NNA – Maronite Patriarch Cardinal Bechara Boutros al-Rahi patronized on Saturday the launching ceremony of the book entitled, ldquo;Le Patriarche Esteacute;phan Douayhy et le Patrimoine Oriental de lrsquo;Antiocheacute;iteacute; agrave; la Libaniteacute;,rdquo; written by Professor Tanios Njeim and preface by the President of the Maronite League, Ambassador Khalil Karam.

Marking preparations underway for the celebration of the beatification of the Honorable Patriarch Esteacute;phan Douayhy, a ceremony was held in Bkirki today at the invitation of the head and members of the Maronite League Executive Council.

In his delivered word on the occasion, Patriarch al-Rahi welcomed the attendees partaking in this special gathering, witnessing Professor Tanios Njeimrsquo;s book launching and signing of his work that sheds light on the lifetime of the late Honorable Patriarch Douayhy whose beautification will be celebrated next August 2 in Bkirki.

Rahi considered that Njeimrsquo;s valuable work ldquo;comes in its desired circumstance to constitute the best scientific reference on the personality of the Honorable Patriarch Esteacute;phan Douayhy, his holiness, and great legacy…rdquo;

He added: ldquo;This book, with its 271 pages according to the French version, presents to us in three large sections the personality of the late Patriarch, his virtues and characteristics, his pastoral activities, and his intellectual output.rdquo;

Al-Rahi went on to indicate that the works of the late great Patriarch are divided into four:

1. Historical works

2. Liturgical works

3 Various works, including philosophical, linguistic, economic and translated works

4. Correspondences, church dedications, judicial rulings, and miscellaneous letters.

ldquo;Therefore, Patriarch Esteacute;phan Douayhy is unanimously considered the greatest patriarch in the Maronite Church, after the first Patriarch, Saint John Maroun…He is considered the most trusted authority among those who wrote in the Ottoman era. He is the father of the contemporary history of Lebanon and the history of the Maronite Church in the previous era, and one of the greatest pioneers of the intellectual renaissance in the East,rdquo; al-Rahi went on, reiterating the huge significance and great value of the spiritual legacy left behind by Patriarch Douayhy.

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=========R.Sh.