Lebanon is a land of no less than nineteen legally
recognized religious communities, living together
on more or less friendly terms with some give-and-take,
periods of crisis alternating with others of harmony;
there are times of conflict, of developments, of rejoicing
and of trouble.
Next to the Maronites, the largest Christian community
is that of the Greek-rite Orthodox. The Christians
are to be found in all parts of Lebanon, and even
when they are only a small minority they are everywhere
an indispensable yeast, with each branch of the Church
possessing its particular places of worship.
The Greek Orthodox in Beirut, ancient city of this
legendary East, have the church dedicated to St. George
(Georgios), knight, hero, dragon-slayer and savior
of a princess. This particular church is the oldest
in Beirut, and perhaps the most beautiful, and stands
near the site of the old Roman Faculty of Law.
It is supposed to have been built over the remains
of the Church of the Resurrection in the year 1080,
then perhaps the only one in Beirut and looked after
by the clergy of the St. George Monastery. As well
as the church there were residences for the monks
and for the metropolitan archbishop, a meeting hall
for the community council, a school, a seminary, a
library, a sanatorium, and later on a printing press,
the first in Beirut. During the early Christian centuries
cathedral churches were generally dedicated to Christ
Resurrected.
In the year 551 A.D. the church of Beirut was completely
destroyed together with all the rest of the city in
the famous earthquake. In 1080 the cathedral was rebuilt
on the ruins of the old Church of the Resurrection
and dedicated to Saint George. It was restored several
times in a haphazard way until finally in 1995 the
Metropolitan of Beirut Mgr. Audeh ordered proper scientific
archeological diggings.
It was found that between the years 1200 and 1300
there were mosaics laid out on the floor. The semi-circular
form of the altar, the columns and the remains of
wall-paintings all prove the existence of the cathedral
during the middle ages. In the year 1600 the knight
d’Arvieux noted as follows: “Beautiful church dedicated
to Saint George and residence of the Orthodox Archbishopric.”
In 1715 the church was enlarged without any proper
plan and in 1759 another earthquake caused extensive
damage. Between 1764 and 1767 donations and various
forms of help were received for new repairs, but these
had hardly been finished when the ceiling collapsed,
killing more than ninety people. Despite this catastrophe,
in 1772 restoration began again and three altars were
set up, the central one dedicated to Saint George,
the one on the right to Saint Nicholas, and the one
on the left to the prophet Elias (Elijah). In 1783
an icon-screen in hazel wood was installed, this being
covered with gold leaf and decorated with contemporary
icons. The ceiling and walls were decorated and the
outside was decently arranged. In 1904 there was further
enlargement and paintings executed on the ceiling
and walls.
1975 to 1990 saw the tragedy of the war in Lebanon.
The cathedral suffered a great deal of damage, being
plundered, looted, burnt, vandalized and in parts
destroyed. The icons were all stolen, as were the
sacred vessels. The icon-screen was set on fire, the
frescoes obliterated and the ceiling and other parts
badly damaged. In 1995 thoroughly professional operations
began, with studies for excavations, provision of
infrastructure, building and restoration. Scientifically
directed digging led to the discovery of the remains
of three churches, the first one destroyed in 551,
that of the Resurrection, and a third one dating from
the middle ages, underneath the present cathedral
dating from the eighteenth century.
This last building is formed of three naves with a
cloister outside that bears an upper-floor gallery
looking on to the interior of the cathedral. In the
past this was reserved to women, the gyneceum. Cellars
were found underground with burial chambers and a
strong-room for chalices, ciboria, thuribles, incense
boats and other articles required for the Liturgy.
There is already a museum attached where this precious
heritage is displayed.
Joseph
Matar - Translation from the French: Kenneth Mortimer
-
St.
George’s Greek Orthodox Cathedral:
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Movie << (2014-02-15) -
Museum
of St. George’s Greek Orthodox Cathedral:
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Movie << (2014-02-15)
