Maronite Patriarch of Antioch and the whole of the Orient

The Maronite Patriarch of Antioch and the whole of the Orient , also Patriarch of Antioch of the Maronites , is the Patriarch of the Maronite Patriarchate of Antioch and head of the Syriac - Maronite Church , united with Rome , which has existed since 681. He is one of the five patriarchs of that title; for the others, see Syrian Orthodox Church of Antioch , Antiochian Orthodox Church , Melkite Greek Catholic Church, and Syriac Catholic Church .

The seat of the patriarch has been in a former monastery of the Antonine Order in Bkerke , Lebanon , since 1786 . After the Maronites were expelled from Antioch, the seat was for a long time in Batroun and then alternately in various Maronite monasteries in Lebanon.

dress

The patriarchs, like the Maronite monks, wear a cap called an escime over it, a tabieh . The tabieh is outwardly different from those of the Maronite bishops. As outer clothing for non-religious appearances in public, the patriarch wears a black and silk robe with purple lining or underwear.

title

The Patriarch is entitled: His Beatitude the Maronite Patriarch of Antioch and the whole of the East . All the Maronite Patriarchs of Antioch wear in honor of St. Peter the Arabic-Aramaic name Boutros, Greek Petros, French Pierre.

Rome and Bkerke

The Maronite patriarchs, mostly in more recent times, have been created as cardinals as representatives of the Maronite Church . The Maronite Church has its own canon law and celebrates masses according to the Antiochian rite , but shares the teaching of the Catholic Church together. The patriarch can convene his own synods. Two important synods were convened in 1736 and 2003.

Role of the Maronite Patriarch

The Maronite patriarchs play an important role in Lebanese politics. Both in the time of the Ottoman occupation and in today's politics, the Maronite patriarchs played an important political role due to the political situation. During the Ottoman occupation , he was the Ottoman contact for political affairs for Christians. The patriarch Elias Hoyek promoted Lebanon's independence after the end of the Ottoman occupation. The Maronite identity is closely linked to the identity of Lebanon. Today due to the difficult political situation in Lebanon, i. H. by a pro-Syrian president who was still installed by the Syrians and who lacked the support of the Maronites, as well as the lack of a unified political Maronite class, the patriarch played a key role in political decisions. Many foreign state guests and ambassadors, but also Lebanese politicians of all denominations, visit the Patriarch for consultations in his official residence. Due to the fact that the patriarchal seat is in Lebanon, that he represents the Maronite Church, the church that represents the largest number of believers in Lebanon, the patriarch has some freedoms and independence that the patriarchs of the other churches represented in Lebanon do not have.

literature

Harald Suermann: The Maronite Church between politics and pastoral care. Ev. Academy, Hofgeismar, October 2006
Peter L. Münch-Heubner : Between conflict and coexistence: Christianity and Islam. Munich, 2002 (see there the chapter: Maronite position determinations in the Second Lebanese Republic)