Foundation :
The Society of St. Paul was founded in 1903 by Mgr. Germanos Mu’aqqad
Aims :
– To foster the faith and spiritual life of Christians in the Middle East and in countries where they have emigrated.
– To strive for Christian unity by research and by discussion.
– To bring about brotherly dialogue between Christians and Muslims.
Means :
First and foremost, the most specific forms of apostolic labor, namely preaching and publishing
Membership :
Missionary priests and coadjutor brothers.
In order to be able to pray, to draw on the inner life and to reflect, these men of action need a retreat which is calm and conducive to meditation.
Therefore the founder chose Harissa, near Our Lady of Lebanon, as a place with an atmosphere favoring study and prayer for unity supported by interior union with God.
It only remained to erect a sanctuary whose authentic style and artistic perfection would create a fraternal climate of prayer.
Efforts were made in this direction and towards the year 1945 an Armenian architect by the name of Mardiros Altonian, a specialist in Byzantine architecture, drew up a project for a church at Harissa that was full of promise
Mr. Dimitrios Constantinides, one of the great Greek specialists in iconography, studied the plan and fixed the iconographic details. The Pierrotti Studio took charge of elaborating the studies in color and the decorative designs for the parts in marble and mosaic, with the collaboration of the workshops of Favret Mosaics.
The estimated cost was enormous, but the desire of the faithful to see a beautiful and sumptuous church rise up on such an enchanting hilltop overcame all obstacles.
Steps on the way to completion:
– Laying of the foundation stone, 22/11/1947
– Completion of the general structure, 1968
– Placing of the high altar and its ciborium, 1980
– Placing of the first mosaic, 1980
– Inauguration and consecration of the cathedral, 25/7/1998
