Lebanon’s St. Maron: Feb 9, 2010
St. Maron is a public holiday in Lebanon.
Lebanon celebrate St. Maron’s Feast Day on every 9th of February each year. St. Maron led a spiritual movement in Syria and Lebanon which sprung a different branch of Catholicism which is now called The Maronite Catholic Church. St. Maron gained loyal supporters during his time and still enjoys followers until today.
History of St. Maron
Maron, or St. Maron is a Christian missionary who lived around 350 - 410 AD. He established a Christian movement where he converted most of non-Christians in Lebanon and encouraged them to discover the Christian faith.
He spent most of life doing missionary both to Christians and non-Christians of his time. He was known in his performance of healing rituals, miracles, and taught non-believers to follow an ascetic way of life. Because of this, he attracted many people to follow his footstep and from there he established what we now call Maronite Catholic Church.
It was believed that St. Maron stayed in a mountain in Syria in a place called “Kefar-Nabo” where the movement started. The spread of Christianity in Lebanon is accounted to the works of Abraham of Cyrrhus, one of St. Maron’s disciples which is now known as the “Apostle of Lebanon.” Abraham of Cyrrhus began converting people of Lebanon into Christianity when he started introducing the Maron’s way of life. Through this discipline, he had successfully converted a great number of people in the country to become catholic and subsequently follow Maron’s teachings.
St. Maron became popular when he converted a temple in the mountain in Syria into a Christian Church that then laid the foundation for the spread of Christianity to Lebanon. His death in 410 did not end St. Maron’s missionary work. Just like Jesus Christ, his followers carried on the values and teachings of St. Maron and continued his preaching until today. So far, the Maronite Catholic Church has produced more than 20 saints where three or four of them are women.
Lebanon’s St. Maron: Traditions, Customs and Activities
During the holiday, government establishments are closed and only few private establishments are open as a sign of observance to this special day. Maronites celebrate The Feast of St. Maron in their respective churches with special luncheon services and various entertainment activities. During luncheon, traditional Lebanese food such as Tabbouleh, Kibbe Nayye, and salad with various are served but food are not limited the ones stated.
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