- John Maron
John Maron (
Arabic : يوحنا مارون , d. 707) was the firstMaronite Patriarch. He is revered as asaint by theCatholic Church , and celebrated onMarch 2 .Early life
John Maron was the son of Agathon, the governor of Sarum and
Anohamia , grandson of prince Alidipas, who governedAntioch . He was educated in Antioch and the monastery of Saint Maron studying mathematics, sciences, philosophy, theology, linguistics and scripture. He became a monk at the monastery of Saint Maron, adding the name Maron to this own.John studied Greek and
patrology inConstantinople . Returning to Saint Maron's, he wrote on such diverse topics as teaching, rhetoric, the sacraments, management of Church property, legislative techniques, and liturgy. He composed the Eucharistic Prayer which still bears his name. Noted teacher and preacher, he explained Catholic dogma of theCouncil of Chalcedon (which focused on the nature of Jesus as both God and human), wrote a series of letters to the faithful againstMonophysitism andMonothelitism , and then travelledSyria to explain the heresy.Bishop in 676, assigned to
Mount Lebanon with a mission to oppose heresies, keep theMaronite s united with Rome, and support the faithful in an area being invaded byArab s. He travelled extensively in the areas involved in combat, preaching, conducting Mass, tending to the sick, and sheltering the homeless. It was during this terrible period that he was given the gift of healing, curing many praying over them. Fact|date=February 2007The first Maronite Patriarch
The Maronites made up the bulk of the Maradite army, the so-called "Brass Wall" that shielded Constantinople and the
Byzantine Empire from Arab expansion. In 685 the Maradites used their power and importance to choose John Maron, one of their own, as Patriarch of Antioch and all the East. John received the approval ofPope Sergius I , and became the first Maronite Patriarch of the oldest see in Christianity.The Byzantine emperor
Justinian II feared the growing power of the Maradite army, and was angered that his approval had not been sought for the appointment of John as Patriarch. He sent his army to defeat the Maradites and capture John. They managed to win battles against the Maradites, overrun Antioch, and destroy the monastery there, killing 500 monks in the process. John, however, escaped toLebanon . When Justinian's army followed, the Maradites, under the leadership of John's nephew Ibrahim, defeated them decisively, sending them home empty-handed. John then founded the monastery of Reesh Moran (head of our Lord) inKefer Hay , Lebanon, and moved his see to Mount Lebanon. The Maradites sealed themselves off from the outside, and founded their own national and religious identity, though still part of the Catholic Church, with John seen as one of their great founders.ee also
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Maron
*Lebanon External links
* [http://www.catholic-forum.com/saints/saintjgc.htm John Maron] at [http://www.catholic-forum.com Catholic-Forum]
* [http://www.bkerke.org.lb Official Website of the Maronite Patriarchate]
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