FAQ -- The Antiochan Syriac Maronite Church Table of Content -- Last Updated on 02-jun-2010   Origin of the Antiochan Syriac Maronite Church What is the official name of the Church? ܥܺܕ̱݁ܬ݁ܳܐ ܕ݂ܰܐܢܛܺܝܽܘܟܺ݁ܝܰܐ ܕ݂ܣܽܘܪ̈ܝܳـܝܶـܐ ܡܳܪ̈ܽܘܢܳـܝܶـܐ In English: The Antiochan Church of the Syriac Maronites In French: L'Église Antiochienne des Syriaques Maronites In Arabic: الكنيسة الانطاكية السريانية المارونية Where did the Church originate? ܟܽ̊ܘܪܣܝܳܐ ܦܶܛܪܳܘ̇ܣܳܝܳܐ ܫܠܺܝܚܳܝܳܐ ܕܰܐܢܛܺܝܽܘܟ̥ܺܝܰܐ -- The Petrine Apostolic See of Antioch (Established by Saint Peter the Head of the Apostles) Where was the Church's first monastery? Who was the spiritual father of the Syriac Maronites? ܩܰܕ݁ܺܝܫܳܐ ܡܳܪܝ̱ ܡܳܪܽܘܢ ܪܺܝܫ ܕ݁ܰܝܪܳܐ In English: Saint Marun Head of the Convent In French: Saint Maron chef du couvent In Arabic: القديس مار مارون رئيس الدير Who was the first Syriac Maronite Patriarch of Antioch? ܡܳܪܝ̱ ܝܽܘܚܰܢܳܢ ܕ݁ܡܳܪܽܘܢ ܦ݁ܰܛܪܺܝܰܪܟ݁ܳܐ ܕ݂ܰܐܢܛܺܝܽܘܟ݁ܺܝܰܐ ܘܡܰܠܦ݂ܳܢܳܐ ܕ݂ܥܺܕ̱݁ܬ݁ܳܐ ܕ݂ܺܝܠܰܢ ܩܰܕ݁ܺܝܫܬ݁ܳܐ In English: Saint John-Marun Patriarch of Antioch and Doctor of Our Holy Church In French: Saint John-Maron Patriarche d'Antioche et docteur de notre Sainte Église In Arabic: Where is the Patriarchate located? ܒ݁ܶܝܬ݂ ܟ݁ܶܪ̈ܟܶ݁ܐ ܐܰܘ̇ ܒ݁ܟ݁ܶܪ̈ܟܶ݁ܐ ܒ݂ܰܩܦ݂ܺܝܣܽܘ In English: Beth Kerke (or in short Bkerke) In French: Beith Kèrké (où en raccourci Bkèrké) In Arabic: What is the inscription on the Patriarchate's emblem? ܐܺܝܩܳܪܳܐ ܕ݂ܠܶܒ݂ܢܳܢ ܢܶܬ݂ܺܝܗܶܒ݂ ܠܳܗ̇ In Latin: Gloria Libani data est ei In English: The glory of Lebanon is given to her (By her we mean the Office of the Patriarch -- The Patriarchate -- Meaning that it is given to the Patriarch himself; and in all cases "loh" (to her) is now rendered as "lèh" (to him)) [Isaiah 35:2] In French: La gloire du Liban lui est donnée (L'Office de Patriarche -- Le Patriarcat -- Qui veut dire que c'est donné au Patriarche lui-même; et dans tous les cas « loh » est rendu comme « lèh ») [Isaïe 35:2] In Arabic: Here's a quote from Father Joesph Khoury's (OLM) on the inscription: « Armoirie du Patriarcat Maronite d'Antioche et de tout l'Orient, scupltée sur la façade, au dessus du grand portail du Palais Patriarcal à Békérki et à Diman. Dès ses origines, rattachées sans interruption à l'âge Apostolique, le Patriarcat s'est approprié traditionnellement ces armoiries symbolisant sa gloire séculaire si significative à travers le temps et l'éspace. » In English: "The coat of arms of the Maronite Patriarchate of Antioch and the entire East was sculpted on the front and above the grand doors of the Patriarchal Palace at Bkerke and Diman. From its origins, it has been associated to the Apostolic age without interruption; and the Patriarchate has traditionally used its coats of arms to symbolise its secular glory that has been significant across time and space." How long has the Church been in communion with the Universal Catholic Church? Since the beginning, as it was the first see founded by Saint Peter the head of the Apostles.   Language of the Antiochan Syriac Maronite Church What is the official language of the Church? ܠܶܫܳܢܳܐ ܣܽܘܪܝܳܝܳܐ ܐܰܘܟ݁ܺܝܬ݂ ܐܳܪܳܡܳܝܳܐ In English: The Syriac Language <=> The Aramaic Language In French: La langue Syriaque <=> La langue Araméene In Arabic: اللغة السريانية <=> اللغة الارامية This was the language that was spoken by Msheeho (Christ), the apostles, and the Virgin Mary; This was also spoken by Mor Morun the head of our Convent, and all of the Maronites; It served as the official language during the time of the Maronite state in Lebanon; And served as the main language of commerce in the area of Beth Nahrin and the surrounding countries. All Maronites whether born into the Syriac Maronite Church or are converts to the Syriac Maronite Church should learn the Syriac-Aramaic language and use it; This is especially true of priests and religious who must learn the teachings of their Church in it, in order to gain a deeper and more proper understanding. The faithful should respond as much as possible in the Syriac-Aramaic language during liturgical celebrations and rites, regardless of the vernacular used by nations they inhabit. By preserving this language we maintain a direct link to the fathers of our Church, and to Our Lord Jesus-Christ who taught His disciples and the people in the Aramaic language. How does the language influence its teachings?   The Official Bible of the Antiochan Syriac Maronite Church What is its specific name? ܦ݁ܫܺܝܛܬ݁ܳܐ In English: Peshitto (or Peshitta) In French: Peshitto (où Peshitta) In Arabic: The word "Peshitto" means "direct" and reflects pre-Hellenistic beliefs Although the name nowadays applies to both the OT and NT, it originally only referred to the NT What is the general name? ܟ݁ܬ݂ܳܒ݂̈ܶܐ ܩܰܕ݁ܺܝܫ̈ܶܐ In English: The Holy Books In French: Les Livres Saints In Arabic: The name is a reference to the fact that the Bible is made up of many books, and originally they weren't attached together in a single book (i.e. the word "Bible" itself has that meaning.) The first two divisions are OT and NT: OT Name: ܕ݁ܺܝܰܬ݂ܺܝܩܺܝ ܥܰܬ݁ܺܝܩܬ݁ܳܐ In English: The Old Testament In French: Le Vieux Testament In Arabic: NT Name: ܕ݁ܺܝܰܬ݂ܺܝܩܺܝ ܚܰܕ݂̱ܬ݂ܳܐ In English: The New Testament In French: Le Nouveau Testament In Arabic: What is its history? The Peshitto text is written in Aramaic The Peshitto text was received by the Aramaic speaking communities in apostolic times There have been a few editions based on the Peshitto, as well as some attempted adaptation of it to bring it inline with the Greek text(s) over the centuries All adaptation attempts of the Peshitto text in the past have failed to receive the support of the Aramaic speaking communities How is it structured? The Peshitto NT originally had only 22 books, to which were added 5 books that were translated from the Greek These 22 books are all recognised by the Apostolic Churches The 22 Books are: ܟ݁ܳܪܽܘܙ̈ܘܳܬ݂ܳܐ ܕ݂ܡܰܬ݁ܰܝ. ܘܰܕ݂ܡܰܪܩܳܘܣ. ܘܰܕ݂ܠܽܘܩܳܐ. ܘܰܕ݂ܝܽܘܚܰܢܳܢ ܥܒ݂ܳܕ݂ܳܐ ܕ݂ܰܫܠܺܝܚ̈ܶܐ ܐܶܓ݁ܪ̈ܳܬ݂ܳܐ ܕ݂ܝܰܥܩܽܘܒ݂ ܫܠܺܝܚܳܐ .ܘܰܕ݂ܦ݂ܶܛܪܳܘܣ ܫܠܺܝܚܳܐ. ܘܰܕ݂ܝܽܘܚܰܢܳܢ ܫܠܺܝܚܳܐ ܐܶܓ݁ܪ̈ܳܬ݂ܳܐ ܕ݂ܦ݂ܰܘܠܳܘܣ ܫܠܺܝܚܳܐ܆ ܕܰ݁ܠܘܳܬ݂ ܪ̈ܽܗ̱ܘܡܳܝܶܐ. ܘܕ݂ܰܠܘܳܬ݂ ܩܳܘܪ̈ܺܢܬ݂ܳܝܶܐ ܩܰܕ݂ܡܳܝܬ݁ܳܐ. ܘܕ݂ܰܠܘܳܬ݂ ܩܳܘܪ̈ܺܢܬ݂ܳܝܶܐ ܬ݂ܪܰܝܳܢܺܝܬ݂ܳܐ. ܘܕ݂ܰܠܘܳܬ݂ ܓ݁ܰܠܰܛܳܝ̈ܶܐ. ܘܕ݂ܰܠܘܳܬ݂ ܐܶܦ݂ܶܣܳܝ̈ܶܐ. ܘܕ݂ܰܠܘܳܬ݂ ܦ݂ܺܝܠܺܝܦ݁ܺܣܳܝ̈ܶܐ. ܘܕ݂ܰܠܘܳܬ݂ ܩܽܘܠܳܣܳܝ̈ܶܐ ܘܕ݂ܰܠܘܳܬ݂ ܬ݁ܶܣܰܠܳܘܢܺܝܩܳܝ̈ܶܐ ܩܰܕ݂ܡܳܝܬ݁ܳܐ. ܘܕ݂ܰܠܘܳܬ݂ ܬ݁ܶܣܰܠܳܘܢܺܝܩܳܝ̈ܶܐ ܬ݂ܪܰܝܳܢܺܝܬ݂ܳܐ. ܘܕ݂ܰܠܘܳܬ݂ ܛܺܝܡܳܬ݂ܶܐܳܘܣ ܩܰܕ݂ܡܳܝܬ݁ܳܐ. ܘܕ݂ܰܠܘܳܬ݂ ܛܺܝܡܳܬ݂ܶܐܳܘܣ ܬ݁ܪܰܝܳܢܺܝܬ݂ܳܐ. ܘܕ݂ܰܠܘܳܬ݂ ܛܺܛܳܘܣ. ܘܕ݂ܰܠܘܳܬ݂ ܦ݂ܺܝܠܺܝܡܳܘܢ ܐܶܓ݁ܰܪܬ݁ܳܐ ܕ݂ܰܠܘܳܬ݂ ܥܶܒ݂ܪ̈ܳܝܶܐ In English: The preachings of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John The Acts of the Apostles The Epistles of James the Apostle, Peter the Apostle, and John the Apostle The Epistles of Paul the Apostle: to the Romans, 1st to the Corinthians, 2nd to the Corinthians, to the Galatians, to the Ephesians, to the Philippians, to the Colossians, 1st to the Thessalonians, 2nd to the Thessalonians, 1st to Timothy, 2nd to Timothy, to Titus, and to Philemon The Epistle to Hebrews In French: In Arabic: The above mentioned 5 books weren't originally read in our Church or any of the Syriac Churches The 5 books are: ܐܶܓ݁ܪ̈ܳܬ݂ܳܐ ܕ݂ܬ݂ܰܪ̈ܬ݁ܶܝܢ ܕ݂ܦ݂ܶܛܪܳܘܣ. ܘܰܕ݂ܬ݂ܰܪ̈ܬ݁ܶܝܢ ܕ݁ܝܽܘܚܰܢܳܢ. ܘܕ݂ܰܬ݂ܠ̈ܳܬ݂ ܕ݁ܝܽܘܚܰܢܳܢ. ܘܕ݂ܺܝܗܽܘܕ݂ܳܐ ܐܰܚܽܘܗ̱ܝ ܕ݁ܝܰܥܩܽܘܒ݂ ܓ݁ܶܠܝܳܢܳܐ ܕ݂ܝܽܘܚܰܢܳܢ In English: The Epistles of 2nd Peter, 2nd John, 3rd John, and Jude brother of James The Revelation of John In French: In Arabic: Today's Peshitto includes the 5 books (for a total of 27 books), but they are marked as not being part of it; and appear with the catholic epistles between Acts and the Pauline epistles, with the exception of the book of Revelation which appears at the end. It also doesn't include John 7:53-8:11, The Pericope De Adultera This is a link to the Peshitto NT Peshitto -- This Copy is Based on a Syriac Maronite Manuscript (It lacks the 5 books as above mentioned) The Peshitto also has the OT books, which come from a pre-Christian time, and are based on a proto-Masoretic Text. This OT targum was the most favoured by the early Aramaic speaking Christians. This is a link to the Peshitto OT Peshitto Targum (With some extra books that aren't in the official OT) The Tetragrammaton "YHWH" is represented in the Peshitto and in our liturgical texts as "MorYo" "MorYo" is formed by "Mor" and "Yo", which means "Lord YHWH" (originally it was "MorYah") Out of respect we don't pronounce "YHWH", instead we use "MorYo" Yeshu' Msheeho (Jesus Christ) in the Peshitto is referred to as "MorYo" Ex: Luke 2:11 ܐܶܬ݂ܺܝܠܶܕ݂ ܠܟ݂ܽܘܢ ܓ݁ܶܝܪ ܝܰܘܡܳܢܳܐ ܦ݂ܳܪܽܘܩܳܐ܆ ܕ݁ܺܐܝܬ݂ܰܘܗ̱ܝ ܡܳܪܝܳܐ ܡܫܺܝܚܳܐ ܒ݂ܰܡܕ݂ܺܝܢ̱ܬ݁ܶܗ ܕ݁ܕ݂ܰܘܺܝܕ݂ ܡܳܪܝܳܐ ܡܫܺܝܚܳܐ: "MorYo Msheeho" What are the Maronite's usage requirements? The Peshitto is the only Bible that can be used during any Maronite liturgical celebration During the Readings: the reading should be first hymned in Aramaic, and then if required be translated to a vernacular (i.e. the translation is either done live or using an existing translation of the Peshitto text) Any translation from Aramaic into a foreign a language, has to be of the Peshitto's Aramaic text It is not permitted to change and/or adapt any readings of the Peshitto; and all translations have to be 100% faithful to the Peshitto text All Maronites should have a copy of the Peshitto in Aramaic Our ancestors placed a great deal of value on preserving it, and it is our responsibility to continue that Tradition which has existed since Apostolic times   Ranks and Hierarchies What is the hierarchal system of the Church? ܦܰܛܪܺܝܰܪܟܳ̊ܐ ܥܰܡ ܣܽܘܢܳܢܕܳܘܿܣ ܩܰܕܺܝܫܬܳܐ -- Patriarch with the Holy Synod What are the ranks and titles? ܦܣܰܠܛܳܐ ܪܫܺܝܡܳܐ ܐܰܘ̇ܟܺ̊ܝܬ̥: ܡܙܰܡܪܳܢܳܐ -- Psalmist ܩܳܪܽܘܿܝܳܐ -- Lector ܗܽܘܦܳܕܝܰܩܢܳܐ -- Subdeacon ܡܫܰܡܫܳܢܳܐ -- Deacon ܐܰܪܟܺ̊ܝܕܝܰܐܩܳܘܿܢ ܐܰܘ̇ܟܺ̊ܝܬ̥: ܪܺܝܫ ܡܫܰܡ̈ܫܳܢܶܐ -- Archdeacon ܩܰܫܺܝܫܳܐ -- Priest ܦܶܪܝܳܕܝܽܘܛܳܐ ܐܰܘ̇ܟܺ̊ܬ̥: ܣܳܥܽܘܪܳܐ -- Visitor ܟܽ̊ܘܪܳܝܳܐ -- Archpriest ܟܽܘܿܪܶܝ ܐܦܺܝܣܩܽܘܿܦܳܐ -- Chorbishop ܐܶܦܺܝܣܩܽܘܦܳܐ ܐܰܘ̇ܟܺ̊ܝܬ̥: ܪܺܝܫ ܟܳ̊ܗ̈ܢܶܐ -- Bishop ܡܶܛܪܺܝܦܳܘܿܠܺܝܛܳܘܿܣ ܐܰܘ̇ܟܺ̊ܝܬ̥: ܪܺܝܫ ܐܶܦܺܝܣ̈ܩܽܘܦܶܐ -- Metropolitan ܦܰܛܪܺܝܰܪܟܳ̊ܐ ܐܰܘ̇ܟܺ̊ܝܬ̥: ܪܺܝܫ ܪ̈ܺܝܫܳܢܶܐ -- Patriarch What are the territories of the Patriarch, Metropolitan, Bishops, and Chorbishop? ܟܽ̊ܘܪܣܝܳܐ ܦܰܛܪܺܝܰܪܟܳ̊ܝܳܐ: ܐܰܢܛܺܝܽܘܟ̥ܺܝܰܐ ܘܟ̥݀ܽܠܶܗ ܡܰܕܢܚܳܐ -- Patriarchal See: Antioch and all the East ܡܰܪܥܺܝܬܳܐ -- Eparchy: Numerous eparchies around the world   Structure of the Liturgies and Offices What does the name Qurbono mean? ܩܽܘܪܳܒ ܩܽܘܼܪܒܳܢܳܐ -- The Offering of the Sacrifice What is the structure of the Qurbono? What is the structure of the Fenqitho? What is the structure of the Hymns?   List of Major Synods and Councils   The Fasts of the Antiochan Syriac Maronite Church What are the names of the fasts? ܨܰܘܡܳܐ ܕ݂ܝܰܠܕܶ݁ܗ ܕ݁ܡܳܪܰܢ ܒܰ݁ܒ݂ܣܰܪ. ܠܰܐܪܒ݁ܥܺܝܢ ܝܰܘܡܺܝ̈ܢ In English: The Fast of the Birth of Our Lord in the Flesh, for forty days [Starts: 15 Nov.] In French: Le carême de la Nativité de Notre Seigneur selon la chair, pendant quarante jours [Commence: 15 nov.] ܒ݁ܳܥܽܘܼܬ݂ܳܐ ܕ݂ܢܺܝ̈ܢܘܳܝܶܐ. ܠܰܬ݂ܠܳܬ݂ ܝܰܘܡܺܝ̈ܢ In English: The Supplication of the Ninevites, for three days [Starts: 3rd Monday before Great Lent -- The tenth week before the Sunday of the Resurrection.] In French: La supplication des Ninivites, pendant trois jours [Commence: Troisième lundi avant le Grand Carême -- La dixième semaine avant le dimanche de la Résurrection.] ܨܰܘܡܳܐ ܪܰܒ݁ܳܐ. ܠܰܐܪܒ݁ܥܺܝܢ ܝܰܘܡܺܝ̈ܢ In English: Great Lent, for forty days [Excluding Saturdays and Sundays.] In French: Le Grand Carême, pendant quarante jours [Non compris les samedis et dimanches.] ܫܰܒܽܘܥܳܐ ܕܚܰܫܳܐ ܦܳܪܽܘܿܩܳܝܳܐ Passion Week of the Saviour [Which along with the forty days of Lent, form the 50 days of fasting] ܨܰܘܡܳܐ ܕ݂ܰܫܠܺܝ̈ܚܶܐ. ܠܚܰܡܶܫܬ݁ܰܥܣܰܪ ܝܰܘܡܺܝ̈ܢ In English: The Fast of the Apostles, for fifteen days [Starts: June 15] In French: Le Carême des Apôtres, pendant quinze jours [Commence: 15 juin] ܨܰܘܡܳܐ ܕ݂ܝܳܠܕ݁ܰܬ݂ ܐܰܠܳܗܳܐ ܡܰܪܝܰܡ. ܠܚܰܡܶܫܬ݁ܰܥܣܰܪ ܝܰܘܡܺܝ̈ܢ In English: The Fast of the Mother of God Mary, for fifteen days [Starts: August 1st] In French: Le Carême de la Mère de Dieu, pendant quinze jours [Commence: 1er août] ܨܰܘܡܳܐ ܫܰܒܬܳܝܳܐ ܕܰܐܪܒܥܳܐ ܒܫܰܒܳܐ ܘܕܰܥܪܽܘܼܒܬܳܐ The weekly fast of Wednesday and Friday Except between Christmas and Epiphany; and between the Resurrection and Pentecost. What are the dietry requirements? No meat, dairy products, fried food, or alcohol. Fasting Time? From sunset to midnight fasting foods. From midnight to sunset, no eating or drinking [This has been reduced to: from midnight to noon, no eating or drinking; and from noon to sunset fasting food.] Copyrighted © Beith Souryoyé Morounoyé! All rights reserved! (You may download the material and use it, but you may NOT sell it!) Any non-Beith Souryoyé Morounoyé copyrighted material is the property of its creator and as such its creator reserves all rights to the material! The information contained in outside links doesn't necessarily reflect those of Beith Souryoyé Morounoyé. Please consult the author of these materials for further information!