Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Maronite Church?

See, The Apostolic Maronite Church. 

What is the difference between a "church" and a "rite"?

"Rite" refers to the Liturgical ritual. But the Maronite Church is more than a rite because it is a self-governing body with bishops and a patriarch.

But does the Maronite Church follow the Pope?

Yes. The Pope is really the bishop of Rome, one of the four ancient Patriarchal seats, the others being Antioch, Alexandria, and Constantinople. (Jerusalem lost its original Liturgical identity because it was destroyed twice during the early period of the church.) The Maronite patriarch is the successor of the patriarchate of Antioch. The Maronite Patriarchs have never broken communion with the Pope who has always been recognized as the supreme shepherd and symbol of church unity.

Since Peter was in Antioch why isn't the Patriarch of Antioch the head of the church?

Every Maronite Patriarch takes on a double-name the second of which is always "Peter." This is to acknowledge that it was Peter who founded the church in Antioch and the succeeding bishops are his successors by ordination. However, they are not considered heads of the Catholic Church because Peter was martyred in Rome and it was there that his authority as the supreme shepherd was passed on. It was generally recognized that while he was alive his authority as the supreme shepherd remained in his person, not in the bishops of Antioch. His authority was then passed on in the succeeding bishops of the church of Rome which he headed before he was martyred.

Where does the Maronite Patriarch reside? I heard he does not reside in Antioch.

He resides in Bekerky, Lebanon. Ever since the Islamic invasion of the 7th century the patriarch has resided in Lebanon.

Do Maronites believe the same as Catholics?

A Maronite is Catholic. But not "Latin" (or "Roman") Catholic. The doctrine is the same for every self-governing church in communion with Rome but the prayers and the theological approach differ from one another more or less.

How many "churches" are part of the Catholic Church? How can there be more than one church?

There are 23 self-governing churches. That is, they have their own hierarchy but are in union with Rome. Just as the many local parishes make up the diocese, many churches in communion with one another and with the Pope make up one Catholic, i.e., "universal," Church. See the "Genealogy of Catholic churches in Communion."  It takes many instruments to play a symphony.