CYPRO OF THE MARONITES, Diocese of. — Since 1357, C. of the M. has been the seat of a Catholic Maronite rite diocese (*Cyprensis Maronitarum*), whose jurisdiction extends over 60,000 faithful, divided into 82 parishes, served by 104 priests. The ordinary of the diocese has his residence at Qurnet Šahwan, in the Lebanese Republic. The diocese itself possesses 3 seminaries with about fifty students, as well as 22 religious houses, of which 16 are for men and 6 for women.
BIBL.: S. Congregazione Orientale, *Statistiche e cenni storici sulle gerarchie e sui fedeli di rito orientale*, Città del Vaticano 1933, pp. 58-59 and 135; *Ann. pontificio 1949*. Mariano Baffi