Yuhanna EL HAJJ from Dlebta (1890– 1898)

From Maronite History

In the first years of his Patriarchate, Patriarch Yuhanna al-Haj built the beautiful patriarchal residence of Bkerke, acquired extensive property at Moghayre Jebayl for the benefit of a Maronite seminary. During the Patriarchate of Yuhanna El-Haj, archbishop Elias Hoyek (the future Patriarch) acquired a building in Jerusalem to serve as residence for the representative of the Maronite comminute in the holy city. The Maronite population in Palestine and Lebanon contributed the necessary money. Archbishop Hoyek also acquired a building in Rome in which the new Maronite College of Rome was installed in 1893. Patriarch El-Haj died on December 24th 1898, and was buried in Bkerke. He was succeeded by one of our greatest and most spiritually minded Patriarchs, Monsignor Elias Hoyek.