John Maron

John Maron I. († 707 ) was the first Maronite Patriarch. He is venerated as a saint. His feast day is March 2.

His father was Ahathon, Governor of Sarum and Anohamia, his grandfather was Prince Alidiopas. He studied mathematics, natural sciences, philosophy, theology, linguistics, and Sacred Literature in Antioch and in the St. Maron Monastery. He also joined the Order and participated in the nickname Maron.

He then studied Greek and Patristic in Constantinople Opel. After his return, he wrote several works on pedagogy, rhetoric, the sacraments, the administration of church property, legal texts and liturgy. He wrote Eucharistic prayers, which still bear his name. As a teaching and preacher, he told the council of Chalcedon Catholic dogma, he wrote to the believers a series of letters against Monophysitism and Monothelitism. He then traveled to Syria to interpret its doctrines against heresy.

In the year 676 he was bishop counter for Lebanon with the order where the heresy and the unity of the Maronites to consolidate the imperial church. He supported the Christian believers during the Muslim invasion.

The Maronites large segments of maraditischen army, the so-called Brass Wall, who defended Constantinople Opel and the Byzantine Empire against the Muslim expansion. In the year 685 the Maraditen John Maron elected as Patriarch of Antioch and All the East. John got the approval of Pope Sergius I, and thus he became the first Maronite Patriarch.

The Byzantine Emperor Justinian II feared the growing power of maraditischen army. He was upset that for the appointment of John Maron patriarch his consent was not sought. He sent his army to beat the Maraditen and arrest John. However, it was the army to win the battle, being beaten Antioch and the monastery was destroyed. 500 monks were killed, John was able to flee to Lebanon. When he followed Justinian's army, which Maraditen beat them under the leadership of John nephew Ibrahim. In Lebanon, John founded the monastery in Reesh Moran in Kefer Hay in Lebanon and moved its headquarters Patriarch there. The Maraditen encapsulated away from the neighboring population, which is reflected in the fact that they are not mixed with other groups.