A rite embodies a church, its traditions and the way in which the sacraments are performed and celebrated. There are four main places of rites: the Roman one, the Alexandrian one, the Byzantine one and the Antiochian one. From these four main groups derive more than 20 liturgical rites present today. Rites are distinct faith communities with their own tradition, theology, liturgy, spirituality, law and hierarchy. However, all the rites of the Catholic Church are one in the same profession of beliefs, in the same hierarchical conjunction and in the same celebration of the 7 sacraments. The Church of Antioch is originally from Syria and for this reason it is considered an apostolic see having been founded by Saint Peter (the first pope). The Maronite rite derives from the Antiochian tradition. The ancient Maronites were direct relatives of humans who received faith from the apostle Peter. Around 400 AD a group of Christians gathered around Maron, a hermit monk, on the sides of Mount Cyr, near Antioch, Syria. Little is known about Maron other than knowledge of hi...