Maronite Church

The Maronite Church is a Christian denomination. It was established in the region that became the countries of Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, and Israel during the fourth century. The Maronite Church is the only Catholic sect that is named after its founder: the monk Saint Maron.

Catholicism is a Christian religion in which its followers believe in one God, his son Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit. Its followers adhere to the teachings of the Bible. The Catholic Church was the first Christian church. It was established from the teachings of Jesus Christ, who gained numerous followers called disciples or apostles. The apostle Saint Peter became the first pope, or head of the Catholic Church.

Catholicism is one of the three major branches of the Christian religion, along with the Protestant Church and Eastern Orthodox Church. Catholicism is one of the oldest religions in the world and the largest Christian religion, with more than 1.3 billion followers. Half of all Christians are Catholic. Catholicism is the major religion of Italy, Spain, and the Americas, but it can be found in many parts of the world—specifically the Western world.

In the mid-2020s, there are between three and four million people in the global Maronite population. Lebanon remained the spiritual and cultural center of the Maronite Church, with significant populations in Syria, Israel, Palestine, Cyprus, Egypt, and Jordan. Many Maronites live in diaspora, with significant populations in Argentina, Brazil, Australia, Mexico, the United States, Canada, and France.

History

Saint Maron, a hermit monk, lived in Syria during the fourth century. He became famous for his healing abilities that were bestowed upon him by God. After his death in 410 BCE, his followers continued his mission.

In 451, council members of what became the Maronite Church held a meeting to clarify the position of Jesus Christ. They believed that Jesus Christ was both a person and divinity. This put the Maronites at odds with the Monophysites; the two groups conflicted through the years.

Eventually, the Maronites built Bet Moroon monastery. They appointed Saint John Maron as the first patriarch of the Maronite Church around 685. This created further conflict with the Monophysites, leaving many Maronites dead and Bet Moroon badly damaged. Numerous Maronites fled Syria to join other believers in Lebanon. Bet Moroon and other monasteries were destroyed by 936. At this time, most of the remaining Maronites had fled to the safety of the Lebanon mountains to concentrate on establishing a formal church.

They lived peacefully for nearly 350 years, forming relationships with France and the pope in Rome. The end of the Crusades brought more violence and persecution for the Maronites. Between 1268 and 1283, the Mamlūks attacked the Maronites and captured and killed their patriarch. The Mamlūks continued to persecute the Maronites, and many Maronites fled to Cyprus. The Maronites lost their freedom; however, they never lost their faith.

The Ottomans defeated the Mamlūks in 1516. Over the next few centuries, the Maronites expanded, built churches and schools, and formed other orders. Many people converted to Christianity and joined the Maronite Church. This angered the Ottomans, who destroyed everything the Maronites created and massacred tens of thousands of people. Thousands fled to other areas. The Ottomans were defeated in World War I, with Lebanon and Syria coming under French control. Lebanon finally received its independence in 1943.

Peace did not last long in Lebanon, and civil war erupted in 1975. Fighting continued, and many Maronites died or fled to other countries. The Pope and various world leaders intervened, but the violence did not stop. Into the 2020s, conflict and unrest continued in Lebanon, Syria, and other nearby countries, notably the Israel-Hamas War and the overthrow of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. However, the displacement of the Maronites allowed them to spread their religion to other parts of the world.

Beliefs

Maronites are Catholics and believe in the Holy Trinity (God, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit). They believe that the teachings of Jesus did not end when he died, and they believe his resurrection confirms this.

Maronites and Catholics practice many of the same teachings and celebrate the same seven sacraments. Maronites call these mysteries. They include Baptism, Confirmation (Chrismation), the Eucharist (the three Mysteries of Initiation), Penance (Reconciliation or Confession), Sacrament of the Sick (Mysteries of Healing), Marriage (Crowning), and Holy Orders (Mysteries of Vocation or Community).

While Latin is the official tongue of the Catholic Church, Aramaic is the sacred language of the Maronites. The Maronites use the native language spoken by Jesus Christ in certain religious ceremonies and hymns.

Maronite prayers are derived from the Old Testament and the New Testament. The Maronites Divine Liturgy of the Mass has roots in Antioch. During worship, the Antioch Liturgy is blended with parts of the liturgy of the Old Testament. A symbol of this is the way the priest tips the chalice in all four directions during Consecration. The four directions symbolize how Jesus spilled his blood for all, mirroring the traditional dotting of the four corners of the altar with the blood of the sacrificial lamb.

While the Maronites believe in many saints, they hold three in special regard. Saint Rafqa was a nun of the Lebanese Maronite Order who experienced the suffering of crucifixion. Saint Sharbel Makhlouf was a monk at the St. Maron Monastery in Lebanon before being called into a life of solitude by God. Saint Nimatullah Al-Hardini was a priest who spent much of his life teaching and in solitude.

While the ordination of married men has been allowed in the original areas of the denomination, it was banned in overseas regions such as the United States in the early twentieth century. The Pope allowed a married deacon to be ordained as a priest for the first time in 2014; however, the ban remained in place. During the debate over legalizing same-sex marriage in Australia, which ultimately passed in late 2017, the head of the Maronite Church in Australia pushed for amendments protecting freedom of religion to be added to the bill, representing the church's firm stance on the definition of marriage as between a man and a woman.

Organization

The organization of the Maronite Church mimics that of the Catholic Church. The main structure has the pope as the head. The pope appoints cardinals, or priests who serve as special advisors to the pope, and bishops, who head local churches. Bishops ordain priests to oversee local churches. Other positions, such as deacons, monks, and nuns, exist.

The major difference between the Catholic Church and Maronite Church is that the Maronite Church named itself after its founder. It also elects a person to serve as head of the church, called the Maronite Patriarch of Antioch.

Bibliography

“About the Maronite Church.” Maronite Eparchy of Australia, maronite.org.au/our-maronite-church. Accessed 30 Dec. 2024.

"Catholicism." Religion Facts, www.religionfacts.com/catholicism. Accessed 30 Dec. 2024.

Devine, Miranda. "Rainbow-Haters Have Declared War on No Voters." The Daily Telegraph, 10 Dec. 2017, www.dailytelegraph.com.au/rendezview/rainbow-triumph-condemns-our-unity/news-story/159409c25db0953904fca079e156dc35. Accessed 30 Dec. 2024.

"History of the Maronites." Maronite Heritage, Maronite Order of the Blessed Virgin Mary–Lebanon, www.maronite-heritage.com/LNE.php?page=History. Accessed 30 Dec. 2024.

Mirus, Jeffrey A. "A Brief Description of the Government of the Catholic Church." Catholic Culture, www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/view.cfm?id=7456. Accessed 30 Dec. 2024.

"Saint Rafqa." Family of Saint Sharbel USA, www.familyofsaintsharbel.org/saint-rafqa.html. Accessed 30 Dec. 2024.