Kfar Aaqab – Notre Dame De l’Annonciation

Notre Dame Bchouchi Church, Ghadir, Lebanon

Name in arabic:  كنيسة سيّدة البشوشة

City:  Harissa

District:  Keserwan

Governorate:  Mount Lebanon

History: 

كنيسة سيّدة البشوشة - بكركي

هي كنيسة الموقع الأوّل لدير بكركي قبل بناء الصرح الحاليّ. بناها الشيخ خطّار الخازن سنة ١٧٠٣ مع الدّير، وسكنه الرّهبان الأنطونيّون سنة ١٧٣٠. سلّم البطريرك يعقوب عوّاد الكنيسة والدّير والأملاك الى رهبان مار اشعيا برضى المشايخ الخوازنة ولا سيَّما الشيخ خطار، لكن بعد وفاة الشيخ خطّار، وقع الخلاف بين ولَدَيه، وبين الأنطونيَّين، فطردوا منه، وباعوا الدّير الى المطران جرمانوس صقر لقاء ٣٥٠٠ غرش، وذلك سنة ١٧٥٠، وأكملوا بهذا المبلغ دير مار يوحنا المعمدان - عجلتون. أمّا المطران صقر فجعل الدّير مقرًّا لأخويّة قلب يسوع التي أسّستها الراهبة هنديّة عجيمي، التي بدورها نقلت الدّير الى موقعه الحاليّ. ولم يبقَ من الدّير القديم سوى كنيسة سيّدة البشوشة، نسبةً الى ايقونة العذراء المتبسمة.

The chapel of Our Lady of Bchouche - Bkerke

The chapel was the church of the first monastery of Bkerke. It was built by Cheikh Khattar el Khazen in 1703, and the Antonine Maronite Order took the monastery as a residence in 1730. The monastery was eventually given to the order with a decree made by Patriarch Jacob Awad and the Sheikhs of the Khazen family. Nevertheless after the death of Sheikh Khattar there was a dispute between his sons and the Antonines, and the laters were forced to leave and sell the monastery to Bishop Germanos Saker in 1750 for 3500 Ottoman piasters, money that they used to accomplish St John’s monastery in Ajaltoun. Bishop Saker made Bkerke’s monastery a motherhouse for the new congregation of The Sacred Heard founded by Hindyeh Ojeimy. The congregation left the old monastery and built the current one nearby. Of the old monastery only the church persists. It is named Bshoushe meaning the Smiling Virgin.

Hamatoura Monastery, Karm Saddeh, Lebanon

Name in arabic:  دير رقاد السيدة - حمطورة

City:  Kousba

District:  Koura

Governorate:  North

History: 

On the northern side of the village of Kousba, is the monastery of Our Lady of Hamatoura, built in the rocky hollow of a high cliff which overlooks the holy valley of Kadisha. Hamatoura is 84km from Beirut.

The church of Saint Jacob is the most ancient part of the monastery, belonging to the 4th century, while a large cross from the 7th century rises above the outer doorway. Some quite well preserved frescoes dating back to the middle ages cover the walls of the church, one of which shows the Holy Virgin, Queen of Heaven, seated on a throne with the Child Jesus on her knees.

Near the monastery are two venerable churches, one dedicated to Saint Michael and the other to Saint John the Baptist. On the top of the hill one can see the church of St. George. Close by the monastery is a rocky cave where one may perceive the base of a stalagmite, where barren women come to pray in the hope of bearing a child, for this grotto was dedicated to the pagan goddess of fecundity.

Late in the 13th century, at Our Lady Monastery in Hamatoura, Saint Jacob began his ascetic life. Later, when the monastery was destroyed by the Mamlukes, he reestablished monasticism along the perimeter of the ruined monastery. In time, he rebuilt the monastery, regenerating and giving renewed vigor to monastic life in the area. His spiritual briskness, vivacity, and popularity among believers drew the attention of the Mamelukes who set their minds to stop his verve and determination and force him to convert to Islam. He stubbornly refused their relentless pressures. The Mamlukes killed him and burned the church. Today, believers and pilgrims are constantly reporting his apparitions, miraculous healings and other Grace-filled deeds.

Monastery Saint Maroun, Aannaya, Lebanon

Name in arabic:  دير مار مارون

City:  AAnaya

District:  Jbeil

Governorate:  Mount Lebanon

History: 

دير مار مارون - عنّايا
دير للرهبانيّة اللّبنانيّة المارونيّة إنتهى العمل من بنائه سنة ١٨٢٨. وبين سنتي ١٨٣٨ و١٨٤١ أُكمِل بناء الكنيسة وجميع الأقبية. هو دير مارونيّ تقليديّ بجميع أقسامه من حوش ومضافة وكنيسة صغيرة. إشتهر الدّير لأنّه مقام القدّيس شربل مخلوف الذي حوّله إلى محجّ ومزار.

The monastery of St Maroun Annaya
A monastery for the Lebanese Maronite Order built in 1828. The church and the vaults were completed between 1838 and 1841. It is a traditional maronite monastery with its vaults, cloister, reception room and small church. It was made famous by being the resting place of St Charbel Makhlouf who transformed it into a pilgrimage site.