A Stormy Wednesday in Buenos Aires, And A Unique Church

Wednesday Walk

This is my first entry in Wednesday Walk, and I though I'd begin with this picture of a very unique church located just around the corner from my little apartment in downtown Buenos Aires. The area has several of these narrow little churches, custom designed to fit into the narrow parcel size. For a New World city, Buenos Aires is quite old, being founded in 1601, although a previous settlement of similar name was founded in 1536, and downtown real estate is hideously expensive.

The Red Cross

The Maltese Cross-like red symbol seen at the top of the picture above marks this church as Maronite, and it was founded by Lebanese immigrants well over 100 years ago. Maronite Christianity takes its name from Saint Maron, who founded the organisation in the 4th century. The Maronites are a sui iuris Christian church in full communion with the Pope and Worldwide Catholic Church. Today, Maronites make up the largest Christian sect in Lebanon, and have more real political power than either Shia or Sunni. Indeed, they are present in large numbers (~40-50%) in both of Lebanon's great political alliances, March 8 and March 14. But that's enough about Lebanese politics; a serious dissertation on that subject would take up a volume the size of War & Peace

Seals of History

These two seals are present on the wall of the school just to the left of the church shown above. The school itself is a square, box-like monstrosity about as architecturally interesting as a Soviet-era apartment building. But the seals tell a story. Lets start with the one on the left. The word "Colegio" does not mean college in Argentina, this is actually a K-12 academy as indicated by the words primaria and secundaria meaning primary and secondary education. The bit at the bottom says "Since 1902", and the seal in the middle shows the Maronite cross and the cedar tree which is Lebanon's national symbol.

The seal on the right shows a stylised version of the Maronite cross, and and says, "Lebanese Maronite Mission in Argentina, Centennial 1901-2001"

Both of the photographs above are, of course, my own original work, and never before published in any venue.