The Name and Origin of the Maronites

 As has been justly stated, that the grandeur of a people should not be measured by their number and the extent of their territory, but by their deeds, would it be temerity to apply this maxim to the Syrian Maronites?

"These people," says Bishop Baudrillard of the French Academy, "are small in number; even today they do not exceed 400,000 but how great they are, as to originality and nobility of their history."  Their dwelling place, a corner of the world, the most noted of all, which has been celebrated both by the prophets of Israel and the poets of all time.

"To sacred voice of the Prophet Ezeckiel, re-echoes the secular melodies of Lamartine (greatest of French lyric poets).  This sacred spot is Lebanon….The Cedars, glory of Lebanon", are almost held sacred by religious authors, poets and historians. These trees are the symbol of the vitality of the Maronite people, the strength of their convictions and the long standing of their fidelity.

"But to what do these people owe their origin. To the force of arms as almost all other people? Or was their father and founder a celebrated conqueror? No indeed.  These people rest upon an ideal, a principle; a doctrine is their foundation; that is the Catholic faith. and its founder was a monk a monk indeed.  Listen! It was at the dawn of the 5^th century, when the barbarians were invading Europe (ten centuries before Columbus, and thirteen before George Washington).

  "Syria was inhabited by Christians to whom the light of the gospel had shone since the time of the apostles.  In Antioch, one of the first given to those who believed Christ.  But alas, in the midst of a religious discussion held by the scholars and doctors, concerning the mysterious personality of Christ, a great part of the Syrian people were deceived by the error of Eutyches, who taught that in Christ there is only one nature.  This error was called by name of Monophysism, condemned by the Catholic Church in the General Council of Chalecdon.

"At that time a saintly hermit by name of Maron, lived in a short distance from the city of Antioch, upon a mountain above the banks or the Orontes River. He strongly defended the Catholic doctrine.  On account of the austerity of his life and without doubt the fire of his word, many disciples thronged around him.  They formed the nucleus of the Maronite nation, who becoming conscious of themselves through and act of faith, did not hesitate in the future to shed their blood rather that renonce a particle of their faith."

St. Maron

 "The maronites", writes Darras, (in the history of the Catholic Chruch, vol. 2 page 273) "take their name from St. Maron, (350-433) a Syrian Abbott, who lived in the time of St. John Chrysostom and whose energetic zeal has raised, on the banks of the Orontes, between Apames and Emesa, (modern Hama and Homs) a renowed monastery, numbering eight hundred religious."  He had a wonderful power of performing miracles. He died on 433.

 The eminent sanctity of St. Maron has been officially recognized by the Holy See; Popes and historians call him the Father or first founder of the Maronite Nation; St. John Maron who lived about two hundred years after him was their first patriarch and great organizer. (627-707)

 The life of St. Maron has been written by his compatriot and contemporary, Theodoretus Bishop of Cyrus. (Patrologia Graeca, Migne vol. 72)

 Pope Benedict XIV, on August 12, 1744 has granted a Plenary Indulgence under usual conditions to those who would visit and Maronite Church on the feasts of St. Maron February 9^th and St. John Maron, March 2^nd.

St. Maron and St. John Chrysostom

 St. Maron was united by the ties of the tenderest and firmest friendship to St. John Chysostom, Patriarch of Constantinople, and a great doctor of the Oriental church as appears from the letter sent to St. Maron by St. John while exiled at Cucusa from the year 404 to 407. date of his death. (Greek Petrology by Migne. vol. 52, epistle 36 page 630).  This letter has been officially admitted by Pope Benedict XIV.  It reads as follows:

To Maron, the Priest

 "As we are united to you by the bonds of charity and sympathy, you are near us as if you were present here because the eyes of love are such that distance cannot stop their vision, nor can the weight of years awaken them. We would like to write you more frequently, but on account of the many difficulties of roads and the rarity of messengers we only salute you as often as we can; we assure you that your remembrance never leaves us, but we have you in our hearts everywhere we go.  Also be sure to inform us about the condition of your health, so that the good news will bring us a great joy and consolation in the midst of our solitude.  It is indeed no small pleasure for us to know that you are in good health. But first of all I beg the assistance of you prayers before God."