دور الكنيسة المارونية في إعلان دولة لبنان الكبير 1918-1920

Abstract EN

The Maronite Church is considered one of the most prominent Christian churches that its principles are embraced by most of Mount Lebanon Christians.

Its importance is something to be reckoned not only on the religious level, but on the political, economic and cultural level.

The Maronite patriarchs adopted the demands of their followers to establish a state in Mount Lebanon on sectarian basis, considering the Mount is of a Maronite majority.

The Maronite church claimed to form this state many times in the 19thcentury but it has failed in its pursue until holding the peace conference in Paris in 1919 which is considered by the church as an opportunity to ask for major powers aid to establish a completely independent country that includes Lebanon Mutasarrifateand the neighboring areas.

Although there are many historical studiesconcerning modern and contemporary Lebanon history, however, there is no study that has specialized in the role ofthe Maronite church in the declaration of Lebanon country and its impact on French policies direction in Syria and the political activity of the two Maronite delegations tothe peace conference heldinParis; therefore came the choice of the subject (The role of the Maronite church in the declaration of the state of GrandLebanon 1918-1920) to highlight this role and the most significant developments that ended by the declaration of the state of Grand Lebanon in 1920.

The research consists of an introduction, three topics, a conclusion and a list of references.

The first topic discusses the Maronite church's stand on the political developments witnessed by Mount Lebanon during WW1 and its position on the French occupation of Mount Lebanon, the second topic tackles the role of the second delegation to Paris headed by the Patriarch EliasHoayek and the third topic is dedicated to the role of the third delegation to Paris headed by the archbishop Abdullah AlKhory concerning the independence of Lebanon.