[Kolokotronis]

I'm sure it will be a great joy to your parish to have the bishop visit and he certainly does have an excellent reputation, and not just among the Maronites, I might add. Just a couple of comments, though. First, the "two lungs" image the Pope uses has been rejected by Orthodoxy as a "misdescription" of the Churches in the East and the West, though they are sister Churches, all being "particular" Churches within The Church, though in schism. Second, don't you think the Patriarch and the bishop look very Roman in their Latin vestments?

[Destro]

All I know is history teaches that the church pre schism - while different for each culture was the same in its teachings. So priests could marry in East and West. Christ's nature same east and west north and south. I still don't get how Latin clergy are not allowed to marry but Eastern Catholics clergy can. How is this policy seperation is tolerated? I know an Orthodox from Egypt or Palestine of Greece can go to a Siberian of Alaskan church and understand the universe - catholic - he is in - cultures different - the easter eggs get treated different - but the religion is the same. That is what was lost in the great schisim...the catholicism.

[Siobhan]

They actually aren't entirely Latin vestments though the untrained eye would see them as such. I don't have time to explain in full, but look beyond the mitre and the rest of the vesture is not Latin at all but truly Maronite.

[NYer]

don't you think the Patriarch and the bishop look very Roman in their Latin vestments?

These Bishops probably look more familiar to you. They come from the Byzantine, Melkite, Ruthenian, and other Eastern Catholic Churches.

Eastern Rite Bishops

Siobhan is correct. The Maronite vestments are much less elaborate.