Venerable Estephan El Douaihy

Istifan al-Duwayhi or Estephan El Douaihy (Arabic: اسطفانوس الثاني بطرس الدويهي / ALA-LC: Isṭifānūs al-thānī Buṭrus al-Duwayhī; French: Étienne Douaihi; Latin: Stephanus Dovaihi; Italian: Stefano El Douaihy; 2 August 1630 – 3 May 1704) was the 57th Patriarch of the Maronite Church, serving from 1670 until his death. He was born in Ehden, Lebanon. He is considered one of the major Lebanese historians of the 17th century and was known as “The Father of Maronite History”, “Pillar of the Maronite Church”, “The Second Chrysostom”, “Splendor of the Maronite Nation”, and “The Glory of Lebanon and the Maronites”. After his death, he was declared a Servant of God by the Congregation for the Causes of Saints. On 3 July 2008 Pope Benedict XVI declared him Venerable. On August 2, 2024, he was beatified at a ceremony held in Bkerké, Lebanon. El Douaihy was born to a noble family (El Douaihy). At the age of sixteen, recognized as a brilliant young talent, he was sent to the Maronite College (Seminary) in Rome. He studied there for fourteen years, from 1641 to 1655, being cured of a serious condition that almost led to blindness. El Douaihy believed that the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary was responsible for his cure. While in Italy, he traveled as widely as possible seeking manuscripts dealing with Maronite history and liturgy. When he returned to Lebanon at the age of 25, he continued his research. On 25 March 1656 he was ordained priest by Patriarch Safrawy. In 1658, he was sent to serve the Maronite parish in Aleppo. He was appointed apostolic visitor in countryside Lebanon, and later he served in the parish of Ardeh. In 1662, he was again sent to Aleppo, where he remained until 21 May 1668. On his return, he went on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. On 8 July 1668 he was appointed and consecrated bishop of the Maronite Diocese of Cyprus by Patriarch George Beseb'ely. He travelled to Cyprus for a pastoral visit in 1669.