Lebanon is often hailed as the land of saints, where embarking on a spiritual journey means delving into sacred sites, both ancient and modern, as well as monasteries.
It is not uncommon to encounter narratives of miraculous events attributed to patriarchs and accounts of beatification within this revered terrain.
In a momentous announcement that has filled Lebanon with profound joy, Pope Francis has officially acknowledged a miraculous event attributed to Patriarch Estephan Douaihy, a pillar of the Maronite marking the commencement of proceedings for his beatification.
The decision was taken at a meeting between the Pope and Cardinal Marcello Semeraro of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency (NNA) reported.
Following the announcement, church bells resounded throughout Zghorta, the northern Lebanese village of Douaihy’s origin, and the news spread widely across social media platforms as prominent figures joyfully shared about it.
In response to this, Maronite Patriarch Cardinal Mar Bechara Boutros al-Rahi urged priests, monastery heads, and leaders to “offer prayers of thanksgiving to God during the Saturday and Sunday masses on March 16 and 17 and to ring the bells at one o’clock in the afternoon on Sunday for five minutes,” in honor of Pope Francis’ approval of the beatification of Patriarch Estephan Douaihy.
To be considered for beatification, individuals typically require a miracle attributed to their intercession.
Father Boulos Azzi, overseeing the sainthood process for the Maronite Church, submitted a dossier to the Vatican in 2019 detailing a healing miracle ascribed to Patriarch Estephan Douaihy’s intercession.
The miracle scrutinized by the Vatican for Istifan al-Duwayhi occurred in 2013 when a woman experienced a miraculous recovery through his intercession.
Istifan Al-Duwayhi, hailed as the Father of Maronite History was born in Ehden, northern Lebanon, in 1630.
Revered as a foundational figure and luminary within his Church, he established numerous educational institutions and convents, earning renown as one of its most prolific historians.
Following his passing in 1704, he was laid to rest at the patriarchal convent of Qannoubine in the Holy Valley, also known as Qadisha Valley, and was declared venerable by Pope Benedict XVI in 2008.
The beatification ceremony is scheduled to be held at Bkerki on the second day of the upcoming month.
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