ZAHLEH AND FURZOL OF THE MELKITES, DIOCESE OF. — In Lebanon; the see was formerly located at F., but in 1774 it was transferred to Z. The Catholic diocese has existed since the beginnings of the Melkite Catholic patriarchate in 1724.
There are 25,534 Catholics, 34 parishes, 8 secular priests, and 22 religious priests, as well as 20 Catholic schools with 2,300 pupils. The Oriental College existing at Z. and directed by the Suarite Basilian Fathers should be mentioned; founded in 1898, it has 430 students and 23 professors.
The territory of Z. comprises a large part of the Bekaa (a high plateau between Lebanon and Anti-Lebanon) extending almost to Bialbek. In this territory there are only a few thousand non-Catholic Christians, but many Muslims.