www.byzcath.org Forums General Discussions Town Hall Prayer for the Beatification of Patriarch Duwayhi

Shlomo Lkhoolkhoon,
Dear Brothers and Sisters, Patriarch Estefan is in line to be beatified. Let us pray for him.

Poosh BaShlomo Lkhoolkhoon,
Yuhannon

Prayer for the Beatification of Patriarch Duwayhi

O Lord Jesus,
You bestowed your many graces upon Patriarch Estefan Duwayhi.
As a true disciple, he responded to them, eager to imitate his
Master, for the love of you and your glory.

You said, �Let the children come to me.�
He sought the children of Lebanon, poor and orphaned, and taught them the words of truth.
You traveled through cities and villages, preaching the Kingdom of God.
Through his preaching and writing, he announced your Good News as a priest, then as a bishop and later as a patriarch.

You said, "Do not be afraid, 0 little flock."
Your chosen one, Patriarch Estefan, took on himself these words, and passed them to all his children, encouraging them, confirming them, and defending their faith.

You loved your Church and gave your blood to redeem her. He bore all kinds of hardships for the Church's love and salvation.

We now ask you, 0 Lord, to reveal the abundance of your graces to him, and to show us how great was his response to them, so that the holiness of his life may shine before us.

Grant us to see our Patriarch Estefan among the ranks of your saints, so that he may shine like a lighthouse in our land of the East.

Through his intercession, grant us to build up your Church with knowledge, faith, devotion and courage, so that we may become true witnesses to you and lighthouses of love and peace. To you only are due glory and honor, now and for ever. Amen.

Yuhannon,

Could you point us to where we could read more about this Servant of God?

Thanks,

Sharon

Shlomo Sharon,
Your wish is my command.

Patriarch Stephen Doueihi (1670 -1704)

Stephen Doueihi, one of the greatest of the Maronite Patriarchs, was born in Ehden on August 30, 1630. He was sent to Rome in 1641 by Patriarch George Amira. Both in Europe and in the Middle East, Doueihi sought out manuscripts and sources that dealt with Maronite history and tradition. Returning to Lebanon in 1655, he was sent as a missionary by the Congregation of the Propagation of the Faith, and went throughout Lebanon teaching the children and preaching. He was sent by Patriarch George Bseb'el to Aleppo where he remained for some time, and it is said, he converted many Melkites, Nestorians, and Jacobites to the Catholic faith. In 1668, he was consecrated Bishop of Cyprus, and he was elected Patriarch on May 20, 1670. As Patriarch he went all over Lebanon investigating and correcting liturgical books, with the desire to return to the ancient customs. During his term as patriarch he suffered many persecutions and had to flee to kesrawan and the Chouf. There are many who report that miracles took place during his life and after his death. Patriarch Doueihi was the first Maronite to attempt a complete history of his people. He published several volumes which earned him the title of "Father of the Maronite history."

We have an eyewitness description of some of the Maronite Liturgical practices during this time. M. De La Croix, secretary to the French ambassador to Constantinople, writing about 1672 states that the Maronites have 60 anaphoras. Their vestments are like those of the Roman church, but they do not follow the Roman rubrics on color. They say only one Mass per day at each altar, and the lay people receive communion under both species. They have seven bishops: at Qannoubin with the Patriarch, at Saida, Cyprus, Damascus, Ehden, at the Monasteries of Mar Eliseus and Mar Sarkis, and also a mitered abbot at the Monastery of St. Anthony. The observation that the Maronites have 60 anaphoras indicates that despite the Synods of 1596, manuscript missals were still being used. Also surprising was that lay communion under both species seemed still to be in practice, at least in some parts of Lebanon.

Patriarch Doueihi undertook to stabilize the Maronite Liturgy. He sought to publish a definitive ritual. In regard to baptism, his ritual contained the rites of James of Saroug, James of Edessa, and Basil. However Patriarch Doueihi's ritual forbad priests to confer Christmation. Also, it required that children reach the age of reason before receiving communion. Thus, in these practices he confirmed the Latinizations of previous synods. Not found in the ritual of Doueihi are the rite for blessing of ashes, and the rite of the Cross for the Fridays of Lent. Patriarch Doueihi ordered that this ritual be the only accepted one in the Patriarchate. Another significant work was Patriarch Doueihi's definitive commentary on the Maronite Liturgy which bore the name of Lamp of the Sanctuary.

Patriarch Douehi sought to publish a Pontifical which, it was hoped, would make practice uniform. To reform the Pontifical, douehi depended on the works of Patriarch Jerome Amchiti (1209-1230), and the ritual of 1295 by Archbishop Theodore of Akourah, and manuscript Pontificals dated 1311, 1495, 1581, and 1584. Patriarch Douehi sent the text to Rome to be printed in 1683. However, despite its solemn approval by the Synod of 1736, the Pontifical never gained universal in the Patriarchate. In fact, it was never printed.

Patriarch Doueihi's work was limited only to history and liturgy, he also established a seminary at Qannoubin to teach Maronite students free of charge. The religious Order of St. Anthony was founded under him. (This Order is not the Antonine Order of today, but rather was the basis for the Allepine and Baladite Orders). In 1700 there were forty religious of this Order at Qannoubin. They lived a very austere life and dressed very simply. Pope Clement XII in 1732 confirmed the Order and its institutions. At this time all the monasteries were autonomous. Patriarch Doueihi wished to introduce the Western system of centralized authority, and on June 18, 1700, he approved the first constitutions for the reform of the monasteries.

The political condition of the Maronites at this time was no better than in the preceding years of this century. Throughout all of Lebanon, the Maronites suffered persecutions under the Turks.

Villages were destroyed and their inhabitants dispersed, fathers of families were thrown into prison, and outrages were committed against the Patriarch and Bishops. Patriarch Doueihi appealed to the King of France to intervene, and on June 28, 1702, the King sent the Patriarch 1,000 pounds to help pay his debts.

An important event that took place during the Patriarchate of Stephen Doueihi was the hundredth anniversary of the Maronite College in Rome, which had been founded in 1585. At this time, the College boast of four Patriarchs and thirteen Bishops from among its graduates since its establishment.

Poosh BaShlomo,
Yuhannon