▁become ▁known ▁in ▁the , ▁possibly ▁because ▁it ▁exists ▁in ▁various ▁parts ▁of ▁the ▁Arab ▁world . ▁The ▁Greek ▁Orth odox ▁church ▁has ▁often ▁served ▁as ▁a ▁bridge ▁between ▁Leb an ese ▁Christians ▁and ▁the ▁Arab ▁countries . ▁ ▁Leb an ese ▁Greek ▁Orth odox ▁Christians ▁have ▁a ▁long ▁and ▁continuous ▁association ▁with ▁Eastern ▁Orth odox ▁Church es ▁in ▁European ▁countries ▁like ▁Greece , ▁Cy pr us , ▁Russia , ▁Ukraine , ▁Bulg aria , ▁Ser bia , ▁and ▁Roman ia . ▁The ▁church ▁exists ▁in ▁many ▁parts ▁of ▁the ▁Arab ▁world ▁and ▁Greek ▁Orth odox ▁Christians ▁have ▁often ▁been ▁noted ; ▁histor ically , ▁it ▁has ▁had ▁less ▁deal ings ▁with ▁Western ▁countries ▁than ▁the ▁Mar on ite ▁Church , ▁but ▁have ▁strong ▁connections ▁to ▁Russia ▁and ▁Greece . ▁The ▁Leb an ese ▁Greek ▁Orth odox ▁Christians ▁are ▁believed ▁to ▁const itute ▁about ▁ 8 % ▁of ▁the ▁total ▁population ▁of ▁Leb anon , ▁including ▁the ▁Palest in ian ▁Greek ▁Orth odox ▁community , ▁many ▁of ▁whom ▁have ▁been ▁given ▁Leb an ese ▁citizens hip . ▁ ▁Greek ▁Orth odox ▁Christians ▁support ▁a ▁variety ▁of ▁political ▁parties ▁and ▁fa ctions , ▁including ▁non - sect arian ▁parties ▁such ▁as ▁the ▁Sy rian ▁Social ▁National ist ▁Party , ▁the ▁Leb an ese ▁Commun ist ▁Party , ▁and ▁the ▁Democratic ▁Left ▁Mov ement ; ▁and ▁mostly ▁Christian ▁parties ▁such ▁as ▁the ▁Free ▁Patri otic ▁Mov ement , ▁the ▁Mar ada ▁Mov ement , ▁the ▁Leb an ese ▁Forces , ▁and ▁the ▁K ata eb