The Mountains of Lebanon
The Cup of Freedom
(1268 A.D. — 1516 A.D.)
The leader rings the bell.
He blows out the second small candle.
The child asks:
What happened to the Maronites in the mountains of Lebanon?
The leader responds:
There were many attempts to hurt their hope:
During the Crusades (1096 A.D.-1292 A.D.), the Maronites established strong relationships with France
and the Pope of Rome. They were no longer isolated; but after the defeat of the crusaders:
1. Between 1268 A.D. and 1283 A.D., the Mamlooks attacked the strongholds of the Maronites, sowing
destruction in Ehden, Bsharre, Hadath el-Jibbet, Miefook, and other villages. They captured the
Patriarch Daniel El Hadsheeti and sent him to his death.
2. Between 1291 A.D. and 1305 A.D., the Mamlooks destroyed Keserwan, killing thousands of people.
3. The Maronites had to learn how to survive and protect their freedom; but in 1357 A.D., they became
divided against themselves: The Maronites of Byblos-Batroun against those of Bsharre.
The child says:
God says that when we are divided against ourselves and break the commandment of love, He will
deliver us to our enemies and scatter us over the earth.
The leader says:
That’s exactly what happened. The Mamlooks invaded Byblos and Batroun, destroyed their villages, and
burned their Patriarch, Gabriel Hejoula, alive in 1367 A.D. In that time, many people escaped to Cyprus,
and the Maronites lost their freedom.[22]
In 1440 A.D., the Maronite Patriarchate moved from Miefook to Wadi Qannoubine, also known as Wadi
Qadisha or the Valley of the Saints.
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