TOLEMAIDE. - A maritime city of northern Palestine, 16 km northwest of Caifa, situated on a rocky promontory that limits the bay to the north. Its original name was 'Akkö, which persisted in the Arabic 'Akkä; it was called Ptolemais by Ptolemy III Philadelphus (285-246 BC).
Conquered by Thutmosis III, it had an Egyptian garrison of 400 soldiers and 40 chariots in the 14th century BC. Although assigned by Joshua to the tribe of Asher (Jos. 19:30), the Jews were unable to take possession of it (Judg. 1:31). It participated in the revolts of Phoenicia and Israel against the Assyrians; but it was first sacked by Sennacherib (q.v.) and then punished by Ashurbanipal with the deportation of its citizens. It subsequently came under the sovereignty of the Persians and the Seleucids. Destroyed in 302 by Ptolemy I, it was restored and embellished by Ptolemy II. The inhabitants were hostile to the Jews (1 Macc. 5:15, 22; 2 Macc. 13:25); Jonathan, initially received with honors, was later imprisoned there.
In the 4th century AD, Ptolemais became an important Christian center. It was the seat of a bishopric and a place of pilgrimage. The city was also known for its trade and its port, which was one of the most important in the region. Today, the city is known as Acre and is part of the State of Israel.
The Greek-Catholic community, which once numbered around 13,000 faithful, has significantly declined. The churches are closed due to lack of worshippers. About 13,000 Greek-Catholics remain.