Istifan al-Duwayhi


Istifan al-Duwayhi
اسطفانوس الثاني
Patriarch of Antioch
ChurchMaronite Church
SeePatriarch of Antioch
Elected20 May 1670
Term ended3 May 1704
PredecessorGeorge Rizqallah Beseb'ely
SuccessorGabriel of Blaouza
Orders
Ordination25 March 1656 (Priest)
by John Safrawy
Consecration8 July 1668 (Bishop)
by George Rizqallah Beseb'ely
Personal details
Born2 August 1630
Died3 May 1704(1704-05-03) (aged 73)
Qannoubine, Lebanon
ParentsFather: Mikhayil Moussa El Douaihy, Mother: Mariam El Douaihy.
Sainthood
Feast dayMay 3
Venerated inCatholic Church
Beatified2 August 2024
Bkerké, Lebanon
by Cardinal Marcello Semeraro

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.[1] On 3 July 2008 Pope Benedict XVI declared him Venerable.[2] On August 2, 2024, he was beatified at a ceremony held in Bkerké, Lebanon.[3]

  1. ^ Hagiography Circle, Last reviewed on January 10, 2017.
  2. ^ Press release of the Holy See Press Office: "PROMULGAZIONE DI DECRETI DELLA CONGREGAZIONE DELLE CAUSE DEI SANTI" (July 3, 2008) (in Italian)
  3. ^ "Maronite Church in Lebanon celebrates beatification of 17th-century scholar and patriarch". Catholic World Report. Retrieved 2024-08-05.