The Maronite church is affiliated to the Roman Catholic Church and recognizes the authority of the pope.
The Maronite community held today events to honour Saint Maroun, father of the Maronite Church, who died 1,600 years ago.
Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir and top government officials commemorated the event in Saint George’s Church, in Beirut. President Michel Suleiman, Speaker Nabih Berri, Prime Minister Saad Hariri and several cabinet ministers, MPs and politicians, including Lebanese forces’ leader Samir Geagea.
Meanwhile, other Lebanese Christians who belong to the pro-Syrian opposition, celebrated the mass at Saint Maroun church in Brad, near the Syrian city of Aleppo. That mass was attended by Christian leader Michel Aoun, former President Emile Lahoud, and Head of the Marada Party Sleiman Frangieh including many officials from Lebanon and other Syrian officials.
“Our visit today bears a historic importance since it sets a new track to revive true Eastern Christian culture because the Christian church originated from here," Aoun said.





