Amshit – The church of St Barbra

Hermel, Lebanon

Name in arabic:  دير مار مارون على نهر العاصي

City:  Hermel

District:  Hermel

Governorate:  Baalbek-Hermel

History: 

The monastery of St Maroun on the Orontes - Hermel

The monastery was originally a natural cave consisting of three sections, it was expanded by Roman builders working in nearby stone quarries. It is situated above Ain El Zarqa, one of the sources of the Orontes River, and connected to the river via a corridor carved into the mountainside. This was used to fetch water and provide a hiding place during enemy attacks. In the VIth century, Maronite monks sought refuge in the cave after facing persecution in northern Syria, where their monastery was destroyed and its contents dispersed. The monks expanded the cave and carved an altar, turning the cave into a new monastery. This marked the beginning of the Maronite migration to the mountains of Lebanon along the Orontes River. Over time, the monastery was neglected and became an abandoned farm. In 2011, it was visited by Patriarch Bechara Boutros Al-Rahi and has since been restored in 2018, returning to the Maronite Church. The monastery serves as a testament to the spread and perseverance of the Maronite Church in the Levant.

Saint Edna مار ادنا, Ain Aakrine, Lebanon

Name in arabic:  كنيسة مار إدنا

City:  Ain Aakrine

District:  Koura

Governorate:  Mount Lebanon

History: 

كنيسة مار إدنا - عين عكرين

تقوم كنيسة مار إدنا في خراج بلدة عين عِكرين. بنيت على عِدَّة مراحل على أنقاضٍ رومانيّة قديمة. فهي بسوقٍ واحدٍ بعقدٍ سريريّ يحتوي على حنيَّة مُكوَّرة، وثلاثة قناطر في الجدار الجنوبيّ. على الحائط الشماليّ، بقايا جِداريّة، تعود الى القرون الوسطى . في الكنيسة لوحة نادرة لمار إدنا مرسومة على النحاس، كما وجد في داخلها بقايا رومانيّة. ومار إدنا هو لقب سريانيّ لمار طراخونبوس وهو شهيد من القرن الثالث وشفيع الأذن.

The church of St Edna - Aïn Ekrin

The ancient church stands in the vicinity of Aïn Ekrin built several stages over roman ruins. It consist of one nave with a crib vault, ending with a semi circular apse. The southern wall consists of three arched windows. The church holds a rare icon of St Edna painted on copper, and many roman poteries. The church also holds a medieval fresco. Edna is a Syriac nickname given to St Trakhonios, a Third century martyr, and the patron saint of ears.

Rocher Saint Antoine De Padoue, Mayrouba, Lebanon

Name in arabic:  كنيسة مار أنطونيوس البادواني عين التنّور

City:  Mayrouba

District:  Keserwan

Governorate:  Mount Lebanon

History: 

كنيسة مار أنطونيوس البادواني عين التنّور - ميروبا

هي كنيسة صغيرة ووقفيّة خاصة لآل الخازن. كرّسها المطران أنطون الخازن أواسط القرن التاسع عشر ككنيسة تابعة لدير بقلوش. تضم الكنيسة لوحة غربيّة لمار أنطونيوس وتاج من نقود غربيّة هي نذور المغتربين من أبناء البلدة. البناء قديم وهو عقد سريريّ ينتهي بحنية نصف دائريّة.
The church of St Anthony of Padua Ain el Tannour - Mayrouba

The church is a small private chapel for the Khazen family. It was consecrated by Bishop Antoun el Khazen in the mid XIXth century as a dependency of the monastery of Baqloush. The church holds a western painting of St Anthony and a rare crown made by coins presented as ex votos by the village’s first expats. The structure is old, consisting of a crib vault with a semi circular apse.