Shalita, who is also known as Artimius, was born in the fourth centuryAD. He achieved high rank in the Roman army and was eventually given responsibility for the Roman troops who were stationed in Egypt. He remained a faithful Christian despite the danger of losing his position and even his life. He was summoned before the emperor in Antioch for having destroyed the temples and idols of the pagan gods. It is said that his body was taken to Constantinople by Arista, who was a deaconess of the church in Antioch.

O Mary, you who are called the Cedar of Lebanon, look down upon your children who today and always beg your guiding hand. Grant us the faith to withstand the sweeping blows of life as the cedar stands strong against the wind. Develop in us the hope of the resurrection. Dear Mother, increase our love: the love we should have for the Blessed Trinity, our filial love for you, and the love for our neighbor: not in theory, but in solid prayer and practice. We now kneel at your feet, dear Lady, begging for your blessing and beseeching your intercession to your Divine Son for all our church and government authorities, for ourselves, all our relatives and friends, and especially for peace in Lebanon and throughout the world.

 Our Lady, Queen of Lebanon, America, and the Universe, pray for us.

Rouhanna was born at Corinth 446AD and became a monk in Palestine under the direction of Saint Euthymus. He became the superior of his monastery and was a model for all because of his piety, wisdom and exhortations. He died at the age of 107. Many churches and monasteries in Lebanon are dedicated to him. May his prayers protect us. Amen.

September 26: Feast of St. John the Evangelist

John began as a disciple of John the Baptizer. Later he became a follower of Jesus and his beloved disciple. During the Last Supper it was John who rested his head on the chest of the Lord and followed him up to the cross. May his prayers be with us. Amen.

From the Synaxarion for John the Apostle, Maronite Prayer of the Faithful

Lord Jesus, make us worthy to celebrate the exaltation of your glorious cross with sacred hymns and psalms. When you appear on the last day and the sign of your cross will shine brighter than the sun, gather us before you, and surround us with your eternal light, that we may raise glory and thanks to you, to your Father, and to your Holy Spirit, for ever.

The Flight of the Lord Jesus to Egypt

Hail to you, O blessed angel who accompanied the Savior and defended Him from all misfortune!
Hail to you, O virgin who cared for the virgin, the daughter of the Father and spouse of the Holy Spirit!
Hail to you, O luminous star in the heavenly Church; you guide her children along the right path!

September 14, 2025: The Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross

Blessed are you, O hold wood of the cross, symbol of power and honor;
Blessed are you, O cross of Christ, raised in our churches and at the head of our processions as a sign of victory.

Proclamation from the Exaltation of the Cross morning prayer, Maronite Divine Office

September 8: Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary

O Lord, through the prayers of your Mother, keep away from the earth and its people the devastation of wrath and all dangers, dissension, war, famine, and epidemics. Have compassion on us, heal the sick, help the poor, save the oppressed, grant rest to the faithful departed who have left us and gone to you, and make us worthy of a safe and peaceful death, that we may raise glory to you, to your Father, and to your Holy Spirit, for ever.

September 1, 2025: Saint Simeon the Stylite

When Simeon set to work on his pillar, he dug deep foundations; for the deeper the foundations, the higher the building will rise. Simeon’s foundation was prayer, austerity and constant penance. Unbelievers were converted by his preaching. A monastery and city grew up around his pillar. What was once a desert wasteland became a sanctuary of prayer and devotion for multitudes. He healed the sick, reconciled the angry, brought peace to the troubled and demanded justice for the poor and imprisoned. When he was censured for his extravagant way of life, he pointed to the praying crowds below and said “God has put to use even my foolish extravagance.”

From the Sedro of the Feast of Saint Simeon, the Younger, Fenquitho.

John, who declared the truth of God’s commandments before Herod was privileged to point to the incarnate Truth, Jesus Christ, and call the people to follow him. John died in the fidelity to God’s truth. Jesus, who is the Way, the Truth and the Life, died to reconcile us to the Father and each other. May the prayers of John the baptizer be with us.

August 15: The Feast of the Assumption of the Virgin

Ancient tradition tells us and our own faith assures us of what the Church has solemnly proclaimed: the Virgin Mary has entered, body and soul, into heaven. After her death the Virgin Mother of God, without undergoing corruption, has entered heaven, by a special privilege of God, with her body glorified as was her Son’s. As God had preserved her from the stain of original sin, made her a mother and yet preserved her as a virgin, so also has he brought her to himself in her integral human nature of body and soul.

May our Virgin Mother intercede for us and may her prayers protect us. Amen.

From the Synaxarion for the Assumption of the Virgin, Maronite Divine Office.

August 6, 2025: The Transfiguration of Our Lord

In the night on Mount Tabor Jesus showed himself as Lord. Like the sun shining brightly, his face brightens all the world.

Shout with Joy from the mountains. "Jesus showed himself as Lord." Offer praise to the Lord God. his face brightens all the world.

July 23, 2025 — The Feast of Saint Sharbel

Sharbel spends his nights awake until his eyes meet the light of dawn; in his heart he carries the heart of the world which longs for the heavenly light. Alleluia, what a wonderful hope!

“With your tears, you irrigate the earth,” said the Lord to Adam in Paradise. Sharbel irrigated the earth with his blood, melting himself like a candle. Alleluia, how blessed is he!

He is a saint from among us, from the heights of the cedars and the hearts of the rocks. O Sharbel, intercede for us; the Lord gave you the glory of Lebanon. Alleluia, protect Lebanon!

Psalm of the Readings, Maronite Divine Liturgy for Saint Sharbel, Fenqitho.

July 17, 2025: Feast day of Saint Marina

The life of man in patience is gained as the Bible says. And everyone who is patient until the end is given the crown. Hence we see in Saint Marina a proof. She has gained the glory of joy through grace-filled patience.

She saw the world as a heaving sea of punishment, With the seafarers shipwrecked, overcome by evil consequences. And that the monastic life is the safe port and the achiever of hopes. Her spirit became captivated with love for the life of a hermit to calm the mind.

“We do not fear the one who kills the body…
a crown is prepared for us in heaven,…
we have our souls … and we do not wish
to lose them, we are Christians and we wish
to die as Christians.

Proclamation by Francis Massabki before his martyrdom, Jule 10, 1860

Jesus Christ our Lord, you are the radiance of the Eternal Father. You enlightened the world with your divine teachings and filled it with knowledge through the simplicity of your apostles. Make us worthy to praise you as we celebrate the feast of your chosen apostles Peter and Paul. By their witness, may we come to understand your hidden mysteries and keep your life-giving commandments, that we may be made worthy to share in their happiness. We raise glory and thanks you you, to your Father, and to your Holy Spirit, for ever.

Come in peace, Mediator of the two testaments. You perfected them both, for the old was yours to complete, and the new was yours to announce.

Come in peace, prophet and apostle. For truly you are the last of the prophets and the first among apostles.

Come in peace, great priest. Your birth was greeted with signing and dancing, and with a dance and a song, your martyr’s crown was won.

Who can fully comprehend God as Holy Trinity? So great is this mystery far beyond our scrutiny! The Father, before all time, begot the Son, the Eternal Word. The Begotten Son took flesh from the holy Virgin’s womb. The Spirit was sent to give courage and perfect. All creation worships him, the Lord of all in three persons, one true God.

O God, enlighten our understanding with the rays of your Holy Spirit, and awaken our souls from the sleep of selfishness. May your rich gifts come upon us this morning, as they came upon the apostles in the upper room of Sion; we shall be strengthened by them and give witness to you today, all the days of our lives, and for ever.
Amen.

Morning Prayer for the Feast of Pentecost, Maronite Divine Office.