"In Peace and Security!" This is the translation of the Syriac welcome when a visitor arrives. It is also an expression the occurs frequently in the Maronite liturgy. It is that "peace that passes all understanding" that comes from knowing the love of Christ, a peace and security that one finds in a world where there is no apparent peace or security. It is the peace and joy known by scores of generations of Christians who have practiced their faith, lived in hope, and loved God and their neighbors in a world that has often been hostile, both physically and politically.
Among the Syriac churches, the Maronites are unique in their constant ascent to the ecumenical councils of the Imperial Church and their unbroken communion with the Church of Rome. The Maronites constitute the only Eastern Catholic church that has no Orthodox counterpart, although they share many traditions and liturgical and literary sources with the other Syriac churches, eastern and western.
With their origins in the plains of northern Syria and their development in the mountains of Lebanon, the Maronites have spread throughout the world and include faithful with no organic ties to the Middle East. It is truly a catholic church, with a particular tradition of theological expression and spiritual experience rooted in that same poetic expression of the ineffable found in the Psalms and the various hymns and canticles of the Bible.
This Web site is dedicated to the exposition and exploration of the Maronite tradition. To accomplish this task, the site includes:
Again, welcome! We are glad to have you journeying with us, whatever your tradition or faith commitment. Whether by contributing to the wiki or by contacting the project leader, we hope you will share insights, ask questions, suggest improvements, thus growing with us and helping us to grow.