Maronite Church in Lebanon celebrates beatification of 17th-century scholar and patriarch

[ad_1] An estimated 7,000 people gathered to celebrate the beatification of Patriarch Estephan Douaihy on Aug. 2, 2024, in Bkerké, Lebanon. / Credit: Marwan Semaan/ACI MENA ACI MENA, Aug 5, 2024 / 14:28 pm (CNA). In a ceremony that blended centuries-old tradition with new hope, the Maronite Catholic Church celebrated the beatification of Patriarch Estephan Douaihy on Friday, Aug. 2, in Bkerké, Lebanon. An estimated 7,000 people gathered at an outdoor venue to mark the significant step toward sainthood for a…