The information has been carefully selected and compiled from unhcrs global network of field. Hourani presenting her lecture on the maronites of cyprus in nicosia, cyprus november 20. The maronite community of cyprus historical background. Psammetichus iii, amasis son, succeeded him as pharaoh 525bc kingdoms of cyprus pledged. It was established in 1945 and today, with its popular and widelyread website, the cyprus mail is among the most. In the 19th century, thousands of maronites were massacred by the lebanese druze during the 1860 mount lebanon civil war.
The community historically spoke cypriot maronite arabic, 30 31 but today cypriot maronites speak the greek language, with the cypriot government designating cypriot maronite arabic as a dialect. It was converted to jesus christ by the preaching of certain of his disciples, and the believers were strengthened in their faith, thanks to the labors of the apostles paul and barnabas. Cyprus, an island in the eastern mediterranean sea renowned since ancient times for its mineral wealth, superb wines and produce, and natural beauty. A short history of cyprus maronites originally from syria, todays maronite community in cyprus was shaped by four successive waves of emigration that started in the 8th century and lasted over six centuries. Maronites history of the maronite nation and church catholic encyclopedia. The maronites of these villages want their basic rights, to restore their. Their liturgy said mainly in liturgical syriac is of the antiochene type, with innovations taken from the latin rite. Maronites have one observer seat in the greek cypriot parliament so they have a voice but not a vote and depend of greek cypriots to defend their interests. From istambul to iskandariah, all the way through izmir and adana turkey and beirut lebanon. His excellency the maronite bishop of cyprus youssef soueif and the honorable mr. The 2015 annuario pontificio counts 720,000 maronites living in argentina almost half as many as live in lebanon itself, 493,000 in brazil, 156,000 in mexico, 150,000 in australia, 87,900 in canada, 85,700 in the united states, 50,600 in france, 10,800 in cyprus, and 20,200 in israel and palestine, 5,150 in egypt, and 1,560 in jordan. The article also examines the cypriot maronite situation during the reigns of the latins and the ottomans. The church has its origins in modern day syria and was followed by immigration to lebanon.
A reading in the history of the maronites of cyprus. The letters of the patriarch simon peter and of his bishops may be found in the eleventh session of that council 19 dec. A percentage of them traditionally speak a dialect which is a combination of arabic, turkish and greek, recently recognised as variety of arabic in addition. Some maronites followed the crusaders to cyprus where their descendants make up a healthy maronite community. The maronite community of syria, levant, and lebanon arrived and settled in the northern part of cyprus during the period between 9th and 12th centuries, and went through all the vicissitudes of the christian community of the island. Maronites form an ethnoreligious group in cyprus and lebanon. The maronites in the 4 th century, a monk called maron left antioch for the orontes river to lead an ascetic way of life. It also brings to light the reasons behind the demise of. A brief history of the maronites i in the first quarter of the fifth century, maron, a syriacspeaking hermit of aramean origins, died in the region of cyrrhus, between aleppo and antioch northwest of presentday syria. Throughout their history, maronites have immigrated to other parts of the world. A reading in the history of the maronites of cyprus by guita.
The history of the maronites is a story of persecution and of the struggle of the. On 23 april 2012, the maronite foundation in the world has visited the 4 maronite villages of the turkish part of cyprus. In the plebiscite of 1960 the latins of cyprus like the armenians and the maronites voted by an overwhelming majority to join the greek community when cyprus became independent under the terms of a constitution, recognizing the existence of two distinct communities on the island, one greek and the other turkish and three religion groups latins. Offering a historical perspective on the whole of maronite heritage and culture, moosa sought to tell the relatively unknown story of one branch of the syriac christian tradition. Cyprus an island in the eastern mediterranean, at the entrance of the gulf of alexandretta catholic encyclopedia. The maronite patriarchal assembly 20032004 identified five distinguishing marks of the maronite church. Maronite church, one of the largest easternrite communities of the roman catholic church, prominent especially in modern lebanon. Cypriot maronites touch an icon at saint georges church in kormakitis, cyprus some excited maronite children in cyprus are preparing to share the islands best kept linguistic secret with pope benedict xvi. Originally from syria, todays maronite community in cyprus was shaped by four successive waves of emigration that started in the 8th century and lasted over six. Displaced by war and endangered by assimilation, the maronites of cyprus fear for the future of their community. Pdf the maronites of cyprus under ottoman rulebook. Apr 25, 2012 on 23 april 2012, the maronite foundation in the world has visited the 4 maronite villages of the turkish part of cyprus. The original seat and present home of the nucleus of the maronites is mt lebanon. The maronites of cyprus are struggling for their rights youtube.
Prior to 1960, marriages of greek orthodox or maronite christians in cyprus were governed by the. Maronites history and cultural relations the earliest information that is available on the maronite sect was recorded by theodoret, bishop of cyrrhus d. Cyprus was their refuge in the late 7th century when, because of arab raids in syria, they. Maronite history is colored with the romance that attaches itself to a struggle of a determined people. Because of the many disasters that happened in the world in that period of time th 16th century, especially in the middle east, the pope of rome, leo x described the maronite church as a rose among thorns, an impregnable rock in the sea, unshaken. The history of the maronite community in cyprus goes back many centuries. Maronites and things that were done and could not be done pdf.
May 22, 2014 this short video gives a glance into the maronites history and liturgy. The earliest information that is available on the maronite sect was recorded by theodoret, bishop of cyrrhus d. Early in the sixth century, maronite monks were foremost among the defenders of the doctrine of chalcedon, which, owing to the controversy generated in its aftermath, brought on a. The cypriot maronite arab community exemplifies how the loss of a land which functions as a vital. Maronites in cyprus try to revive old language when the pope visits cyprus next month, he will be greeted in the language one struggling to survive of the small maronite community. The maronites have also had a presence in cyprus since the early 9th century and many maronites went there following saladins successful siege of jerusalem.
When he died 410 ad, his followers built a monastery in his honor and this became the foundation of the maronite church. Maronites encyclopedia volume catholic encyclopedia. During that time many catholic maronites escaped to cyprus where there was a catholic maronite church. From that time the maronites were to be in permanent and uninterrupted contact with rome. The pontifical university of saint thomas aquinas angelicum roma prepared by. Kormacit pronounced kormajit is a village in the northwestern most of northern cyprus, inhabited by the islands maronite minority maronites are of catholic christian people of arabic origin, who came and settled into cyprus 1200 years ago from lebanon where the maronite presence is greater. Houranis lecture was on the history of the maronites in cyprus in general and. Exodus leads to more maronites outside of lebanon and. Tradition narrates that the first group of maronites immigrated to cyprus simultaneously with the. However, greek cyprus leads a politics of assimiliation. Refworld contains a vast collection of reports relating to situations in countries of origin, policy documents and positions, and documents relating to international and national legal frameworks.
Catholic encyclopedia 19maronites wikisource, the free. The earliest maronite exodus to cyprus the history of the maronitecyprus relationship is long and painful. Maronites are not a race, and whoever pretends the opposite is wrong. The minorities of cyprus in the history of cyprus textbook for lyceum. The archbishop is archbishop youssef antoine soueif, appointed in 2008. By emigration they have spread to cyprus, palestine, egypt, south america, and the united states and now number about one million. This article will give first the present state of the maronite nation and church. A crosssectional view of the forgotten peace ambassadors of trnc. John maron and enjoyed independence for much of its history, both ecclesiologically and sociopolitically. Sfeir 2010 continued to say, a scientific approach to the history of the maronites. Most nations in their history often have to make a choice between confrontation or cooperation and time has shown us that minorities usually pay for their continued existence through deformation of character or out. In four principal migrations between the eighth and the thirteenth centuries, maronites moved to cyprus from the ancient territories of syria, the holy land and lebanon. The maronites in cyprus are members of the maronite catholic archeparchy of cyprus whose. In part two, i discuss these, and in part three i answer matti moosas arguments in his book, the maronites in history, that this.
Offering a historical perspective on the whole of maronite heritage and culture, moosa seeks to tell the relatively unknown story of one branch of the syriac christian tradition. Bc 709bc cyprus was conquered and unified by the neoassyrian empire under sargon ii 669bc ten citykingdoms of cyprus declared independence from assyrian rule 570bc cyprus conquered by the egyptians under amasis ii 565bc545bc cyprus under egyptian control 526bc amasis died. The archeparchy of cyprus is an archiepiscopal see of the maronite catholic church in cyprus. The history of lebanon reconsidered university of california press, 1990.
It is through this that its identity can be expressed and an awareness. These christians of lebanon were most responsive to western influence and in the latin states they were accorded the rights and privileges pertaining to latin bourgeoisie including the right to own land. Cyprus time line chronological timetable of events. The patriarchate of antioch is a patriarchal see of the maronite catholic church in lebanon. In recent years, maronites have readily accepted the new devotions promulgated by recent popes or encouraged by recent lay movements. Of this number about 230,000 inhabit the lebanon, forming nearly fiveeighths of the population of that vilayet and the main constituent of the population in four out of seven kaimakats, viz. A reading in the history of the maronites of cyprus by. Turkish, armenian, maronite, latin cypriot and gypsy population, it is also the.
Maronites first migrated to cyprus in the 8th century, and there are approximately 5,800 maronites on the island today, the vast majority in the republic of cyprus. On the mountains of lebanon, in this mystical land, in these deep valleys, among these white mountains, in the land of honey and milk, in the nation of the cedar and the alphabet, in the phoenician land, there. A brief history of the maronites maronite foundation. Francis desales, and the writings of franciscan fathers. Gebran khalil gebran, who was of lebanese and maronite heritage, by this time, like many maronites has migrated to america. Its history is characterized by seclusion and continuous persecutions. As a result of these campaigns, a lot of maronites fled to the island of cyprus, where there are several maronite. In the early 4th century, a community gathered around the christian hermit st. Pdf the minorities of cyprus in the history of cyprus textbook for. Maronites in cyprus try to revive old language the national. Geometric and archaic periods 8 480 bc 330 ad classical, hellenistic and roman periods 9 330 1191 ad byzantine period 10 11 1192 1489 ad frankish period 12 1489 1571 ad the venetians in cyprus. But political relations with lebanon are low and there were only ever 15 to 20 cases of maronites from cyprus marrying lebanese maronites.
The maronites in history addresses what author matti moosa identifies as a maronite crisis of identity in the lebanese cultural context. People speaking this arabic dialect originate from one village. A reading in the history of the maronites of cyprus from the eighth century to the beginning of british rule. Maronites moved to cyprus from the ancient territories of syria, the holy land and lebanon in four principal migrations between the eighth and the thirteenth centuries. No longer were they maronites of the middle east, but also american, south american, european, african and australian catholic maronites. Antioch has always been a city of openness, dialogue, and bold initiative. Our main objective is to produce a comprehensive tv series of documentaries to preserve the history, the civilization, and the faith of the maronites since the first centuries till present, and to provide a reference document for the maronite church and its people, in both lebanon and the diaspora. The lateran council of 1516 was the beginning of a new era, which has also been the most brilliant, in maronite history. Early in the sixth century, maronite monks were foremost among the defenders of the doctrine of chalcedon, which, owing to the controversy generated in its aftermath, brought on a permanent schism between adherents of chalcedon and those of monophysitism, the faith of the. Kormakitis is one of four traditionally maronite villages in cyprus, the other. Cyprus question, cypriot maronites, cypriot armenians, cypriot latins. Arabic mawarinah number about 300,000 souls, distributed in syria, palestine, cyprus, and egypt. The history of the maronite church is rooted in the middle east. Due to migration and those fleeing the lebanese civil war, most maronites today live outside of the region where the church was born and shaped its culture and practice.
Maronite church, eastern rite church prominent especially in modern lebanon. The maronites our lady of lebanon maronite catholic church. Refworld world directory of minorities and indigenous. A minoritys cultural role during the ottoman era fr. The cyprus mail is the only englishlanguage daily newspaper published in cyprus. Maronites, arabs, phoenicians, klingons qifa nabki.
Pdf the maronite church is one of the minority ones in the world. The church retains the west syrian liturgy and has its own patriarch. At the moment, around 200 maronites, mostly pensioners, live in kormakitis and karpasha, of which 100 resettled there recently following a new support scheme announced by. Pdf the maronites of cyprus alexandermichael hadjilyra. Coadjutor archbishop of cyprus of the maronites 1767 1786 archbishop of cyprus of the maronites 1786 1795. Learn more about the country, including its history. Refworld is the leading source of information necessary for taking quality decisions on refugee status.
Originally published in 1986, the maronites in history addressed what author matti moosa identified as a maronite crisis of identity in the lebanese cultural context. Matti moosa on st maroun in the maronites in history, matti moosa argues that we know nothing of any maroun who was related, in any way, to what became the maronite church. Also see nicholas coureas, the latin church in cyprus 78, texts and studies in the history of cyprus, vol. The levant, mount lebanon, the maronite church the levant is the term used in the past to designate the group of cities known for their commercial expertise and through which the europeans paved their way to the east. As we mentioned in our previous post, the great famine of mount lebanon 19151918 was a period of mass starvation during world war i that resulted in 200,000 deaths. Maronites who do not reside within a convenient distance to a local maronite church are permitted to attend other catholic churches while retaining their maronite membership. Maronites consitute a christian community, and from the beginning it included many ethnics mardaites, canaaneans, arabs, romans from the armenian kingdom to jerusalem. The maronites of cyprus under ottoman rulebook chapter. Chronological explanation of maronite history including excerpts from source documents. The texts concerning st maroun in part one, i set out the two ancient texts which disclose what is known of st maroun. Mawarina, a christian people of the ottoman empire in communion with the papal church, but forming a distinct denomination.
The maronites in cyprus are members of the maronite catholic archeparchy of cyprus whose ancestors migrated from presentday lebanon during the middle ages. The history of the maronites is a story of persecution and of the struggle of the maronites to preserve their faith, their freedom and their very existence. In 1224 more maronites arrived in cyprus, inhabiting in 62 villages and jurisdiction of their archbishop, who resided in lebanon and was represented by a chorepiscopus. Cyprus maronites allowed to return to the occupied north. The maronites of cyprus belong to the eastern christian cult of the catholic church. The earliest maronite exodus to cyprus the history of the maronite cyprus relationship is long and painful. The history of the maronites is a story of persecution and of the struggle. A reading in the history of the maronites of cyprus from the eighth century to. The enduring friendships of greek and turkish cypriots.
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