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November 19, http://www.tribtimes.org
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William Zambrano MD
Nov 18, 2024, 2:56:15 PM11/18/24
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Tribulation Times
(Mat 15:21-22) And Jesus went from thence, and retired into the coast of Tyre and Sidon. And behold a woman of Canaan who came out of those coasts, crying out, said to him: Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou son of David: my daughter is grievously troubled by a devil.
NEWS REPORT: Caught Between Conflicts, Lebanon’s Christians Resist Displacement and Division
ACN: Bombs, rising tension, and exhaustion take their toll on the Lebanese people
As Israel’s military campaign in Lebanon continues, those who have been displaced by the bombings and the ones hosting and caring for them are showing signs of physical and psychological exhaustion, says Marielle Boutros, project coordinator for the pontifical foundation Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) in Lebanon.
“At the moment, we have 1.5 million displaced people: that is one in every four citizens in the country, mostly concentrated in the Mount Lebanon region. They are welcomed in shelters, such as schools, churches, retreat centers, or private houses. They need everything — food, medication, water, clothes, sanitary products — because they left their houses very quickly and didn’t take things with them,” she explains.
With many of the refugees fleeing to Christian areas, local dioceses have been on the front line of providing assistance. However, with no state-level planning in sight, this generosity risks depleting financial and material supplies, which have already been strained by years of financial crisis, aggravated by political deadlock and the explosion at the Beirut Port in 2020. “The Church had a very quick response and is still welcoming the people with a large smile and lots of charity, but although they are doing a great job, you can feel that they are tired, because this didn’t start on September 22nd. It started a long time before,” Boutros says.
“They were already struggling with their missions, but we should not forget that they lost their savings in the 2019 financial crisis, and despite this, they have continued with most of their other pastoral services, and they have salaries to pay. It is really overwhelming, especially if you consider the amount of work and the fact that they have no fixed income.”
“The people welcoming the IDPs are tired because of the work and the lack of resources, but the IDPs are also very tired, far from their homes, with greater needs, angry and afraid. So, fatigue is very noticeable now and will escalate even more, between those welcoming and the IDPs.”
On the other hand, she explains, there is a serious concern that rising tensions between people, and especially between different religious groups, could set the stage for future conflicts in Lebanon.
X: Christianity was introduced to Lebanon in 1st Century AD. Tradition states that it was brought to Lebanon by St Peter and St Paul, and there has been a continuous Christian presence in the country since then.
Lebanon, then part of the Roman Empire, was one of the first places Christianity spread to in the first century AD. Sidon, on Lebanese coast, is mentioned in Acts (27:3). It is where St Paul (then a Roman prisoner) was allowed ‘to go to his friends so they might provide for his needs’, possibly indicating a very early Christian presence.
St George’s Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Beirut was said to have first been built by Eusebius of Nicomedia, Bishop of Berytus (modern-day Beirut), who died in 341 AD, although the current building is much later. But it’s the Maronite Church that has had the biggest influence in Lebanon and its history. In 4th Century, Maronite Christians (followers of St Maron, an aesthetic monk from Syria) moved into Lebanese mountains and began converting the population. Their monasteries in Kadisha Valley are some of oldest in the world and Maronite Church is largest Christian presence in Lebanon today.
Although part of Catholic branch of the church, it developed independently and has a unique character. Maronite community lived for many centuries in seclusion of Lebanese mountains, largely cut off from Rome (and rest of church). They and other indigenous Christian communities (Greek and Syriac Orthodox), resisted assimilation with Arab conquerors, who moved into Levant in 7th Century, and maintained a significant level of autonomy.
During 11th-12th Centuries, Crusaders briefly established Western Christian rule in region. Before they were driven out by the Muslim army, they built several churches and castles, including St John-Marc Cathedral in Byblos, and reestablished contact with Maronite church. Congregationalists and Presbyterian churches began to appear after Protestant missionaries arrived in Lebanon in around 1820s, and first Baptist congregation was founded in Beirut in 1895, but their numbers have remained small.
More significant in terms of numbers are Armenian Christians. Many fled to Lebanon during the Armenian Genocide in 1915, bringing with them their unique Christian heritage. Armenians are considered to be the world’s first Christian nation, when King Dirtad III converted to Christianity in 301 AD. By 1926 there were 75,000 Armenians in Lebanon, many concentrated around Beirut. Today this number has risen to around a quarter of a million. For much of Lebanon’s history the indigenous Christian community and larger Muslim community have lived in relative harmony. Notable exceptions being 1860 Mount Lebanon Druze-Maronite conflict and the Lebanese Civil War (1975-1990). Power-sharing agreements between Christians and Muslims have been part of Lebanese politics since at least 19th Century and Christians continue to play a significant role in government and culture of Lebanon today.
Today, Christians in Lebanon face an existential crisis, as their country increasingly has become controlled by Hezbollah terrorists who answer to Iran, prompting a mass exodus. Over the years, Lebanese Christians have faced multiple attacks, now they also face a new threat in the form of a rapidly declining proportion in relation to the Islamic element in the country. Many “unfortunately now feel like strangers in their own home country,” Maronite priest Jad Chlouk said in 2021. “This is negatively affecting the whole Christian community, because it is losing most of its brightest and best, and especially its young people, who are supposed to be the future of the Christians here. Hence, the number of Christians in the country is decreasing day by day, and this is badly affecting the situation and causing still more pressure for those who remain, in a situation where they might soon suffer from persecution.”
MORE
Ten Most Impressive Historical Monasteries in Lebanon
Ten things to know about the Catholic Church in Lebanon
Greek Orthodox Cathedral of Saint George: The Oldest Church in the City of Beirut
The Desert Fathers: sayings of the Early Christian Monks: Humility
38. He also said, 'If a man stays in his own place, he will not be troubled.'
"Have ANY Catholic Question? Just ask Ron Smith at: hfmin...@roadrunner.com
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READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: https://bibleinayearonline.com/november-oyb/?version=63&startmmdd=0101
November 19, 2024(Mat 15:21-22) And Jesus went from thence, and retired into the coast of Tyre and Sidon. And behold a woman of Canaan who came out of those coasts, crying out, said to him: Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou son of David: my daughter is grievously troubled by a devil.
NEWS REPORT: Caught Between Conflicts, Lebanon’s Christians Resist Displacement and Division
ACN: Bombs, rising tension, and exhaustion take their toll on the Lebanese people
As Israel’s military campaign in Lebanon continues, those who have been displaced by the bombings and the ones hosting and caring for them are showing signs of physical and psychological exhaustion, says Marielle Boutros, project coordinator for the pontifical foundation Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) in Lebanon.
“At the moment, we have 1.5 million displaced people: that is one in every four citizens in the country, mostly concentrated in the Mount Lebanon region. They are welcomed in shelters, such as schools, churches, retreat centers, or private houses. They need everything — food, medication, water, clothes, sanitary products — because they left their houses very quickly and didn’t take things with them,” she explains.
With many of the refugees fleeing to Christian areas, local dioceses have been on the front line of providing assistance. However, with no state-level planning in sight, this generosity risks depleting financial and material supplies, which have already been strained by years of financial crisis, aggravated by political deadlock and the explosion at the Beirut Port in 2020. “The Church had a very quick response and is still welcoming the people with a large smile and lots of charity, but although they are doing a great job, you can feel that they are tired, because this didn’t start on September 22nd. It started a long time before,” Boutros says.
“They were already struggling with their missions, but we should not forget that they lost their savings in the 2019 financial crisis, and despite this, they have continued with most of their other pastoral services, and they have salaries to pay. It is really overwhelming, especially if you consider the amount of work and the fact that they have no fixed income.”
“The people welcoming the IDPs are tired because of the work and the lack of resources, but the IDPs are also very tired, far from their homes, with greater needs, angry and afraid. So, fatigue is very noticeable now and will escalate even more, between those welcoming and the IDPs.”
On the other hand, she explains, there is a serious concern that rising tensions between people, and especially between different religious groups, could set the stage for future conflicts in Lebanon.
X: Christianity was introduced to Lebanon in 1st Century AD. Tradition states that it was brought to Lebanon by St Peter and St Paul, and there has been a continuous Christian presence in the country since then.
Lebanon, then part of the Roman Empire, was one of the first places Christianity spread to in the first century AD. Sidon, on Lebanese coast, is mentioned in Acts (27:3). It is where St Paul (then a Roman prisoner) was allowed ‘to go to his friends so they might provide for his needs’, possibly indicating a very early Christian presence.
St George’s Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Beirut was said to have first been built by Eusebius of Nicomedia, Bishop of Berytus (modern-day Beirut), who died in 341 AD, although the current building is much later. But it’s the Maronite Church that has had the biggest influence in Lebanon and its history. In 4th Century, Maronite Christians (followers of St Maron, an aesthetic monk from Syria) moved into Lebanese mountains and began converting the population. Their monasteries in Kadisha Valley are some of oldest in the world and Maronite Church is largest Christian presence in Lebanon today.
Although part of Catholic branch of the church, it developed independently and has a unique character. Maronite community lived for many centuries in seclusion of Lebanese mountains, largely cut off from Rome (and rest of church). They and other indigenous Christian communities (Greek and Syriac Orthodox), resisted assimilation with Arab conquerors, who moved into Levant in 7th Century, and maintained a significant level of autonomy.
During 11th-12th Centuries, Crusaders briefly established Western Christian rule in region. Before they were driven out by the Muslim army, they built several churches and castles, including St John-Marc Cathedral in Byblos, and reestablished contact with Maronite church. Congregationalists and Presbyterian churches began to appear after Protestant missionaries arrived in Lebanon in around 1820s, and first Baptist congregation was founded in Beirut in 1895, but their numbers have remained small.
More significant in terms of numbers are Armenian Christians. Many fled to Lebanon during the Armenian Genocide in 1915, bringing with them their unique Christian heritage. Armenians are considered to be the world’s first Christian nation, when King Dirtad III converted to Christianity in 301 AD. By 1926 there were 75,000 Armenians in Lebanon, many concentrated around Beirut. Today this number has risen to around a quarter of a million. For much of Lebanon’s history the indigenous Christian community and larger Muslim community have lived in relative harmony. Notable exceptions being 1860 Mount Lebanon Druze-Maronite conflict and the Lebanese Civil War (1975-1990). Power-sharing agreements between Christians and Muslims have been part of Lebanese politics since at least 19th Century and Christians continue to play a significant role in government and culture of Lebanon today.
Today, Christians in Lebanon face an existential crisis, as their country increasingly has become controlled by Hezbollah terrorists who answer to Iran, prompting a mass exodus. Over the years, Lebanese Christians have faced multiple attacks, now they also face a new threat in the form of a rapidly declining proportion in relation to the Islamic element in the country. Many “unfortunately now feel like strangers in their own home country,” Maronite priest Jad Chlouk said in 2021. “This is negatively affecting the whole Christian community, because it is losing most of its brightest and best, and especially its young people, who are supposed to be the future of the Christians here. Hence, the number of Christians in the country is decreasing day by day, and this is badly affecting the situation and causing still more pressure for those who remain, in a situation where they might soon suffer from persecution.”
MORE
Ten Most Impressive Historical Monasteries in Lebanon
Ten things to know about the Catholic Church in Lebanon
Greek Orthodox Cathedral of Saint George: The Oldest Church in the City of Beirut
The Desert Fathers: sayings of the Early Christian Monks: Humility
38. He also said, 'If a man stays in his own place, he will not be troubled.'
Prayer request? Send an email to: PrayerR...@aol.com
"Have ANY Catholic Question? Just ask Ron Smith at: hfmin...@roadrunner.com
This month's archive can be found at: http://www.catholicprophecy.info/news2.html.
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