Archeparchy of Baalbek (Melkite Greek)

Historical Details

• Eparchy of Baalbek (Melkite Greek)
  • Latin Name: Heliopolitana Graecorum Melkitarum
  • Erected: 1701
  • Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Damas (Melkite Greek)
  • Country: Lebanon

Past and Present Ordinaries

• Macarios de Baniyas † ( 1724 Appointed - )
• Philippe Qussayr (Cassir), B.C. † (Sep 1761 Appointed - 24 Jul 1777 Died)
• Clément Moutran † ( 1810 Appointed - 3 Jul 1827 Died)
• Etienne (Athanasius) Ubayd † (11 Dec 1827 Appointed - 1850 Died)
• Mélèce Fendé † ( 1851 Appointed - 1869 Died)
• Basilio Nasser † (17 Oct 1869 Appointed - 26 Sep 1885 Died)
• Germanos (Ignace) Mouakkad (Mouaqqad) † ( 1886 Appointed - 1894 Resigned)
• Agapitos Malouf, B.C. † (29 Mar 1896 Appointed - 12 Feb 1922 Died)
• Melèce Abou Assaly (Assaleh) † (5 Jun 1922 Ordained Bishop - 20 Jun 1937 Died)
• Joseph Malouf, S.M.S.P. † (26 Oct 1937 Confirmed - 5 Mar 1968 Died)
• Elias Zoghbi † (9 Sep 1968 Appointed - 24 Oct 1988 Retired)
• Cyrille Salim Bustros, S.M.S.P. (25 Oct 1988 Appointed - 22 Jun 2004 Appointed, Archbishop (Personal Title) of Newton (Our Lady of the Annunciation in Boston) (Melkite Greek))
• Elias Youssef Rahal, S.M.S.P. (28 Jun 2004 Confirmed - 16 Jul 2025 Retired)
• Makhoul Farha, O.C.D. (16 Jul 2025 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Statistics

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Permanent Deacons	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
Eparchy of Baalbek (Melkite Greek)
1950	7,600	68,000	11.2%	9	6	15	506		4	12	14	ap1951
1959	9,265	80,000	11.6%	17	3	20	463		4	35	17	ap1960
Archeparchy of Baalbek (Melkite Greek)
1970	35,000	132,000	26.5%	15	1	16	2,187		1	112	11	ap1971
1980	15,000			8	2	10	1,500		2	70	10	ap1981
1990	25,000			8	1	9	2,777		6	38	10	ap1991
1999	14,000			7	2	9	1,555		2	47	11	ap2000
2000	15,000			7	2	9	1,666		2	47	11	ap2001
2001	15,000			8	2	10	1,500		2	47	12	ap2002
2002	30,000			8	2	10	3,000		2	47	12	ap2003
2003	15,100			9	2	11	1,372	1	2	48	12	ap2004
2004	15,200			9	2	11	1,381	1	4	48	12	ap2005
2006	22,000			9	2	11	2,000	1	3	52	12	ap2007
2009	20,000			12	1	13	1,538	1	1	57	13	ap2010
2012	20,000			12	1	13	1,538	1	2	43	7	ap2013
2015	20,000			14	1	15	1,333	1	1	41	13	ap2016
2018	21,000			13	2	15	1,400	1	2	41	13	ap2019
2020	21,000			13	2	15	1,400	1	2	41	13	ap2021
2022	21,000			13	2	15	1,400	1	2	41	13	ap2023
2023	21,000			14	1	15	1,400	1	1	41	13	ap2024

Note: Any changes in boundaries over time are not indicated in the above table.

Affiliated Bishops, Living

• Cyrille Salim Bustros, S.M.S.P. (Archbishop: 25 Oct 1988 to 22 Jun 2004)
• Makhoul Farha, O.C.D. (Archbishop: 16 Jul 2025 - )
• Elias Youssef Rahal, S.M.S.P. (Archbishop: 28 Jun 2004 to 16 Jul 2025)

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Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

• Melèce Abou Assaly (Assaleh) † (Bishop: 5 Jun 1922 to 20 Jun 1937)
• Macarios de Baniyas † (Bishop: 1724 - )
• Mélèce Fendé † (Bishop: 1851 to 1869)
• Agapitos Malouf, B.C. † (Bishop: 29 Mar 1896 to 12 Feb 1922)
• Joseph Malouf, S.M.S.P. † (Bishop: 26 Oct 1937; Archbishop: 18 Nov 1964 to 5 Mar 1968)
• Jean Mansour, S.M.S.P. †
• Germanos (Ignace) Mouakkad (Mouaqqad) † (Bishop: 1886 to 1894)
• Clément Moutran † (Bishop: 1810 to 3 Jul 1827)
• Basilio Nasser † (Bishop: 17 Oct 1869 to 26 Sep 1885)
• Philippe Qussayr (Cassir), B.C. † (Bishop: Sep 1761 to 24 Jul 1777)
• Etienne (Athanasius) Ubayd † (Bishop: 11 Dec 1827 to 1850)
• Elias Zoghbi † (Archbishop: 9 Sep 1968 to 24 Oct 1988)