CYPRUS of the MARONITES, DIOCESE of. – Since 1357, C. of the M. has been the seat of a Catholic bishopric of the Maronite rite (Cyprensis Maronitarum), whose jurisdiction extends over 60,000 faithful, divided among 82 parishes and assisted by 104 priests. The diocesan incumbent resides in Qurnet Šahwan, in the Lebanese Republic. The diocese itself has 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 1932, pp. 58-59 and 135; Ann. pontificio 1949. Mariano Baffi