Introduction
The Sursuk1 are a Lebanese Greek Orthodox family, one of Beirut’s most respected and well-established dynasties. The family’s origins can be traced back to the 13th century in Byzantine Constantinople. Following the conquest of Constantinople in 1453, the family settled in Mersin and later moved to Barbara, which is now part of Lebanon. From 1714 onwards, they were known to live in Beirut.2 By the late 18th century, the Sursuks were one of Beirut’s most prominent commercial families, exporting grain from the Eastern Mediterranean to England and importing textiles from Europe for the Middle Eastern markets. These commercial activities allowed the Sursuk family to quickly advance through the Beirut aristocracy and establish close trade relations with wealthy merchants from the Ottoman Empire, France, and Italy.3
