Our Lady Of Lebanon Maronite Church
7164 Alaska Avenue N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20012
Posted on 02/25/2005 6:55:52 PM PST by NYer
BEIRUT, Lebanon - Lebanon's Maronite bishops said the country had a chance to regain its sovereignty, especially if its citizens showed unity before parliamentary election in May.
"There are signs indicating that Lebanon will recover all its rights, if the Lebanese know how to show solidarity to accompany the international momentum now favoring them," the bishops said in a statement issued Feb. 2, at the end of their monthly meeting.
"The present situation requires that all Lebanese - especially Christians - unite their ranks regardless of who wins this or that seat" in the elections, the bishops said. "The Lebanese cause is greater than seats and posts."
The bishops' statement also called for Lebanese expatriates to have the opportunity to vote in May parliamentary elections. The bishops cited the example of the recent Iraq elections, in which Iraqi emigrants in 14 countries were allowed to vote. Lebanese expatriates do not currently have the right to vote in the elections of their homeland.
"May that possibility ... be afforded to Lebanese emigrants to exercise this electoral right," the bishops said.
Because Lebanese Christians outside of Lebanon greatly outnumber their Muslim counterparts, observers have noted that their votes could change the balance in their favor. Of Lebanon's population, roughly 33% is Christian.
U.N. Resolution 1559, sponsored by the United States and France and issued in September, calls for Lebanon's elections to be free of foreign interference and seeks the withdrawal of all foreign troops in the coutry and the disbanding of all militias.
The day after the resolution was issued, the Lebanese Parliament endorsed a Syrian-orchestrated constitutional amendment extending the term of Lebanese President Emil Lahoud, widely perceived as a puppet of Syria.
In December, Christians and Muslims formed a unified opposition group.
The group declared that the "only way to have an effective government, respected by the world, is to give the Lebanese their dignity and rights, by letting them choose their leaders and by having parliamentary elections - honest and free."
This statement is what motivated me to transcribe the story from The National Catholic Register. Please do all possible to broadcast and spread this message to the Lebanese communities throughout your communities.
I think the most stunning thing I have seen lately was the protester who was carrying a Cross in one hand and a Koran in the other. It's amazing to see Christians and Muslims marching together for freedom in Lebanon.
Ping for our Lebanese brethern.
It has been said that if anyone can pull together Christians and Muslims, it is the Maronites. (wish I had a link to that statement).
The Maronite Catholic Church dates back to the apostles who brought the 'good news' to Antioch. Archaeologists have discovered the ancient ruins of Maronite Churches constructed directly over Jewish Synagogues. The Maronite Divine Liturgy is one of the oldest in the Catholic Church, and includes Anaphoras written by St. James. The liturgy is one of only 2 that retains the use of Aramaic, the language of our Lord, Jesus Christ, His blessed mother and the apostles. Attending liturgy at a Maronite Catholic Church is like steping back through the centuries. The Consecration is in Aramaic, using the words and language of our Lord at the Last Supper. Awesome!
Done! Thank you.
It is not possible to pull together Christians and Muslims - save to the extent that the latter renounce their beliefs. Whoever made the statement may have been well-intentioned but is living under a grave illusion.
That would be interesting to see. got a pic or link?
No, there were several pictures on the web a couple of days ago, but unless someone save one to their server they'd be pretty hard to find now.
The Maronite Divine Liturgy sounds wonderful! If I ever get to one, I might never leave the church when it was finished! I'll have to check and see if there are any in the DC metro area, I'm sure there are!
Our Lady Of Lebanon Maronite Church
7164 Alaska Avenue N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20012
Thanks!
I've been to that church a few times for their St. Charbel novena. It's small, but they have a wonderful community. They're building a new church, which in my personal opinion, is ugly.
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