Two questions on Maronites

[Ádám Gacsályi-Tóth]

Dear All,

I recently received Suermann's excellent book on early Maronite history in this group, but there are two questions that remain obscure to me, perhaps someone can help me out:

1. The first mention of John Maron: at the beginning of the book, Suermann states that the first mention of John Maron in a historical source dates to the 10th century, and this is what I've seen in other publications as well, which specifically name Eutychius as the first witness to the name. However, they do not indicate where or what Eutychius says of John Maron. Later in his book, Suermann says the oldest testimony referring to John Maron as patriarch is from 1402. Perhaps I did not pay close enough attention but I do not know how to reconcile these statements. If someone knows what Eutychius says exactly, that might clarify it (I'm assuming Eutychius simply mentions his name, without identifying him as a patriarch?)

2. Maronite migration to Lebanon: Suermann touches on this issue once (unless, again, I missed something), when he briefly presents two traditions: one holds that they migrated to Lebanon around 900 because of Muslim persecutions, while the other claims it occured much earlier, around 685, because of Byzantine persecutions. Other publications simply cite one or the other tradition, but I have not found any modern study that attempts to reconcile these accounts or attempts to provide more insight.

Any suggestion would be appreciated.

Thank you,

Adam

[hilar...@bluewin.ch]

Dear Adam,

Have you consulted Mouannes Hojairi's Writing the History of Mount Lebanon. Church Historians and Maronite Identity (AUC Press 2021)? It is relevant to the questions you ask.

Good luck!

Hilary

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[Harald Suermann / Uni Bonn]

Dear Adam 

Eutyches mentions a Maron, whom Moosa identifies as John Maron. I reject this theory. Eutyches’ account of the origins of the Maronites is highly questionable and contradictory.

1402 is the date of the oldest extant manuscript concerning John Maron. The text could be much older.

Ibn Qulai is the oldest source that reports on the life of John Maron. See the recent research by Joseph Moukarzel, Gabriel Ibn al-Qila’i (+ ca. 1516), Kaslik 2007.

The tradition regarding John Maron or Maron John as the first Maronite patriarch is extremely complicated, especially since manuscripts have been corrected over time in accordance with the “Maronite tradition.”

In my discussion of the migration, I cited the date 685 as Duwaihy’s opinion, but I did not endorse it; rather, I rejected it. The migration around 900 is presented as Al-Qula’i’s opinion. I did not express my own view on the possible migration, but merely presented the opinions of others.

I hope that helps you

Harald (the author of the book)

-- 
              apl. Prof. Dr. phil. Harald Suermann
  Institut für Orient- und Asienwissenschaften - Universität Bonn,
Europäische Akademie der Wissenschaften und Künste: Klasse Weltreligionen
            Georges-Anawati-Stiftung (Vorstand)


Anschrift:
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www.suermann.info
www.christian-orient.eu

Am 13.03.26 um 11:09 schrieb Ádám Gacsályi-Tóth:

[Ádám Gacsályi-Tóth]

Dear Hilary,

Thank you for suggesting this book, I will definitely consult it.

Best regards,

Adam

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/nascas/1225999002.5277661.1773409266393%40email.bluewin.ch.

[Ádám Gacsályi-Tóth]

Dear Mr. Suermann,

I really appreciate that you took the time to help me. I rely primarily on your book for early Maronite history in my forthcoming dissertation, and now all is clear.

Thank you,

Adam

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/nascas/34baa78f-769e-4cfa-a237-71e9cf29281b%40uni-bonn.de.