Cathedral of Saint Elijah, Aleppo

Saint Elias Cathedral
Saint Elias Cathedral
Religion
Affiliation	Maronite Church
Region	Aleppo
Ecclesiastical or organizational status	active
Year consecrated	1873
Location
Location	Jdeydeh Area, Farhat Square, Aleppo, Syria
Architecture
Type	Church

The Saint Elias Cathedral (Arabic: كاتدرائية القدّيِس الياس), is an Eastern Catholic (Maronite) church in Aleppo, Syria, located in the Christian quarter of Jdeydeh. It is named after Elijah the prophet. The church was opened in 1873 and renovated in 1914.

Background

The building has two magnificent belfries at the facade, while its marble entrance with yellow columns is situated under the high dome on the east side.

In 1914, during the period of Archbishop Michael Akhras, the dome was renovated and for that purpose, concrete was used in reconstruction works for the first time in the architecture history of Aleppo, with the help of experts from Belgium. In the same period, the chiming clock, which plays Ave Maria every fifteen minutes, has been placed on the tower.

In front of the main gate, the statue of Archbishop and poet Germanos Farhat (1670–1732) has been erected in 1932 to commemorate the 200th anniversary of his death, and for his efforts in founding the Maronite library, the home of old valuable manuscripts. Since then, the surrounding area of the cathedral is called Farhat square.

Gallery

• 
  The statue of Saint Elias in the church yard
• 
  The statue of Archbishop Germanos Farhat
• 
  The church at Farhat square

External links

• Arch Net

See also

• Aleppo
• List of churches in Aleppo