Anthony Peter Arida
Encyclopedia
Anthony II Peter Arida (or Selim Ben Abdel Ahad Arida, Antoine Boutros Arida) was the Maronite Patriarch of Antioch from 1932 until his death in 1955.
, Lebanon
on February 2, 1863. From 1884 to 1890 he studied theology at the school of Saint-Sulpice, Paris.
He was ordinated priest
on September 28, 1890 and served as secretary of the Maronite Patriarch John Peter El Hajj
. He was appointed Maronite bishop of Tripoli, Lebanon
in 1908 and consecrated bishop
on June 7, 1908 by Patriarch Elias Peter Hoayek
. Anthony Peter Arida was elected patriarch of Antioch of the Maronites on January 8, 1932.
Patriarch Arida openly condemned the treatment of Jews in Germany in 1933.
He sustained the Lebanese independence in 1943 in order to maintain the specificity of Lebanon as a Christian nation into a Muslim world. For this reason he firmly opposed the 1944 Alexandria Protocol
(which led to the formation of the League of Arab States) and was favorable to the creation of a Zionist state in Palestine
as well as a Christian state in Lebanon. His position was anyway not supported by the whole of the Maronite Church.
He died on May 19, 1955 in the Maronite Catholic Patriarchate in Bkerké
, Lebanon.
Life
Anthony Peter Arida was born in BsharriBsharri
Bsharri , is a Lebanese town at about 1,450 m of altitude, near the Kadisha Valley. It is located at , in the Bsharri District of the North Governorate. Bsharri is the town of the only remaining Original Cedars of Lebanon...
, Lebanon
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
on February 2, 1863. From 1884 to 1890 he studied theology at the school of Saint-Sulpice, Paris.
He was ordinated priest
Priesthood (Catholic Church)
The ministerial orders of the Catholic Church include the orders of bishops, deacons and presbyters, which in Latin is sacerdos. The ordained priesthood and common priesthood are different in function and essence....
on September 28, 1890 and served as secretary of the Maronite Patriarch John Peter El Hajj
John Peter El Hajj
John XII Peter El Hajj , , was the Maronite Patriarch of Antioch from 1890 until his death in 1898.-Life:...
. He was appointed Maronite bishop of Tripoli, Lebanon
Tripoli, Lebanon
Tripoli is the largest city in northern Lebanon and the second-largest city in Lebanon. Situated 85 km north of the capital Beirut, Tripoli is the capital of the North Governorate and the Tripoli District. Geographically located on the east of the Mediterranean, the city's history dates back...
in 1908 and consecrated bishop
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
on June 7, 1908 by Patriarch Elias Peter Hoayek
Elias Peter Hoayek
Elias Peter Hoayek , was Patriarch of Antioch for the Maronites, the largest Christian community in the Middle East from 1898 to 1931 when he died....
. Anthony Peter Arida was elected patriarch of Antioch of the Maronites on January 8, 1932.
Patriarch Arida openly condemned the treatment of Jews in Germany in 1933.
He sustained the Lebanese independence in 1943 in order to maintain the specificity of Lebanon as a Christian nation into a Muslim world. For this reason he firmly opposed the 1944 Alexandria Protocol
Alexandria Protocol
On 7 October 1944, in Alexandria, five Arab countries agreed on the foundation of a joint Arab Organization, which led to the formation of the League of Arab States in the following year. They all consented on what became known as the Alexandria Protocol....
(which led to the formation of the League of Arab States) and was favorable to the creation of a Zionist state in Palestine
Palestine
Palestine is a conventional name, among others, used to describe the geographic region between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River, and various adjoining lands....
as well as a Christian state in Lebanon. His position was anyway not supported by the whole of the Maronite Church.
He died on May 19, 1955 in the Maronite Catholic Patriarchate in Bkerké
Bkerké
Bkerké is the See of the Maronite Catholic Patriarchate, located 650 m above the bay of Jounieh in Lebanon....
, Lebanon.