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Shalom! Want to visit the Maronites today for That's My World?Mighty nice place for ABC Wednesday's M-Day too.
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Just ring the bell.Well, OK, not THIS bell.
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Look for the doorbell near this sign in the Old City, not far from Jaffa Gate..
Foyer Mar Maroun is a beautiful old (1895) guest house for pilgrims..
Their nice website says it has 27 rooms and that "The house is managed by Maronite Nuns from the congregation of St. Therese of the Child Jesus [Therese of Lisieux], who are also responsible for other parochial activities concerning the Maronite Parish in Jerusalem."
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"The Maronite church is an Eastern Catholic Church on the seat of Antioch, in full communion with the Holy See of Rome.Historically, the origins of the Maronite Church are to be found amongst those monastic and lay people who gathered around the saintly hermit Maron, an early 5th-century Syriac monk venerated as a saint. These Christians who accepted his way of life and worship were soon identified as 'those of St. Maron - the Maronites.' "
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This is the only Maronite church in Jerusalem.The local community is small.
Most Maronites live in Lebanon (see the Cedar of Lebanon on the altar?).
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The liturgical language is Syriac (Christian Aramaic).
Hear some hymns in this ancient language at YouTube.
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The roof of the Maronite monastery and guest house has a panoramic view.Here we are looking east over the Old City and the Temple Mount to the Mount of Olives.
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Would you like to book an overnight here? I would!
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