Post by Samer Bassoulou

By the time of early distracted divisions of the Church, one priest probably retreated to the wilderness of the mountains near Antioch where he could completely dedicate himself to a ascetic life of Prayer and Fasting. His name is Maroun in Syriac, meaning “Little Master”. As his followers increased in number, they were called Maronites after their teacher. The Principle historical source on the life of Maroun is Theodoret, Bishop of Cyrus, who wrote the Religious History of Syriac Asceticism. Theodoret Mentioned that Maroun chose a special mountain for his retreat that had been sacred to pagans and he converted the temple he found there into a church for the “True God”. It is considered that Maroun have died in the year 410 but some date his death later, in 423. Maroun is considered the Father of the spiritual and monastic movement now called the Maronite Catholic Church. This movement had a profound influence in Lebanon. The followers of St. Maroun, both monks and laity, always remained faithful to the teachings of the Catholic Church. St. Maroun’s feast day is celebrated on February 9th.