This coat of arms is located at the Basilica & National Shrine of Our Lady of Lebanon on North Lipkey Road in North Jackson, Ohio. On the south wall next to the main entrance to the church is a plaque listing important dates in the history of the shrine. On the bottom of the plaque are three coats of arms. These include Pope Francis, Bishop A. Elias Zaidan, and the Basilica & National Shrine of Our Lady of Lebanon.
Bishop A. Elias Zaidan is Bishop of the Maronite Eparchy of Our Lady of Lebanon of Los Angeles. The publication "The Maronite Voice" offers this description of the bishop's coat of arms:
"The crosier is a staff topped by a globe surmounted by the Cross. The cross is an Antiochian cross used in the Maronite Liturgical books. The cross is surmounting the world. The crosier holds the shield as the bishop is the shepherd who leads his flock in fulfilling God's will on earth.
"The shield is divided into two sides. The Eparchial side on the left depicts many different symbols of the Maronite faith and the name of the Eparchy. The M with the blue background stands for the Blessed Mother, Queen of Heaven and Queen of the Apostles. The Eparchy of Our Lady of Lebanon of Los Angeles is named in honor of her. The twelve stars symbolize the twelve apostles as the bishop is the successor to the apostles. The cedar, in the Maronite faith, is a representation of the Blessed Mother, and it is also the symbol for Lebanon that is dedicated to the Blessed Mother. Hence, the name of the Eparchy of Our Lady of Lebanon is given. The mountains reflect the solid faith of the Maronite people. Lebanon is the birthplace of Bishop Zaidan and where the cedars grow. The angels reflect the city of Los Angeles where the proto-cathedral is and where Bishop Zaidan spent nineteen years of his priestly ministry. The white background is a symbol of Lebanon and the snow on its mountains.
"The personal side on the right side of the shield holds many different images that reflect Bishop Zaidan's ministry and the Maronite people's journey. The ocean is a sign of immigration, the early founders, the pioneers who left Lebanon and the Middle East looking for better opportunities. They came by ship settling in the new land of the U.S.A. They brought with them their faith and traditions which moved them to establish Churches in different cities. The ship sail has the motto 'Thy will be done' written in Syriac as the Maronite people have trusted in God's providence on their journey. The ship also represents the Church bringing the faithful to the safe harbor, the harbor of peace in the Lord. The arch is a biblical image of the covenant between God and Noah. It also reflects the city of St. Louis where the eparchial offices are located and where the Bishop will reside to exercise his ministry.
"In the upper right side, there is a depiction of three essential symbols of the ministry of the Bishop. The image of the Church reflects the office of 'governing' the Church well and vigilance to make Her prosper. The Bible is a reflection of the obligation to teach" the Word of God at all times. The Chalice and the host are a reminder of the responsibility to 'minister' the sacraments, a sure way for the holiness of the faithful. The yellow background is a reflection of God as the light of all nations. It is also the duty of the missionary to spread the love and life of God to all the people around.
"Finally, the Coat of Arms is bordered in red and gold. The red is the readiness of the bishop to witness and to even sacrifice his life to do God's will, and the gold is the color of honor and fullness of the priesthood in the order of Bishop. The white background color on the left and the yellow color on the right are the colors of the flag of the Vatican, to emphasize the union of the Maronite Church to the See of Rome and the adherence and obedience of Bishop Zaidan to His Holiness, the Pope.
"'Thy will be done' comes from the Lord's Prayer and is written in the coat of arms in the three languages of the Maronite Liturgy: Syriac, English and Arabic. On a personal basis, Bishop Zaidan's given name is Abdallah which means 'servant of God.' Thus, even though this motto is prayed daily by the faithful, Bishop Zaidan wishes to implement it in his own life of Episcopal ministry as well as in the life of his people. The motto, in particular, embodies the vow of obedience to God, to the Church, and to the ecclesiastical superiors, and reflects the membership of Bishop Zaidan to the Congregation of Maronite Lebanese Missionaries which formed him and where he exercised his priestly ministry. The motto also mirrors a personal spiritual surrender to God that was ingrained in him along his spiritual formation."
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