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89-568: The Marada were a group of independent communities in Lebanon and the surrounding highlands after the conquest of Syria by the Arab army in 630 CE. While some historians argue that the Marada "States" were that of a Maronite Aramaic-speaking Christian warrior elite, other historians tend to downplay their importance, and describe a more complex scenario. The Maronites and thus the Marada were given relative autonomy in

178-500: 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 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

267-634: A Sunni seat with 11,594 votes, Elias Fouad Khoury getting the Maronite seat with 3,426 votes, and Jamil Abboud getting the Greek Orthodox seat with 79 votes. The Lebanese Forces presented 23 direct members along with many other allies in every electoral district, with the exception of Beirut II and South III , during the elections with a large anti-Hezbollah sentiment. The Lebanese Forces saw many withdrawal of candidates specifically in Shia dominated areas which

356-508: A deluge of cases. This only further accelerated the already devastating economic crisis. On 4 August 2020, the explosion of several thousand tons of ammonium nitrate stored in a hangar in the Port of Beirut caused considerable human and material damage across the city and the port. The final toll was over 235 dead and over 7,000 injured and damage estimated at over $ 10 billion and estimated to have left 300,000 homeless. The industrial-port zone of

445-534: A list called 'Shamal Al Mouwajaha' to bring down Gebran Bassil 's presence in the North III electoral districts. The list managed to win 2 seats with the likes of Michel Mouawad and ally Adib Abdelmassih. In the 2022 Lebanese General elections, Citizens in a State (MMFD) hosted candidates in every electoral district in Lebanon in lists called "Qadreen" (Capable) led by Charbel Nahas of Beirut I . The coalition presented around 60 candidates with some allying with

534-462: 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 the entity of the Principality of Lebanon (1515AD–1840AD). With

623-700: 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,

712-1030: 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

801-583: 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

890-521: 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

979-755: 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 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

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1068-637: Is a newly established coalition formed by independent groups from the North III electoral district ( Bcharre - Zghorta - Batroun - Koura ). Currently, the coalition consists of: Osos (Foundations), Koura Independent Community, Al Fekr El Horr (Free Thought), and Al Mashrou’ Al Badeel (The Alternative Project).The coalition took a pioneering unique step to choose its candidates; a round of primary elections through which voters selected their candidates. The primary elections were open to all change groups with no affiliation to mainstream political parties. Shamaluna secured

1157-506: 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 the early Christians in Tyre and Sidon . Even though Christianity was introduced to Lebanon after the first century AD, its spread

1246-497: 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

1335-580: Is known as Qaa massacre . On 2 May 1987, a Zgharta unit called Marada 3/400 set up an ambush to kill Bahaa Douaihy and Roumanos Douaihy amid the long-running Frangieh and Douaihy clans conflict. Between 2005 and 2008 numerous attacks targeted and killed multiple Lebanese Forces members. Those killed include: Riad Abi Khater in Batroun , Pierre Ishac in Bsarma and Tony Issa in Dahr al ain . The Marada militia destroyed

1424-637: 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

1513-415: Is proportional. Once all the ballot papers have been counted, the total of valid votes in each constituency is divided by the number of seats to be filled, which gives the electoral threshold necessary for a list to obtain a seat. The distribution of seats is done between the lists having reached this quorum proportionally according to the percentage of votes obtained, then within the lists in accordance with

1602-573: 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

1691-698: 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

1780-774: 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,

1869-668: The Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria was established by Saint Mark, an apostle and evangelist, in the middle of the 1st century (approximately AD 42). The ethnic Copts in Lebanon are estimated to number 3,000–4,000, and the Coptic Orthodox Church is one of the 18 religious sects recognized by the Lebanese Constitution. 2022 Lebanese general election Najib Mikati Azm Movement Najib Mikati Azm Movement [REDACTED] Member State of

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1958-556: 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 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

2047-721: 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 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)

2136-579: The Kataeb until 1978, the year when Suleiman Frangieh refused the Lebanese Front 's plan to declare a Christian canton, a Christian enclave separated from the rest of the country. A new alliance was formed between Suleiman Frangieh and Prime Minister Rachid Karami to counter the Lebanese Front's plan that called for separate enclaves/cantons of Christians, Druze and Muslims. Frangieh became firmly set against

2225-527: The LCP and other independents of the 17 October revolution . MMFD was unable to secure any seats but was close with candidate and journalist Jad Ghosn but was defeated by Razi El Hajj by a difference of only 88 votes. Myriam Skaff , member of a prominent family in the city of Zahle and candidate of the Greek catholic seat, leads a 6-member list in the electoral of Beqaa I but failed to win any seats. In total

2314-553: 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 the Maronites was largely ignored by the western world until the Crusades . In the 16th century, the Maronite Church adopted

2403-707: 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 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,

2492-532: The Mount Lebanon IV electoral district. The Mada Network, a youth organization including secular clubs from various regions, universities, and syndicates, took part in the elections in a decentralized manner in three campaigns: Beirut Tuqawem (Beirut Resists), Al Janoub Youwajeh (The South Confronts), and Jil Al Taghyeer (The Generation of Change), further supporting 5 candidates: Ibrahim Mneimneh , Nuhad Yazbik Dumit and Samah Halwany in Beirut, Ali Khalife in

2581-542: 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 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

2670-452: The Port of Beirut and faced large-scale demonstrations against the political class. Hezbollah and their allies lost their parliamentary majority but still won the Parliament speaker election. The Lebanese Christian-based Lebanese Forces led by Samir Geagea made gains and independent candidates promising reforms won 13 seats. Large-scale antigovernmental demonstrations ignited in

2759-657: The president of the country must be a Maronite , the Prime Minister must be a Sunnite , and the Speaker of Parliament must be 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

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2848-483: 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

2937-723: The 2010 municipal election, Marada won in Zgharta and won a total of 17 out of 31 municipalities in the Zgharta District . In the 2018 Lebanese general election , Marada won 3 seats in North III : 2 Maronite seats in Zgharta and 1 Orthodox seat in Koura . After the elections, Frangieh formed the Independent National Bloc ( Arabic : التكتل الوطني ) with Farid Haykal Khazen , Faisal Karami , Jihad Al Samad and Jbeil Shia MP Moustafa Husseini. Faisal Karami and Jihad Al Samad left

3026-492: The 2022 elections. Next comes Hezbollah and Amal with around 17 percent combined. The study also found that 44.8% of polled Lebanese will not vote for the same party as they did in 2018. Christian parties Kataeb and the Lebanese Forces had seen a large increase in support in preference percentage compared to the figures of the last elections conducted by candidate and researcher Charbel Nahas in his book ‘Ritualism of

3115-597: 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

3204-473: The Arab League [REDACTED] Lebanon portal General elections were held in Lebanon on 15 May 2022 (one week earlier for overseas voters and one day earlier for ballot workers) to elect all 128 members of the Lebanese Parliament . The country has for several years been the subject of chronic political instability as well as a serious economic crisis aggravated by the 2020 explosions that hit

3293-607: 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

3382-636: 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 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,

3471-461: The Future Movement in parliament . Candidates were announced on the 20 February 2022 under the campaign slogan Ma minsawim (ما منساوم). Kataeb leader Samy Gemayel insisted that the Kataeb party was the only one that has faced the fact of surrendering to Hezbollah 's will, electing Michel Aoun as president and isolating Lebanon from its surroundings. Samy Gemayel emphasized: We, as

3560-587: The Kataeb party, have alone faced surrender to Hezbollah’s will, isolating Lebanon from its surroundings, electing Michel Aoun as president, the electoral law that gave the majority to Hezbollah, and quotas and fictitious budgets such as taxes, power ships and seaports. On 2 April Nadim Gemayel , cousin of Samy, promoted his candidacy in a speech during a small event. Kataeb secured 4 seats for Salim Sayegh (3,477 votes), Nadim Gemayel (4,425 votes), Sami Gemayel (10,466 votes), and Elias Hankash (6,148 votes). Shamalouna

3649-618: 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

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3738-407: 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

3827-657: 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

3916-408: 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

4005-459: The Maronite seat in North III district with Michel Chawki Douaihy with 1,786 votes who is affiliated with the Osos foundation. Taqaddom , which is Arabic for "progress", is a social democratic movement that plans to advocate for social justice and sustainable development. The movement is allied with the Kataeb Party and Michel Moawad , both known for their anti- Hezbollah sentiment. The party presented 2 candidates and managed to win both seats in

4094-567: 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 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

4183-408: The North between the Kataeb and Marada parties when the Kataeb tried to expand their power in the region, Marada militiamen assassinated Joud el Bayeh , a Kataeb leader in Zgharta , which ignited the Ehden massacre . To seek revenge for the Ehden massacre , on 28 June 1978, Marada brigades affiliates captured and killed 26 Kataeb members in the villages of Qaa and Ras Baalback , the massacre

4272-451: The Port of Beirut 's badly affected, further aggravating the economic situation. Vital for Lebanon, the port is the most important trading centres in Lebanon which ensures the transit of 60% of the country's imports. In accordance with the Lebanese practice of political confessionalism, the Lebanese religious communities distribute reserved seats in the different constituencies according to their demographic weight. The distribution of votes

4361-403: 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 the highest proportion of Christians of any country in

4450-411: The Sectarian Non-State'. In 2018, the Kataeb Party were only favored by 1.9% of the ones conducted compared to 2021's 4.2% and the Lebanese Forces had 7.7% compared to the 2021's 11.5%. On 24 January 2022 Saad Hariri announced that he will suspend his role in Lebanese politics and that he would not run in the 2022 general elections. He also called on the Future Movement to follow suit and not run in

4539-417: 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

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4628-437: 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

4717-423: The Tyre-Zahrani district and Verena El Amil in the Matn district. Among these candidates, Ibrahim Mneimneh won the Sunni seat in Beirut II . While the network primarily constitutes youth, it is known to have a clear political and economic orientation , positioning itself as anti-Hezbollah and left-leaning. The Independence Movement allied with the Kataeb Party and other Anti-Hezbollah independents to form

4806-512: The UAE and the rest of the world voted on 8 May. Lebanese people living in 48 countries were reported to have cast their votes. After the deadline on 15 March 2022, the Ministry of Interior and Municipalities announced a record number 1043 candidates, which include 155 women, had been registered. On April 3, the ministry announced 103 lists running in 15 electoral districts. The Lebanese Forces saw many withdrawals of candidates specifically in Shia dominated areas such as Baalbek-Hermel which

4895-575: The Umayyad Caliphate. The Marada were known by some as a fierce warrior group, and according to some, the name was synonymous with the Arabic word for rebels or also Maronites. During the Lebanese civil war was called one of the Maronite militias "Marada Movement". During the Lebanese civil war, Zgharta was the frontline and Christian stronghold of the north in northern Lebanon . The Zgharta-based Marada Brigade militia successfully repulsed and responded with attacks on armed militias from Tripoli , Danniyeh and Koura districts, and from PLO militias from

4984-431: 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

5073-422: The active population was unemployed. Riots broke out in Beirut , Tripoli and Jounieh . During the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic , Lebanon could have been considered a success story. Despite the devastating economic impact of lockdowns, including a significant Lebanese lira devaluation in spring 2020, Lebanon was largely unscathed by COVID-19 until early 2021, when the healthcare system collapsed under

5162-454: 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

5251-422: The bloc, Koura MP Fayez Ghosn and Jbeil MP Moustafa Husseini died which left the bloc with only 2 MP. In the 2022 Lebanese general election , only one official Marada candidate Tony Frangieh Jr. won, Marada candidate in Tripoli Rafli Diab got the highest preferential votes for the Orthodox seat in North II but lost, Koura candidate Fadi Ghosn (brother of Fayez Ghosn ) lost in favor of William Tawk. After

5340-414: 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 the two groups prevailing throughout history, with

5429-472: 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

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5518-494: The country from 17 October. Initially triggered in response to a rise in gas and tobacco prices as well as a new tax on messaging applications, the demonstrations quickly turned into a revolution against the stagnation of the economy, unemployment, Lebanon's sectarian and hereditary political system, corruption and the government's inability to provide essential services such as water, electricity and sanitation, involving hundreds of thousands of people from every region and sect of

5607-443: The country. Saad Hariri ended up resigning on 29 October 2019. Hassan Diab was appointed prime minister by President Michel Aoun on 19 December 2019. His government obtained the confidence of parliament by 69 votes in its favour. The country's economic situation continued to deteriorate and the government was indebted over 95 billion dollars by the end of 2020. The Lebanese pound lost 70% of its value in six months and 35% of

5696-434: The country. Only 225,114 of diaspora had thus registered for the 2022 elections, which is still a significant increase from the 82,000 that registered last election . Although a section of the 2017 electoral law provides for the allocation of six seats apart for the diaspora, their vote is still counted in their constituencies. Lebanese living in the Arab world outside of Lebanon voted on 6 May, meanwhile Lebanese living in

5785-408: 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 the main Lebanese religious denominations. According to the pact,

5874-419: The denominational quotas and the number of preferential votes obtained by the candidates. Preliminary lists of the numbers of voters (15-12-2021): Lebanese living abroad are allowed to participate in legislative elections. Although the Lebanese diaspora is estimated to be as high as 14 million individuals, most of them no longer possess nationality several decades after the waves of emigration that affected

5963-477: The districts of Keserwan , Matn , Baabda and Chouf , in alliance with Lebanese Forces Party and the PSP . On April 9, Chamoun participated in launching the list in Abadieh . On May 1, during the opening of its commission headquarters in Keserwan district headed by Chamoun, the party presented its electoral points, which included: sovereignty, positive impartiality, independence of the judiciary, expanded administrative decentralization, restoring confidence in

6052-425: The elections he profiled himself as a "hawk", unwilling to enter into talks with Hezbollah . Rifi fielded lists in one electoral district; in North II , while allying with the Lebanese Forces . Ashraf Rifi hopes to lead the Sunni sect of North II amid Hariri's boycott and Mikati's withdrawal. Rifi's list in alliance with the Lebanese Forces secured 3 seats in North II district with Ashraf Rifi getting

6141-418: The elections, Tony Frangieh formed a bloc with several MPs that represent feudal families (Frangieh, Khazen, Tawk, Murr) and their presidential candidate for the 2022-2023 Lebanese presidential election is Suleiman Frangieh . On 16 June 1957, Sleiman Frangieh and his followers killed 30 people loyal to the Douaihy family in a church in Miziara . The massacre is known as Miziara massacre. Amid tensions in

6230-422: 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 the predominantly Muslim Arab world. The Maronites played

6319-470: The house of Greek Orthodox MP Fouad Ghosn in the town of Kousba in the Koura district after he voted for Bachir Gemayel during the 1982 Lebanese presidential election . Marada loyalist burned the house of newly elected MP Samir Frangieh because Sleiman Frangieh lost the 2005 elections. Christianity in Lebanon Christianity in Lebanon has a long and continuous history. Biblical scriptures show that Peter and Paul evangelized

6408-464: 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

6497-445: The list managed to receive 11,501 votes which was 938 more than the last elections. Ashraf Rifi , former Hariri ally, Internal Security Forces chief and Justice Minister, broke ranks with Hariri in 2016. In the 2016 Tripoli municipal election, he defeated Hariri's candidates and won 22 out of 24 seats. He fielded his own lists in the parliamentary election, in a move to challenge Hariri's dominance over Sunni politics. Ahead of

6586-540: 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

6675-638: The neighboring Palestinian refugee camps of Beddawi and Nahr al-Bared . In March 1976, the Marada Brigade supported the hard-pressed Lebanese Army Republican Guard Battalion in defending the Presidential Palace in Baabda from a two-pronged combined LNM – LAA assault, though prior to the attack the Lebanese President had decamped to the safety of Jounieh . The Marada were initially allied with

6764-547: The onset of a Lebanese federal state that would make an alliance with Israel, promoted instead an Arab pro-Syrian alliance and stopped attending meetings with the Lebanese Front. The incident is known as the Ehden massacre . Kataeb member at the time Samir Geagea, who allegedly headed the Phalangist force responsible for the Ehden massacre, admitted that he was among the "military squad" that

6853-739: 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

6942-460: 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

7031-523: 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

7120-462: 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

7209-517: The upcoming parliamentary elections nor nominate anyone to run on its behalf. After Hariri's boycott, many Sunnis in North II and Akkar chose to follow boycott as well, after which his resignation created a large vacuum in Sunni politics. Many Ex-Future politicians headed their own blocs, such as Bahaa Hariri and Fouad Sinora , and managed to secure 8 seats of the candidates that were affiliated with

7298-464: 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 the monks their freedom and autonomy, which prompted Saint John Maron , the first Maronite patriarch-elect, to lead his monks into

7387-641: Was blamed at Hezbollah and the Amal Movement for placing pressure on Shia March 14 candidates. The Kataeb Party also withdrew in Bekaa II electoral district. A poll was conducted by the German Konrad Adenauer Foundation between 10 and 15 of December in 2021 of 1,200 Lebanese citizens eligible for voting. The survey found that nearly 40% of the people polled are willing to vote for an independent or 17 October Revolutionary candidate in

7476-479: Was blamed at Hezbollah and the Amal Movement for placing pressure on Shia March 14 candidates. Lebanese Forces secured 19 seats including 1 from Rifi's Bloc and Chamoun. After securing the most seats in parliament, Samir Geagea also emphasized his pledge not to vote for 30-year incumbent speaker Nabih Berri , citing corruption in the Bloc . Camille Dory Chamoun announced his candidacy along with 3 others in

7565-594: 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

7654-473: Was in charge of the Ehden "operation", but he denied taking part in the massacre, claiming that he was shot in his right hand before getting to the area and was taken to a hospital. Elie Hobeika has always denied taking part in the killing. After the 2005 legislative elections , the Marada became a member of the (pro-Syrian) opposition alliance together with Hezbollah . In June 2006, the Marada Movement

7743-513: Was officially launched as a political party during a ceremony attended by supporters and representatives from Hezbollah, Amal Movement , the Free Patriotic Movement , and several pro-Syrian political figures. In the 2009 Lebanese general election , Marada won all 3 seats in the electoral district of Zgharta , Marada was initially part of the Change and Reform bloc but left in 2013. In

7832-462: 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 the founder of national and ecclesiastical Maronitism. Saint Maron adopted an ascetic and reclusive life on the banks of the Orontes river in

7921-510: 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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