 Baalbek was a suffragan of the Melkite Greek Catholic Archeparchy of Damascus until it acquired its autonomy in 1849.The cathedral with the bishop's palace were built during the episcopate of Germanos Mouakkad; the church was consecrated by Eparch Agapitos Malouf in 1897.Bishop Germanos Mouakkad was the founder of the Society of the Missionaries of St. Paul.