Melkite Catholic Archeparchy of Homs, Byzantine Rite Cathedral in Homs, Syria.
The Melkite Catholic Archeparchy of Homs serves as the religious center for an eastern-oriented Catholic community in central Syria. The Cathedral of Our Lady of Peace functions as the main church, supported by parishes scattered across two provinces that serve believers in the area.
The archeparchy was established in 1849 through the merger of three ecclesiastical territories covering Homs, Hama, and Yabrud regions. This consolidation created an administrative structure designed to serve the growing Catholic population in central Syria.
The archeparchy preserves Arabic language liturgy in the Byzantine Rite, linking local worship traditions with eastern Catholic practices. Visitors can observe how these customs blend eastern expressions of faith with Catholic beliefs in a way that feels both distinctive and rooted in the region.
The archeparchy maintains churches and parishes across a large geographic area, so visitors should research which communities are closest to their location beforehand. The main cathedral offers the best access to observe the archeparchy's architecture and community life.
The community splits its worship between two principal churches, with the cathedral in Homs serving as the primary center and a second major church located in Yabrud roughly 100 km (62 miles) to the north. This division reflects the historical spread of the Catholic population across the region.
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