What is Radio Mariam?
On 3 June 1998 the “World Family of Radio Maria” was born as a non-governmental organization recognized by the United Nations.
In light of the suffering endured in the Middle East, leading to death and emigration, the “World Family of Radio Maria” wished to establish Radio Mariam, to sow mercy in the heart of a world that lacks mercy; to be a voice of hope, and life; a voice of prayer, culture and faith; a voice of evangelization and dialogue.
Live broadcasts began on 8 December 2015, for the feast of the Immaculate Conception and the opening of the Jubilee of Mercy.
Our mission is to bring the Good News of the Gospel to Arabic-speaking Christians, just as the Virgin Mary was present under her son’s cross, as a sign of hope for our brothers who suffer persecution and displacement.
Radio Mariam broadcasts from its head office in the Italian capital city of Rome, and has two offices with two mobile studios, one in Damascus and one in Aleppo, as well as a mobile studio in Jordan and two more in Egypt: in Luxor and Cairo.
Radio Mariam is supported by its listeners through prayer, sacrifices and donations and does not receive any financial support from private companies that could jeopardize its freedom.
- Aleppo Offices
Radio Mariam’s journey began in the city of Aleppo, Syria, with the broadcast of the Christmas Mass from the ruins of the Maronite Cathedral of Saint Elias in 2016. The offices were officially inaugurated in March 2019 with the blessing of His Excellency Yusef Tobji, the Maronite Archbishop of Aleppo.
- Damascus Offices
The idea of having offices and a mobile studio in Damascus came with the birth of our Arabic radio in Rome but became a reality at the end of 2018 with the blessing of His Excellency Mar Youhanna Jihad Battah, the Archbishop of Damascus for Syrian Catholics.
- Mobile studio in Jordan
The first mobile studio was created in Jordan in 2016, when the first solemn mass was broadcast from the Latin Church of the Sacred Heart on Palm Sunday, on the 24th of April 2020.
- Mobile studio in Luxor
With the blessing of His Excellency Mons. Emmanuel Ayyad, Archbishop of Tiba for Coptic Catholics in Luxor (Egypt), the first broadcast from the south of Egypt took place on the occasion of the ordination of Father Amjad Ezzat on 23 November 2019 in the Church of the Virgin Mary and Saint Daniel Comboni in Aswan.
- Mobile studio in Cairo
Broadcasting officially began on 13 May 2020, with an interview with His Excellency Monsignor Hani Bakhoum, Patriarchal Vicar for Patriarchal Affairs of the Diocese, who, during the interview, gave us his blessing.