The socio-ecclesial identity components of the Maronite Church: a comprehensive study

The Maronite Church is a prominent Catholic Church in the Middle East that holds a significant position within the Lebanese religious and social landscape. Despite its rich history and unique religious identity, the Maronite Church, residing in the Middle East but with a worldwide expansion, has rem...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Mirna Abboud Mzawak, Rudy S. Younes, Clara Moukarzel
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2025-01-01
Series:Church, Communication and Culture
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/23753234.2025.2473100
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Summary:The Maronite Church is a prominent Catholic Church in the Middle East that holds a significant position within the Lebanese religious and social landscape. Despite its rich history and unique religious identity, the Maronite Church, residing in the Middle East but with a worldwide expansion, has remained unexplored from a socio-ecclesial perspective. In this research, we attempt to fill this gap by examining the social derivatives of the Maronite Church and Maronity, elucidating their socio-cultural and socio-ecclesiastical dynamics. Thus, through a literature review and mixed-method approach, we explored the symbols, foundational figures, religious values, and identity components of Maronity. Furthermore, we analyzed how the affiliated community and clergy of the Maronite Church perceive these components. The findings underscore the centrality of asceticism, activism, and Syriac heritage, among other elements, within the Maronite church. The study also highlights challenges and emphasizes the need to integrate the findings into the Church’s practices.
ISSN:2375-3234
2375-3242