The Orthodox church in its final phase of construction in Zahle. (Credit: X platform)
Topped with a golden onion-shaped dome crowned by a cross reaching toward the sky, a gigantic church in its final stages of construction has sparked controversy on social media platform X in recent days.
Posted by a user under the pseudonym al-Moughtareb (the emigrant), the photo of the magnificent building, in pure Russian Orthodox style, is accompanied by a critical caption describing this place of worship as “the most beautiful and the most expensive” for “the poorest people who cannot pay their bills and school fees.”
The image has drawn comments from internet users, some of whom were displeased, while others did not disapprove of the project.
“When we ask them for help to pay school fees, they say they don’t have enough money,” said Émile, one X user.
“The cost of constructing the church could have allowed 100 students to specialize at top universities,” said user named Bassam.
“Churches and mosques are spreading across Lebanese territory, while the country has few worshippers and many poor,” someone else commented.
A user going by the name Dodo expressed being “sad” about such waste.
“We might as well throw money into the offering basket,” he said, while another, Elie, sarcastically remarked, “The Orthodox are doing well.”
Meanwhile, a user who goes by the name Vitriol demands “the construction of even more churches.”
Echoing this sentiment, Ayman hopes that “the situation of the Lebanese people can improve with this blessed church.”
For Lilly, “the existence of churches is part of our existence and survival ... It’s not necessary to bring up the poor every time one is built.”
“Why does an Orthodox church in Zahle bother you?” asked Noha, another user.
Symbol of resilience
Contacted by L’Orient-Le Jour, Elias Stephan, Greek Orthodox deputy of Zahle, confirmed that the place of worship is located in this major city of the Bekaa Valley.
“The church is situated in Dhour al-Alb, on the hills near the statue of Our Lady of Zahle,” he said, noting that it is being built by Bishop Niphon Saikali, a native of the city and representative of Bishop Boulos Yazigi, Patriarch of Antioch in Moscow.
Bishop Saikali, who has resided in the Russian capital for 46 years, told L’Orient-Le Jour that by taking the initiative to erect the church, which he named Our Lady of Joy, he wanted to “sow joy in the hearts of the people of Zahle and the Lebanese in general.”
“I was assisted in this by Bishop Yazigi, as well as by Maronite Patriarch Bechara al-Rai and Patriarch Kirill of Moscow,” he said.
“The work began five years ago and will be completed very soon,” added the prelate, revealing that the inauguration will take place next September.
“The basement of the building will house a museum of icons,” he said, affirming that he possesses a collection of 130 religious paintings that have been gifted to him by the faithful throughout his liturgical career. “I obtained permission from the Russian Minister of Culture to take them out of Russia,” Saikali said.
When asked if it might have been better to use the money for the project to alleviate poverty, he replied that this mission “is the responsibility of certain institutions.”
“I am not responsible for the needy,” he added, though he implied that he helps them discreetly.
“Mgr Niphon Saikali does not hesitate to support the poor,” said Stephan, further stating that the construction of the church on the heights of Zahle is “a blessing.”
“It is welcome to build places with a sacred and touristic character,” he added, emphasizing the importance of not always showing “the negative side of the country.”
“By promoting a beautiful image of Lebanon, such an initiative symbolizes the resilience of the Lebanese,” he said.
This article was originally published in L'Orient-Le Jour and translated by Sahar Ghoussoub.
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