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61-602: Jamail is a fourth-generation Lebanese American , who was born and raised in Houston, Texas . He graduated from Texas A&M University and later moved to Alaska . In October 2007, his first book, Beyond the Green Zone, was published by Haymarket Books . Jamail embarked on a national speaking tour the same month that the book was released, first in New York City , where he and journalist Jeremy Scahill discussed

122-529: A Shiite . The Taif Agreement helped establish a power-sharing system between the Christian and Muslim Lebanese political parties. The political and economic situation in Lebanon had improved greatly. Lebanon had rebuilt its infrastructure. Historical and contemporary conflicts between Hezbollah and Israel have threatened to deteriorate Lebanon's political and economic situation, with growing tension between

183-649: A seminary and a university associated with it. As of May 2022, the Lebanese Forces is the biggest Christian political party in Lebanon. Under the terms of an agreement known as the National Pact between the various political and religious leaders of Lebanon, the president of the country must be a Maronite , the Prime Minister must be a Sunnite , and the Speaker of Parliament must be

244-723: A military expedition to the area in 1860. The disagreements diminished in intensity only after the establishment of the Mandate and a political formula whereby all denominations achieved a degree of political representation. Besides the Beirut archdiocese, nine other archdioceses and dioceses are in the Middle East: Aleppo, Damascus, Jubayl-Al Batrun, Cyprus, Baalbek, Tripoli, Tyre, Sidon, and Cairo. Parishes and independent dioceses are situated in Argentina, Brazil, Venezuela,

305-1073: A national church in the fourth century. In the sixth century, it modified the formulations of the Council of Chalcedon of 451 that confirmed the dual nature of Christ in one person. Instead, the Armenian Apostolic Church adopted a form of Miaphysitism that believes in the united nature of divine and human in Christ, a belief shared by the Copts and the Syrian Orthodox Church (Oriental Orthodox Church). The Armenian Apostolic Church has two catholicoi (Sis and Etchmiadzin Cathedral ) and two patriarchs (Constantinople and Jerusalem). The Armenians in Lebanon reside mostly in Beirut and its northern suburbs, as well as in Anjar . During

366-604: A new Metropolitan is appointed. The members of the Syriac Catholic Church are also refugees who had fled southeastern Turkey (present day Mardin region) during and after World War I due to the Assyrian/Syriac genocide . Even today, refugees continue to flee from northern Iraq and northeastern Syria into Lebanon or Jordan due to continuous unrest in Iraq and Syria. The Syriac Catholic Eparchy of Beirut

427-1033: A significant Lebanese community, with a Maronite Cathedral the center of one of two eparchies for Maronite Lebanese in the United States, the other being in Los Angeles. Lebanese Americans are categorized as White for census purposes. Easton, Pennsylvania ; Utica, New York ; South Philadelphia, Pennsylvania ; San Diego, California ; Jacksonville, Florida ; Sterling Heights , Michigan ; Los Angeles County ; San Francisco, California ; Peoria, Illinois ; Grosse Pointe, Michigan ; Miami, Florida ; Wichita, Kansas ; Bloomfield, Michigan ; Fall River, Massachusetts ; Worcester, Massachusetts ; Boston, Massachusetts ; Springfield, Massachusetts ; Methuen, Massachusetts ; Lawrence, Massachusetts ; Salem, New Hampshire ; Cleveland, Ohio ; Lansing, Michigan ; East Grand Rapids, Michigan ; Albuquerque, New Mexico ; Tulsa, Oklahoma ; St. Clair Shores, Michigan ; Toledo, Ohio ;

488-531: A small group of Latin Catholics who are of at least partial French or Italian descent. The Assyrians in Lebanon were refugees who had fled their native lands in southeastern Turkey during and after World War I due to the Assyrian genocide . Even today, refugees continue to flee from northern Iraq into Syria, Lebanon or Jordan due to continuous unrest in Iraq. The Archdiocese of Lebanon and Syria of

549-555: A year. Those who now settle are predominantly Muslim , in contrast to the predominantly- Christian population of immigrants of previous waves. Christians still comprise a majority of Lebanese in America and in the diaspora of around 14 million Lebanese people living outside Lebanon. Most of the Lebanese immigrants during the first and the early part of the second waves were Christians . Muslims followed in large numbers beginning in

610-616: Is elected by bishops in a synod and confirmed by the Pope in Rome, who sends him a pallium (a circular band of white wool worn by archbishops) in recognition of their communion. Greek Catholic churches, like those of the Greek Orthodox, contain icons but no statues. The Melkite Greek Catholics live primarily in the central and eastern parts of the country, dispersed in many villages. Members of this rite are concentrated in Beirut, Zahlah, and

671-582: Is elected by the bishops of the Maronite church and now resides in Bkerké , north of Beirut (but in the northern town of Dimane during the summer months). The current Patriarch (from 2011) is Mar Bechara Boutros al-Rahi . When a new patriarch is elected and enthroned, he requests ecclesiastic communion from the Pope, thus maintaining communion within the Catholic Church. Patriarchs may also be accorded

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732-605: Is not recognized by the state. But the Minister of the Interior Ziad Baroud made it possible in 2009 to have religious affiliation removed from the Lebanese identity card . This does not, however, deny the religious authorities' complete control over civil family issues inside the country. The Maronite Christians of Lebanon are the largest Christian denomination among the Lebanese people, representing 21% of

793-589: Is that of the procession of the Holy Spirit and there are also divergences in ritual and discipline. The Eastern Orthodox Christians include many free-holders, and the community is less dominated by large landowners than other Christian denominations. In present-day Lebanon, the Lebanese Greek Orthodox have become increasingly urbanized, and form a major part of the commercial and professional class of Beirut and other cities. Many are found in

854-712: Is the proper archeparchy ( Eastern Catholic (archdiocese) of the Syriac Catholic Church 's ( Antiochian Rite in Syriac language ) Patriarch of Antioch in his actual seat, Beirut, Lebanon. The members of the Syriac Orthodox Church are also refugees who had fled southeastern Turkey (present day Mardin region) during and after World War I due to the Assyrian/Syriac genocide . Even today, refugees continue to flee from northern Iraq and northeastern Syria into Lebanon or Jordan due to continuous unrest in Iraq and Syria. There are several archdioceses and dioceses of

915-597: The Afghan and Iraq wars. In 2007, he was awarded the Joe A. Callaway Award for Civic Courage . Jamail's second book, The Will to Resist: Soldiers Who Refuse to Fight in Iraq and Afghanistan, was published in 2009. His next book, The Mass Destruction of Iraq; The Disintegration of a Nation: Why It Is Happening, and Who Is Responsible, was co-authored in 2014 with William Rivers Pitt . Dahr Jamail writes for Truthout about climate change issues. In January 2019, he published

976-804: The Assyrian/Syriac genocide . Even today, refugees continue to flee from northern Iraq and northeastern Syria into Lebanon or Jordan due to continuous unrest in Iraq and Syria. The Chaldean Catholic Eparchy of Beirut is the sole eparchy ( Eastern Catholic diocese) of the Chaldean Catholic Church and is immediately dependent on the Chaldean Catholic Patriarch of Babylon in Baghdad , Iraq . The Copts in Lebanon were immigrants or refugees who had fled their native lands in Egypt, Libya and Sudan. According to tradition,

1037-687: The Catholic Church , is the largest and politically most active and influential denomination of Lebanon's Christians. The Catholic Church also includes other Eastern Catholic churches, such as the Melkite Catholic Church . The Greek Orthodox Church forms the second-largest proportion of Lebanese Christians. The Armenian Apostolic Church also forms a large portion of the Christian population in Lebanon. The other six smaller Christian sects are considered ethnic Assyrians ( Syriac Orthodox , Syriac Catholics , Assyrian Church of

1098-566: The Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex ; El Paso, Texas ; Austin, Texas ; San Antonio, Texas and Houston, Texas also have sizeable Lebanese communities. The Arab American Institute reports the top five states where Lebanese Americans reside are: Michigan (11%), California (9%), Ohio (6%), Florida (6%), and Massachusetts (5%). for a more thorough list, click here Lebanese diaspora : Europe Overseas Middle East [REDACTED] Media related to Lebanese diaspora in

1159-532: The United Kingdom , including a large number on the ill-fated liner RMS Titanic . The second wave of Lebanese immigration began in the late 1940s and continued through the early 1990s, when Lebanese immigrants had been fleeing the Lebanese Civil War . Between 1948 and 1990, over 60,000 Lebanese entered the United States. Since then, immigration has increased to an estimated 5,000 immigrants

1220-726: The United States of America , as well as immigrants from Lebanon . Lebanese Americans comprise 0.79% of the American population, as of the American Community Survey estimations for year 2007, and 32.4% of all Americans who originate from the Middle East. Lebanese Americans have had significant participation in American politics and involvement in both social and political activism. The diversity within

1281-490: The "foundation of the Lebanese nation". The Maronites have been closely associated with the political system of independent Lebanon; it was estimated that in pre-Civil War Lebanon, members of this Rite held a large portion of the leading posts. However, roles were shifted due to the Taif Agreement's theoretical balancing of power. Lebanese Greek Orthodox Christianity is the second largest Christian denomination among

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1342-675: The 8 March and 14 March alliances and threatening Lebanon with renewed strife. The Christian community is currently divided, with some aligned with the Kataeb party, Michel Aoun 's Free Patriotic Movement , the El Marada Party headed by Suleiman Frangieh, Jr. , the Lebanese Forces Movement Samir Geagea, and others within the collection of various 14 March Christian leaders. Although the Taif agreement

1403-678: The Assyrian Church of the East is based in the Mar Gewargis Church of Sad El Bouchrieh, Beirut, Lebanon. After the recent passing of the archdiocese's late Archbishop Mar Narsai D'Baz , Archbishop Mar Meelis Zaia of Australia and New Zealand temporarily took over the archdiocese, handling all church related issues in Lebanon. The current bishops, the Bishop of Europe and the Bishop of Syria, oversee their individual dioceses until

1464-592: The Christian faith reached the territory of Lebanon, Jesus had traveled to its southern parts near Tyre where the scripture tells that he cured a possessed Canaanite child. Christianity in Lebanon is as old as gentile Christian faith itself. Early reports relate the possibility that Saint Peter himself was the one who evangelized the Phoenicians whom he affiliated to the ancient Patriarchate of Antioch . Paul also preached in Lebanon, having lingered with

1525-765: The East and Chaldean Catholics ). In the Lebanese Parliament , Christians hold 64 seats in tandem with 64 seats for Lebanese Muslims . The Maronites are allotted 34 seats, the Eastern Orthodox 14, Melkites eight, the Armenians Apostolics five, Catholic Armenians one, Protestants one, and other Christian minority groups , one. The head of the Maronite Church is the Maronite Patriarch of Antioch, who

1586-639: The Lebanese people, representing 8% of the Lebanese population. The Greek Orthodox Church of Antioch adheres to the Eastern Orthodox Church , which is actually a group of autocephalous churches using the Byzantine rite and are the second largest Christian denomination within Christianity in Lebanon . Historically, these churches grew out of the four Eastern Patriarchates ( Jerusalem , Antioch , Alexandria , and Constantinople ) of

1647-407: The Lebanese population. Most Protestants in Lebanon were converted by missionaries, primarily English and American, during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. They are divided into a number of denominations, including Presbyterian, Congregational, and Anglican. They are perceived by some to number disproportionately highly among the professional middle class. They constitute nearly 1 percent of

1708-683: The Lebanese population. The Melkite Catholics emerged as a distinct group from 1724 when they split from the Greek Orthodox Church over a disputed election of the Patriarch of Antioch. The elected man was considered too 'pro-Roman' and another faction, the larger, elected a rival who was supported by the Orthodox patriarch in Constantinople (the see of Antioch had ignored the split between the two which occurred in 1054 and

1769-527: The Lebanese population. The Maronite Church's full communion with the Catholic Church was reaffirmed in 1182, after hundreds of years of isolation in Mount Lebanon. By the terms of union, they retain their rites and canon law and use Arabic and Aramaic in their liturgy, as well the Karshuni script with old Syriac letters. Their origins are uncertain. One version traces them to John Maron of Antioch in

1830-655: The Maronites was largely ignored by the western world until the Crusades . In the 16th century, the Maronite Church adopted the catechism of the Catholic Church and reaffirmed its relationship with it. Moreover, Rome dispatched Franciscan , Dominican and later Jesuit missionaries to Lebanon to Latinise the Maronites. The relationship between the Druze and Christians has been characterized by harmony and peaceful coexistence , with amicable relations between

1891-543: The Middle East after Venezuela (60,000). According to some estimates there are about 30,000 to 50,000 Druzes in the United States, with the largest concentration in Southern California . Most Druze immigrated to the U.S. from Lebanon and Syria. Dearborn, Michigan has the highest concentration of Arab Americans in the United States, at over 40%. The rest of Metro Detroit has an even larger population of Lebanese residents. Brooklyn, New York has one of

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1952-525: The Southeast ( Nabatieh / Beqaa ) and North , near Tripoli . They are highly educated and well-versed in finance. The church has often served as a bridge between Lebanese Christians and the Arab countries, because it exists in various parts of the Arab world. Members of the rite constitute 8% of the population. Melkite Christianity in Lebanon is the third-largest Christian denomination, representing 5% of

2013-696: The Syriac Orthodox Church on the territory of Lebanon. The church follows the Syriac liturgy of St. James and has an independent hierarchy under the Syriac Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch, whose seat was formerly at Mardin in Turkey and is now at Damascus , Syria . The members of the Chaldean Catholic Church are also refugees who had fled southeastern Turkey (present day Mardin region) during and after World War I due to

2074-549: The United States at Wikimedia Commons Christianity in Lebanon Christianity in Lebanon has a long and continuous history. Biblical scriptures show that Peter and Paul evangelized the Phoenicians , leading to the dawn of the ancient Patriarchate of Antioch . As such, Christianity in Lebanon is as old as Christian faith itself. Christianity spread slowly in Lebanon due to pagans who resisted conversion, but it ultimately spread throughout

2135-617: The United States, Canada, Mexico, Côte d'Ivoire, and Senegal. There are four minor seminaries in Lebanon (Al Batrun, Ghazir, Ayn Saadah, and Trablous) and a faculty of theology at the University of the Holy Spirit at Al Kaslik, which is run by the Maronite Monastic Order. The patriarch is elected in a secret ceremony by a synod of bishops and confirmed by the Pope. Leaders of the Rite have considered Maronite Christianity as

2196-521: The armed forces, as well as the sole ability to form and dissolve governments. Many Lebanese leaders, as well as global powers, continue to lobby to roll back features of the Taif Agreement that eroded the constitutional powers of the president of the republic. The role of president of the Lebanese Central bank is also a position reserved for Lebanese Christians. This is due to the historical and contemporary influence of Lebanese Christians among

2257-502: The book, The End of Ice: Bearing Witness and Finding Meaning in the Path of Climate Disruption, about his mountaineering adventures where he witnessed glaciers melting, expressing despair at the future catastrophe of global warming. Lebanese American Lebanese Americans ( Arabic : أمريكيون لبنانيون , romanized :  Amrīkiyyūn Lubnāniyyūn ) are Americans of Lebanese descent. This includes both those who are native to

2318-778: The civil war, the main stance of the Armenians was not to pick a side between Muslims or Christians and stay exempt mostly from the fighting. The largest Armenian community in Lebanon is found in Bourj Hammoud . Among the Armenians in Lebanon there are some who belong to the Armenian Catholic Church . They are also refugees who had fled Turkey during and after World War I and the Armenian genocide . The Latin Catholic Church in Lebanon consists mainly of

2379-410: The country. Even after centuries of living under Muslim Empires , Christianity remains the dominant faith of the Mount Lebanon region and has substantial communities elsewhere. The Maronite Catholics and the Druze founded modern Lebanon in the nineteenth century, through a governing and social system known as the " Maronite-Druze dualism " in the Mount Lebanon Mutasarrifate . Lebanon has

2440-405: The early Christians in Tyre and Sidon . Even though Christianity was introduced to Lebanon after the first century AD, its spread was very slow, particularly in the mountainous areas where paganism was still unyielding. The earliest indisputable tradition of Christianity in Lebanon can be traced back to Saint Maron in the 4th century AD, being of Greek/Eastern/Antiochian Orthodox origin and

2501-406: The entity of the Principality of Lebanon (1515AD–1840AD). With the creation of the state of Lebanon, Arabism was overcome by Lebanism , which emphasizes Lebanon's Mediterranean and Phoenician heritage. In the National Pact , an unwritten gentleman's agreement between the Maronite President Bshara el-Khoury and Sunni Prime Minister Riad as-Solh , the seats of presidency were distributed between

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2562-423: The founder of national and ecclesiastical Maronitism. Saint Maron adopted an ascetic and reclusive life on the banks of the Orontes river in the vicinity of Homs – Syria and founded a community of monks which began to preach the gospel in the surrounding areas. By faith, liturgy, rite, religious books and heritage, the Maronites were of Eastern origin. The Saint Maron Monastery was too close to Antioch to grant

2623-439: The highest proportion of Christians of any Middle Eastern country, estimated to be between 37% and 43%; Egypt and Syria are next, at roughly 10%. Lebanese Christians constitute the majority of the Lebanese diaspora worldwide. According to a 2015 study, an estimated 2,500 Lebanese Christians have Arab Muslim ancestry, whereas the majority of Lebanese Christians are direct descendants of the original early Christians. Before

2684-427: The highest proportion of Christians of any country in the Middle East, but exact size of this population has been disputed for many years. One estimate of the Christian share of Lebanon's population, as of 2012, was 40.5%. And more recently, in 2018 the CIA World Factbook estimated that Christians constituted 33.7% of Lebanon's population. The Maronite Church , an Eastern Catholic church in full communion with

2745-481: The immigrants were Christians. Upon entering America, many of them worked as peddlers. The first wave continued until the 1920s. Many immigrants settled in northern New Jersey , in towns such as Bloomfield , Paterson , Newark , and Orange . Some immigrants set out west, with places such as Detroit , Cleveland , Toledo , and Peoria gaining a large number of all Lebanese immigrants. Others bought farms in states like Texas , South Dakota , and Iowa . Many came via

2806-410: The key bankers of the Middle East region. Although Lebanon is a secular country , family matters such as marriage, divorce, and inheritance are still handled by the religious authorities representing a person's faith. Calls for civil marriage are unanimously rejected by the religious authorities but civil marriages conducted in another country are recognized by Lebanese civil authorities. Non-religion

2867-442: The late 1960s. Among the minority, there are Shia and Sunni Muslim communities. A number of Jews fled Lebanon for the United States due to fears of persecution, and populations of Druze and atheists also exist. This information has been distributed by all American organizations, including the Arab American Institute and the United States census team. The United States is the second largest home of Druze communities outside

2928-414: The main Lebanese religious denominations. According to the pact, the President of the Lebanese republic shall always be a Maronite. Furthermore, the pact also states that Lebanon is a state with an "Arab face" (not an Arab identity). Note that the following percentages are estimates only. As the last Lebanese census was conducted in 1932, it is difficult to have precise population estimates. Lebanon has

2989-405: The monks their freedom and autonomy, which prompted Saint John Maron , the first Maronite patriarch-elect, to lead his monks into the Lebanese mountains to escape emperor Justinian II 's persecution, finally settling in the Qadisha valley . Nevertheless, the influence of the Maronite establishment spread throughout the Lebanese mountains and became a considerable feudal force. The existence of

3050-441: The mountainous areas of Lebanon and Syria. During the Ottoman era (1516–1914) they remained isolated and relatively independent in these areas. In 1857 and 1858 the Maronites revolted against the large landowning families. The revolt was followed by a further struggle between the Druzes and Maronites over land ownership, political power, and safe passage of community members in the territory of the other. The conflict led France to send

3111-453: The oldest Lebanese populations in America, dating over 125 years; one large center is in the Bay Ridge section. Once predominantly Christian, the Lebanese in Bay Ridge are today equally split between Muslims and Christians. South Paterson , New Jersey historically had a large Lebanese Christian population dating back to the 1890s, but only a few remain, and the neighborhood has largely been replaced by Palestinian immigrants. Brooklyn holds

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3172-411: The original five major episcopal sees (the Pentarchy ) of the Roman Empire which included Rome. The final split took place in 1054. From that time, the Eastern Churches have continued to reject the claims of the Patriarchate of Rome (the Catholic Church) to universal supremacy and have rejected the concept of papal infallibility. Doctrinally, the main point at issue between the Eastern and Western Churches

3233-410: The population (around 40,000) and live primarily in Beirut ( Greater Beirut ). The Lebanese Baptist Evangelical Convention was founded in 1955 by various churches. The Armenians in Lebanon mostly descend from refugees who had fled Turkey during and after the Armenian genocide during World War I . The Armenian Apostolic Church was organized in the third century and became autocephalous as

3294-406: The predominantly Muslim Arab world. The Maronites played a major part in the definition of and the creation of the state of Lebanon. The modern state of Greater Lebanon was established by France in 1920 after the instigation of ambitious Maronite leaders headed by patriarch Elias Peter Hoayek , who presided over delegations to France following World War I and requested the re-establishment of

3355-506: The region sprouted from the diaspora of the surrounding countries. There are more Lebanese outside Lebanon today than within. The first known Lebanese immigrant to the United States was Antonio Bishallany, a Maronite Christian, who arrived in Boston Harbor in 1854. He died in Brooklyn , New York in 1856 on his 29th birthday. Large scale-Lebanese immigration began in the late 19th century and settled mainly in Brooklyn and Boston , Massachusetts . They were marked as Syrians; almost all of

3416-416: The seventh century A.D.; another points to St. Maron , a monk in the late fourth and early fifth centuries (who is considered by many to be the true origin of the Maronite Church). The words "maron" or "marun" in Syriac mean "small lord." In the late seventh century, as a result of persecutions from other Christians for the heterodox views they had adopted, the Maronites withdrew from the coastal regions into

3477-417: The status of cardinals, in the rank of cardinal-bishops. The Seat of the Maronite Catholic Church is in Bkerké. Monasteries in Lebanon are run by both the Maronite and Orthodox churches. The Holy Monastery of Saint George in Deir El Harf and Saint John the Baptist Monastery in Douma both date back to the 5th century. The Balamand Monastery in Tripoli is a very prominent Orthodox monastery that has

3538-415: The suburbs of Sidon. They have a relatively higher level of education than other denominations. Proud of their Arab heritage, Greek Catholics have been able to strike a balance between their openness to the Arab world and their identification with the West. Greek Catholics are estimated to constitute 5% of the population. The Protestants of Lebanon form the fourth-largest Christian group, representing 1% of

3599-410: The two groups prevailing throughout history, with the exception of some periods, including 1860 Mount Lebanon civil war . Due to their turbulent history, the Maronites formed a secluded identity in the mountains and valleys of Lebanon, led by the Maronite patriarch who voiced his opinion on contemporary issues. They identify themselves as a unique community whose religion and culture is distinct from

3660-492: Was canonically in union with both in 1724). Although they fully accept Catholic doctrines as defined by the Holy See , they have generally remained close to the Greek Orthodox Church, retaining more of the ancient rituals and customs than have the Maronites. They employ Arabic and Greek and follow the Byzantine rite. The highest official of the church since 1930 has been the Patriarch of Antioch, who resides at Ayn Traz, about twenty-four kilometers southeast of Beirut. The patriarch

3721-411: Was widely considered by Christians to degrade their role in Lebanon, by removing much of the President's role (which is allocated to the Maronites ), and bolstering the roles of the Prime Minister (a Sunni ) and the Speaker of Parliament ( Shia ), the Lebanese President nevertheless still wields considerable power. The constitutional remit of the president includes the role of Commander in Chief of

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