The Maronite Cathedral of Saint George, Beirut

The Maronite Cathedral of Saint George in Beirut serves as a prominent religious and historical landmark, epitomizing the resilience and rich heritage of the Maronite community. Constructed over a decade from 1884 to 1894, the cathedral stands on the site of an earlier 1755 church dedicated to Saint George, the patron saint of both the cathedral and the Maronite Archdiocese of Beirut. The new cathedral was initiated by Monsignor Joseph Debs, the then Archbishop of Beirut, incorporating Roman columns salvaged from the temple of Deir El Qalaa in Beit Mery into its design.

Designed by Italian architect Giuseppe Maggiore, the cathedral’s architecture is influenced by the Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome, evident in its Neoclassical facade and the interior layout featuring a nave and two lateral aisles divided by rows of columns. The nave boasts a coffered ceiling adorned with gilded golden leaves set against a beige background, while the walls are embellished with stucco and marble. A significant highlight is the cathedra, or bishop's throne, and a chair used by Pope John Paul II during his 1997 visit to Lebanon.

Saint George's Cathedral did not escape the turmoil of Lebanon’s history, suffering severe damage during the Lebanese Civil War. It was plundered and defaced, and many artworks, including a noted painting of Saint George by Eugène Delacroix, were looted. Post-war restoration efforts culminated in the cathedral's re-inauguration on April 24, 2000, by Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Boutros Sfeir, restoring its grandeur and also preserving archaeological finds beneath its forecourt, including Hellenistic and Roman remnants.

Today, the Cathedral of Saint George not only serves as a place of worship but also as a beacon of Maronite faith and cultural identity in Beirut, continually drawing both the faithful and historians alike to its storied grounds.