FARHAT, GERMANO. - Archbishop, b. in Aleppo on 20 Nov. 1670, d. there on 10 July 1732. He studied at the Maronite school directed by Pietro Tolavi, a former student of the Maronite College in Rome. In 1695 he entered the newly founded Maronite Antonian Order, but left it when the question arose whether it should adopt a contemplative or an active orientation. Once the dispute had been settled, F. re-entered the Order in 1705. Superior General from 1716 to 1724, he was consecrated Archbishop of Aleppo in 1725, where he reorganized the Maronite School, in which learned men taught and wrote books in Arabic under his direction.
Among his numerous and varied works may be noted an Arabic dictionary (Báhal-i-válá); likewise an Arabic grammar (Baht al-Matálá), which, printed and annotated several times, remained in use in schools down to modern times; precepts of eloquence (Fayl al-hítá), a book which, because of its merit, was first printed by Protestants, albeit with alterations, and was then reprinted from the original in 1867; the Díadán, that is, a collection of his poems selected by himself, of which several editions exist.
F.A.R.I.: V. FEDERAZIONE ASSOCIAZIONI RICREATIVE ITALIANE.