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Reply To: In what ways did indigenous Christians shape Lebanon’s history? What did you find most interesting about these communities?

#4922
AvatarCatharine Kavanagh
Participant

I loved learning about the role of the Maronites in creating modern Lebanon, and how far back their roots go both in the Church and geographically; it is sad & tragic that their desired expansion of territory – for good reasons – ultimately set in place pieces which have contributed to today’s fractured Lebanon. I wasn’t aware of how long & prosperous Lebanon’s golden age was, and the continuous important roles that Christians played in government and in society. Charles Malik’s contributions as Ambassador to the US & as Foreign Minister were so significant both for the Near East and globally and I suspect that most people in the West would be surprised to learn that he was a Christian. Personally, I also appreciated learning more about his vibrant faith life in the First Things article, specifically his quote about thanking Jesus for His Cross, which was a beautiful witness and really insightful perspective.