The Wounded Churches of Beirut
Photo: Hussein Malla/ AP
“Whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me” (Matthew 25 : 40)
Amid the political, economic and health crises facing Lebanon, Beirut was devastated by a terrible explosion that hit the port of Beirut, turning the capital into an afflicted city in a split second, exactly at 6:07 pm on Tuesday August 4, 2020.
It is a disaster that affected a huge number of innocent civilians and left thousands injured, hundreds dead, and dozens of people missing. The explosion also resulted in massive damage and heavy losses to public and private property, including buildings, cars, institutions and vital facilities. Moreover, churches and their affiliated institutions were unfortunately deeply affected by the massive destruction.
The Orthodox Church faced great damage, especially in the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Beirut, and in the ancient Saint George Cathedral located in the center of the capital as well as the Saint Demetrios Church in Ashrafieh and other churches in the city. The explosion also led to massive destruction in several Orthodox institutions, such as the St. George Hospital University Medical Center (Roum) which was severely damaged, the Beirut Annunciation Orthodox College and the École des Trois Docteurs.
Following the explosion, the Greek Orthodox Metropolitan of Beirut and its Suburbs, Archbishop Elias Audi, got numerous calls and received religious and official figures who came to check on him and on the faithful of the diocese. His Beatitude Youhanna X, Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, also visited the disaster-stricken city and inspected the damaged churches and institutions. In a media statement, His Beatitude extended his heartfelt condolences, raising his prayers for those who perished in this disaster and for all the afflicted, sick and wounded. His Beatitude also called for a meeting of solidarity at the Orthodox Archdiocese of Beirut, in which Metropolitan Elias Audi and many archbishops participated. An official statement was issued at the end of this meeting. (You can find the text of the statement in the following link: https://www.facebook.com/105084400160316/posts/593770291291722/?d=n).
For additional details and pictures, you can visit the following links:
https://www.facebook.com/105084400160316/posts/594299017905516/?d=n
https://www.facebook.com/292018570901863/posts/2556652431105121/?d=n
https://www.facebook.com/292018570901863/posts/2556690741101290/?d=n
https://www.facebook.com/Antiochpatriarchate.org/photos/a.2557374511032913/2557374781032886/?type=3
The Maronite Church was also severely hit by the explosion and historic churches located in the city were destroyed. In addition to that, the Maronite Archdiocese of Beirut, the Sagesse High School, the Lausanne Institute and many Maronite institutions and hospitals suffered from severe damages. In the St. Maroun church located in Dora, the explosion occurred during the celebration of the mass injuring the priest and the parishioners.
Following the disaster, His Beatitude Cardinal Mar Bechara Boutros Al-Rai Maronite Patriarch of Antioch and all the East, visited the Archdiocese and the parishioners, and called the Maronite bishops and the superiors general of the Maronite orders for a meeting to discuss the implications of the Beirut explosion as well as ways to contain the disaster and help afflicted people.
Cardinal Mar Bechara Boutros Al-Rai also called for prayers on Tuesday 11 August at 6:00 pm, one week after the explosion, to stand in solidarity with victims and mourning Lebanese citizens.
For additional details and pictures, you can visit the following links:
https://www.facebook.com/126785030693066/posts/3317268901644647/?d=n
https://www.facebook.com/126785030693066/posts/3324230460948491/?d=n
https://www.facebook.com/126785030693066/posts/3332621346776069/?d=n
His Holiness Mor Ignatius Aphrem II, Syriac Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, visited the Syriac Orthodox Archdiocese of Mount Lebanon and Tripoli located in Beirut, where he was received by Mor Theophilus George Saliba. Metropolitan of Mount Lebanon and Tripoli and the clergy of the diocese. He checked on them and on the parishioners, and inspected the premises of the cathedral of St Jacob of Serugh. He then visited Tarakki School (TMS) located in Bourj Hammoud where he examined the material losses.
At St. Mary’s church in Bourj Hammoud, His Holiness held the service of the Virgin Mary and the saints after inspecting the harmed premises.
The Syriac Catholic Church was not spared from the disaster. In fact, the patriarchal headquarters of the Syriac Catholic Church of Antioch located in the Mathaf area - Beirut suffered from enormous damages, as well as the Cathedral of Our Lady of Annunciation. Therefore, His Beatitude Patriarch Ignatius Youssef III Younan inspected the damaged premises and visited other archdioceses and churches in the city.
For additional details and pictures, you can visit the following links:
https://www.facebook.com/558842500880187/posts/3069382419826170/?d=n
https://www.facebook.com/231867580592421/photos/a.970195716759600/970195956759576/?type=3
https://www.facebook.com/231867580592421/photos/a.970284623417376/970288886750283/?type=3
https://www.facebook.com/231867580592421/photos/a.970299223415916/970311586748013/?type=3
https://www.facebook.com/231867580592421/photos/a.970562326722939/970564526722719/?type=3
https://www.facebook.com/231867580592421/photos/a.972110726568099/972112513234587/?type=3
The Armenian Church in Beirut also had its share of the losses resulting from the Beirut explosion. This catastrophe led to great destruction in the Armenian Orthodox Church Catholicosate of Cilicia, as well as in the Armenian buildings and institutions located in Dora and the surrounding areas, and even in the “Bird's Nest” orphanage and school in Jbeil, which is 37 kilometers away from Beirut. The explosion left 13 dead, 300 injured and 1000 displaced families within the Armenian community. His Holiness Catholicos Aram I Kechichian Patriarch of the Armenian Apostolic Church of Cilicia, presided over the Divine Liturgy in the Saint Krikor Lousavoritch Church in Antelias, and then held a funeral prayer for the souls of the victims, especially the Armenians.
For additional details and pictures, you can visit the following link:
https://www.facebook.com/472753589413213/posts/3387080824647127/?d=n
The Beirut port explosion shook Lebanon breaking the hearts of the Lebanese people and of millions of citizens in the Middle East and the world. International aid poured into the country, and streets were filled with young men and women who rushed to support their brothers, morally and financially. While the memory of this disaster will forever stay engraved in our minds, our Lord Jesus Christ remains our only hope during these sad days.