- The Episcopal trial was opened in 1960 and a Church court was established to hear the witnesses and examine the documents and writings.
- The Pontifical trial was opened in 1979, it re-examined the facts of the first lawsuit heard new witnesses with additional documents. This stage ended with the declaration of virtues in the life of Abouna Yaacoub.
- Upon the request of the Holy See, the tomb of Abouna Yaacoub was transferred, on October 30, 1982, to the Lady of the Sea Church, the cradle of the Congregation. This church has become a sanctuary for believers to bless, pray, and seek intercession.
- In 1992, His Holiness the Pope John Paul II declared Abouna Yaacoub Venerable.
- In June 22, 2008, in the name of Pope Benedict XVI, Cardinal José Saraïva Martins, declared Abouna Yaacoub Blessed, for the first time, in Lebanon.
After the beatification ceremonies celebrated in Vatican City, the beatification of Abouna Yaacoub was marked by the consecration of the celebration in his country Lebanon, more precisely at Martyr’s Square – Beirut. This celebration, which brought together eminent spiritual, political and citizen personalities, was spread from the Lebanese capital to all Lebanese regions.
Beatification miracle
After a study that lasted more than 3 years for the healing of Mrs. Mary Kattan of Maghdouche, who was suffering from cancer, it was agreed in Lebanon and at the Congregation for the Causes of Saints in Rome, that the healing carried the characteristic of a miracle obtained through the prayers addressed to Abouna Yaacoub by the nephew of Mrs. Kattan, who lives in Canada, for the recovery of her aunt. The miracle was studied in Lebanon, under the ecclesiastical court, which listened to different witnesses, and then transmitted to the Congregation for the Causes of Saints in Rome, where the medical and the theological committees, as well as the consistory confirmed unanimously, that the healing has no scientific explanation. All these stages were crowned by the miracle recognition of His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI, on the 17th of December 2007.
