أضواء على كنائس بنغازي العتيقة

Abstract

The existence of churches in Benghazi city in Libya undoubtedly reflect aspects of religious tolerance. Thus, it is not surprising to find in this city Christian and Jewish places of worship. The oldest among them are the Catholic and the Greek Church, both founded during the Ottoman period; in the second decade of the 20th century, an additional number of small churches were established in the city. One of these was located in the military hospital in Alsabri, the second in al-Fuwayhat, and the third in the Christian cemetery in Jaliana. Later, in the 1930s, a large church was built in the region of al-Birka, close to the port. None have survived today except the Catholic and the Greek Church, as well as a Jewish synagogue turned into a Coptic church, dating back to the Ottoman period, in addition to the cathedral built by the Italians which still exist.