ALEPPO. - A city of northern Syria, not far from Antioch, originally called Hallab, in Greek Λαμβόφ, and renamed Βέροφα or Βερόφ by Seleucus Nicator (312–281 BC). Given its proximity to Antioch, the Gospel must have been preached there at an early date. Berea was the seat of a bishopric, held by notable figures such as Eustathius, later Bishop of Antioch (cf. Sozomen, *Hist. eccl.*, I, 2), and the venerable Acacius, who governed the diocese from 378 to 432. According to the *Notitia* of Anastasius I, restored by S. Vailhé and dating to the 6th century, Berea, originally a simple bishopric, was later distinguished with the title of archbishopric, governed by an archbishop with the title of "Syncellus," immediately subject to the See of Antioch, of which Berea was always a suffragan. Today the city has 132,000 inhabitants, of whom 40,000 are Christians.
Ignazio Ortiz de Urbina
1. **A. OF THE ARMENIANS.** - The origins of the Armenian colony in A. date back to the 11th century; however, history has not preserved a complete list of bishops. In 1439, Bishop Hovakim was sent by Patriarch Constantine V of Armenia to the Council of Ferrara-Florence, along with Sarkis Vartabed and Markos Vartabed. In 1585, Bishop Azaria, later elected Patriarch of Sis in Cilicia, submitted a profession of Catholic faith to Gregory XIII.
From the mid-17th century onward, the Armenian Catholic community in A. developed significantly, thanks to the efforts of Armenian missionaries trained at the *Propaganda Fide* and the missions of Western religious orders.
In 1710, this Catholic community obtained its own bishop, emancipating itself from the jurisdiction of the schismatic bishop, and the see was elevated to an archbishopric in 1899. After its emancipation, the Armenian diocese of A. suffered severe persecutions at the hands of the Turkish government, instigated by the schismatic Armenian patriarchs. The persecution intensified when a ban was imposed on the community, forbidding them from participating in divine services or even attending, even formally, the churches of the schismatic Armenians.
At present, the archdiocese of A. has approximately 18,000 souls and about twenty priests. It has a cathedral church, "St. Mary Help of Christians," and six other churches and chapels. It is well-organized, with schools and institutes, Catholic circles, confraternities, and pious unions. The Armenian Church, currently separated, greatly outnumbers the Catholic community, with about 70,000 souls, 35 churches, and 53 priests.
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2. **A. OF THE MARONITES.** - An archdiocese and residential see. The Maronites in A. are very ancient. Denis of Tell Mahré (d. 845) in *Chronique de Michel le Syrien*, ed. J. B. Chabot, II, pp. 492–96, speaks of the struggle between Maronites and Melkites for possession of the church of A. However, the uninterrupted series of Maronite archbishops for that city dates only to 1638. Today there are 3,800 faithful, 6 priests, and 4 churches.
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3. **A. OF THE MELKITES.** - Considered a metropolitan see since 1790, it has, in addition to the archbishop, 14 secular priests, 2 Basilian monks of the Alppini, and 15,000 faithful. There are 8 parishes and 5 schools. The cathedral is dedicated to "Mary Most Holy Assumed." The dissidents number 5,000, with one bishop and 10 priests.
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Ignazio Ortiz de Urbina
4. **A. OF THE SYRIANS.** - A residential see. It is an ancient Jacobite see. The series of Catholic bishops begins in 1659 with Andrea Ahiğan, who in 1661 was elected as the first patriarch of the Syrian Catholics. The series of bishops was affected by severe persecutions, and the situation stabilized only toward the end of the 18th century. In 1948, the faithful numbered 6,500 and the priests 12.
Pietro Sfair
5. APOSTOLIC VICARIATE. - The Latin bishopric of A. was erected in 1644, where the Jesuits (cf. J. Sauvage, *Alteppe*, 1911) and Carmelites (1626) had established themselves. The see remained vacant from 1650 to 1762, when a vicar apostolic was chosen. There was another vacancy between 1774 and 1817, when Fr. Luigi Gandolfi was elected, followed by other Italians. The residence of the vicar apostolic is in Beirut in winter and in Harisà in summer. The Latin Catholics, almost all Europeans, number about 10,000, served by Franciscans, Jesuits, Lazarists, Capuchins, and Carmelites.
Ignazio Ortiz de Urbina