Syriac Maronite Church of Antioch | |
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Coat of arms of the Maronite Church with Latin motto "The glory of Lebanon is given to him" (Isaiah 35:2), applied to the Maronite Patriarch.
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Founded | AD 410; 7th century |
Founder |
Maron; John Maron |
Recognition |
Catholic Church, Eastern Catholic Churches |
Primate | Bechara Boutros al-Rahi |
Headquarters | Bkerké, Lebanon |
Territory | Lebanon, Syria, Cyprus, Israel, Canada, United States, Australia, Argentina, Brazil, Mexico |
Possessions | Approximately one third of Lebanese territory |
Language | Arabic (Lebanese Arabic · Cypriot Maronite Arabic); Liturgical: Aramaic (Syriac) |
Members | 3,198,600 |
Website | http://www.bkerki.org |
The Maronite Church (Arabic: الكنيسة المارونية) is an Eastern Catholic sui iuris particular church of the Catholic Church in communion with the Pope, with self-governance under the Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches by the Patriarch of Antioch, Bechara Boutros al-Rahi since 2011. Officially known as the Syriac Maronite Church of Antioch (Latin: Ecclesia Syrorum Maronitarum; Syriac: Īṯo Suryoiṯo Morunoiṯo d'Anṭiokia; Arabic: الكنيسة الأنطاكية السريانية المارونية) al-Kanīsa al-Anṭākiyya al-Suryāniyya al-Mārūniyya), it is part of the Syriac Churches by liturgy and heritage.
Traditionally, the Maronite Church is located in the Levant particularly around Mount Lebanon, where Bkerke, its current headquarters, is located. Other historical centers of importance include Kfarhay, Yanouh, Mayfouq, and Qadisha Valley. However, due to massive emigration since the 19th century, approximately two-thirds of church members are now located outside "The Antiochian's Range" and live within the worldwide Lebanese diaspora in many of the European Union member states, the Americas, Australia and Africa.