...are divided into several sects, the origin and tenets of which the traveller may wish to know.

The Greeks.—These are the most numerous of the Christian sects. They are called Greeks (Rúm in Arabic) simply because they profess the Greek faith, and belong to the Greek or Oriental Church. They are, almost to a man, Syrians both by birth and descent; and there is not a trace either in their spoken language, or in the language of their public services, of any national affinity with the people of Greece. The total number of those who belong to the Greek Church in Syria and Palestine has been estimated at 115,000; while all the other Christian sects put together amount to 326,000.

The doctrines and ritual of the Greek Church in Syria are the same as in other countries. The principal points on which they differ from the Romish Church are:—1. The calendar. 2. The procession of the Holy Spirit.  3. The exclusion of images from sacred buildings (pictures are freely admitted, if not too like life). 4. The rejection of a purgatory. 5. Communion in both kinds. And 6. The marriage of the secular clergy. In almost all other respects, the doctrines and ritual are like those of Rome.  The homage paid to pictures, saints, and angels; the superstitious rites and ceremonies statedly practised; and the disgraceful orgies of the celebrated “ oly Fire,” prove but too clearly that the Greek Church has fallen as far from apostolic purity as her Western sister.

The Greek Church in Syria is divided into the two Patriarchites of Antioch and Jerusalem. They are nominally independent, but virtually under the control of the Primate of Constantinople. The jurisdiction of the Patriarch of Antioch, who usually resides at Damascus, extends from Asia Minor to Tyre; and includes (in Syria) the eight bishoprics of Beyrout, Tripoli, Akkâr, Laodicia, Hamâh, Hums, Saidnâya, and Tyre.  The Patriarchite of Jerusalem includes the whole of Palestine, and the country east of the Jordan; and has under it the following bishoprics :— Nazareth, ’Akka (Acre), Lydda, Gaza, Sebaste, Nâbulus, Philadelphia, and Petra. Among these the bishop of ’Akka is the only prelate who resides in his diocese; all the others are in the convent at Jerusalem. The patriarch generally remains at Constantinople.

The Greeks enjoy the privilege of having their religious worship conducted in their own language, a privilege denied to every other sect in Western Asia except the Greek Catholics. It is unfortunate, however, that nearly all the higher clergy are foreigners, and few of them learn to speak the Arabic language. They all look to Russia as their natural protector, and Russian gold is profusely expended in the erection and decoration of their sacred edifices, and in the support of schools. There is no college in Syria for the education of the Greek clergy; and the parish priests are selected from among the laity, with no other fitness for the sacred office than that which the ceremony of ordination confers. They must all be married men, and many of them still continue their trades or ordinary occupations after their appointment to the priestly office.

The Syrians, or Jacobites, originally separated from the Eastern Church, on account of Monophysite heresy. The Syriac language, though not now understood by the people, is still used in the Church services. Their acknowledged head is the patriarch, who resides in Mesopotamia. Their numbers in Syria are very small. The village of Sûdûd, three days’ journey N.E. of Damascus, may be regarded as their head-quarters. From this place they have sent out little colonies to Hums, and to several villages in the surrounding country. There are also a few families in Damascus, Nebk, Kuryetein, Hamâh, and Aleppo. They are looked upon by all the other sects as heretics, and because they are few and poor they are generally despised; but they are a brave and industrious community.

The Maronites. —This sect originated during the Monothelitic controversies of the 7th century. A monk, called John Maron, who died in 701, was the great apostle of this heresy among them, and they consequently received his name. In the year 1180 they renounced their Monothelitism, and submitted to the authority of the Pope, since which time they have been characterised by an almost unparalleled devotedness to the see of Rome. In order to increase the influence of Rome among them, a college was founded in that city by Gregory XIII., for the education of a select number of their youth, who should afterwards return to their native land to occupy important stations in their church. The two celebrated Oriental scholars and authors, J. S. and J. A. Assemanns, were Maronites, trained in the College of the Holy See.

It is somewhat remarkable, however, that a church so devoted to the interest of the Papacy should differ in some important points from the Latin ritual. The ecclesiastical language of the Maronites is wholly Syriac; the name of their patron saint, Maron, is not found in the Roman calendar; they have their own distinct Church establishment; and every candidate for the priesthood, who is not already under the vow of celibacy, is permitted to marry before ordination.

The Maronites are found in small communities in all the large towns from Aleppo to Nazareth; but they are at home in Lebanon. This mountain range they inhabit more or less throughout its whole extent, but their great stronghold i is the district of Kesrawán. The Druzes are their hereditary foes, owing chiefly to the wicked policy of the Turkish government. They are superior in daring and united action to the Maronites, though the latter have the advantage in numbers; their community being estimated at 220,000 souls. The patriarch is selected by the bishops, but receives his robe of investiture from Rome. His usual residence is the convent of Kanobin, in the romantic glen of the Kadisha, a few miles below the Cedars.  The number of Maronite convents is greater in proportion to the people than is found in any other sect in. Christendom. Lebanon is the home of monkery. There are altogether 82 convents, containing about 2000 monks and nuns, and enjoying a revenue of some 70,000l. sterling per annum! The instruction of the people, and of the great body of the clergy, is as deficient as in most other Christian sects in this land. For a select few of both classes, a college has been established at 'Ain Warkah in the Kesrawân, which takes a higher stand than any other native institute in Syria. The Maronites are brave, independent, and industrious; and their native mountains, though steep and rugged, are the garden of Syria.  But they are illiterate and superstitious, and their clergy thus exercise an almost unlimited sway over them both in politics and religion.

The Papal Schismatic Churches are generally called the Greek-Catholic (or Melchite) and the Syrian-Catholic. These have both sprung from the missionary efforts of Romish priests and Jesuits during the last two centuries. As the object has been to gain partisans, more pains have been taken to obtain nominal submission to the authority of the Pope than any real change of doctrine and ritual. The Greek-Catholics have their own Patriarch of "Antioch and all the East,” as he is somewhat pompously styled, who is elected by the superior clergy. They take, indeed, the Occidental view of the procession of the Holy Spirit, believe in purgatory and the Pope, and eat fish in Lent; but otherwise they have been subjected to no change in passing from one jurisdiction to another. They still retain their Arabic service, their Oriental calendar, their “communion in both kinds,” and their married clergy. This sect embraces a large number of the most enterprising and wealthy Christians in Syria, and possesses considerable influence. Their late Patriarch Maximus was a talented politician, given to intrigue like all Orientals, and not over-scrupulous as to the means employed. The community numbers about 40,000, of whom the greater part are in Damascus, Aleppo, and Beyrout.