height to equal that of theminarets of the adjacentMohammad Al-Amin Mosque symbolizes a message of interfaith solidarity and harmony.[5] On 4 August 2020, the cathedral sustained damage in theBeirut explosion.[6]
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