350 Maronite Martyrs

In the year 451 A.D. the Council of Chalcedon was convoked by Byzantine emperor Marcian. The council resulted in the Chalcedonian Definition regarding the nature of Christ which professed Dyophysitism. While the Maronites accepted the council, other groups would reject the council such as the Miaphysites, who would go on to become the Oriental Orthodox Churches, and the Monophysites. The monastery of Beth-Maron near Apamea would go on to become the main center of Maronite and Chalcedonian doctrine, much to the dismay of the Monophysites living nearby. In 517, Maronite monks who were on their way to the Church of Saint Simeon Stylites were ambushed and attacked at Kaprokerameon (modern day Kafr Karmīn, Syria) by a Monophysite army sent by the Non-Chalcedonian Byzantine emperor Anastasius. Even the monks who took refuge at altars were slain and many monasteries were burnt with havoc ensuing throughout the night. ==Letters==

Following the massacre, the monks of Beth-Maron wrote a letter to Pope Hormisdas which mentioned the martyrs stating: Hormisdas responded on 10 February 518 stating: The Latin and Greek texts of these letters are preserved in the Collectio Avellana as letters 139 and 140. ==Church==

On 2 August 2025, the Maronite Church of Saint Maroun and the 350 Martyrs was consecrated and inaugurated by archbishop Hanna Rahmé, in Deir Al-Ahmar, Lebanon, with its first Mass being held on 3 August 2025. The church was built by the Maronite monks of Beit Maroun. ==See also==