Antelias – The Church of St. Elijah

Church, who was baptized by St. Charbel, Bqaa Kafra, Lebanon

Name in arabic:  كنيسة سيّدة الإنتقال القديمة

City:  Bqaa Kafra

District:  Bcharre

Governorate:  North

History: 

كنيسة سيّدة الإنتقال القديمة - بقاع كفرا

الكنيسة القديمة يعود تأسيسها إلى نحو سبعمئة عام، تتميّز بالصليب المثلث الأطراف الموجود على عتبة بابها الرئيسيّ، وأيقونة السيّدة التي تعود للقرن السادس عشر، وجرن العماد القديم حيث قبل مار شربل سرّه الأوّل. لم يتوقف اهل هذه البلدة يومًا عن صلاة الفرض الإلهيّ حتى خلال فصل الشتاء القارس، اذ بنوا دهليزًا تحت الارض يصل البيوت بالكنيسة، ولكنّ معظمه قد سقط.
سنة ١٩٢٥ دُعِّم العقد القديم ليتحمّل الكنيسة الجديدة فوقه.

The old church of Our Lady of Assumption - Bekaa Kafra

The old church was built in the XIVth century, it holds a medieval three branched cross on her tympanum. The church also holds the baptismal font of St Charbel, a XVIth century icon of the Madona and ruined catacombs that the local used to get to church during harsh winters to pray the office.
In 1925 the new church was built on top of the old one. To accommodate this renewal the old vault was reinforced changing the medieval allure of the old church.

Deir Saydet el Natour, Hraiche, Lebanon

Name in arabic:  سيدة الناطور

City:  Enfeh

District:  Koura

Governorate:  North

History: 

The convent’s ancient origin is attached to a legend. A rich man of the region committed adultery; filled with remorse, he attached a padlocked iron chain to his ankle and threw the key into the sea-shore and survived on the fish brought to him by local fishermen, who called him the guardian of the cavern. One day, a fisherman brought him a fish, in whose entrails the hermit found the key of the padlock. He knew then that God had delivered him from his suffering, and he built a convent above the cavern. He dedicated it to The Mother of God, but it also took the name of the Guardian.

The daily life of the convent is regulated by the flow of visitors who come to fulfill vows and make prayers. Sister Catherine al-Jamal is the principal resident of Dayr al-Natour, and she has done everything within her power to restore it.

According to the Crusader document, the Monastery of the Presentation of Our Lady Natour was built by Cistercians. Indeed, the Church interior resembles that of the Cistercian Church of Balamand, built in 1157. Otherwise, the history of Dayr al-Natour is hidden in obscurity, although it is said that the local Orthodox community took it over after the departure of the Crusaders. Its name is almost unmentioned by historical sources during the Mamluk and most of the Ottoman period, although it is reported that French corsairs attacked the Monastery at the beginning of the eighteenth century and killed a monk.

In 1838, the Ottoman authorities gave permission to the Monastery to be rebuilt. In the second half of the nineteenth century, it contained several monks and a superior, and it possessed fifteen dunums of land. During the First World War, it was bombarded by a Russian ship. A few years later, the Monastery lost its last Superior, Basilios Debs, who became Archbishop of Akkar. After his departure, monastic life ended at Dayr al-Natour.

During the twentieth century, the deserted monastery became a refuge for shepherds from the neighboring regions. In 1973, Sister Catherine al-Jamal moved to Dayr al-Natour and began to restore it from its ruin.

Our Lady of Bsharri Church, Bsharri, Lebanon

Name in arabic:  كنيسة السيّدة

City:  Bcharreh

District:  Bcharre

Governorate:  North

History: 

كنيسة السيّدة - بشرّي

لما ازداد عدد سكّان بشرّي اواخر القرن الثامن عشر، طلب الاهالي والمشايخ من البطريرك يوسف التيّان، بناء كنيسةٍ جديدةٍ في بشرّي، فبنوا كنيسةً على اسم السيّدة العذراء. أوتي بِبَنّائَين من حلب لبناء الكنيسة. سنة ١٨٧٥، عُيِّن الخوري يوسف عريضه رئيس كهنة بشري، وكيلاً على كنيسة السيدة، وقد أضاف الى البناء القديم جناحًا للجهة الجنوبيّة، كما شيّد مدرسة في الجهة الشرقية. مذبح الكنيسة الرئيسيّ أهداه الى الكنيسة يوسف بك كرم سنة ١٨٦٩. كذلك ضمّت الكنيسة مصلوبًا قدّمه الخوري أنطون عريضه الأوّل من مدرسة ميكل انج. سنة ١٩٧٠ بُنيت الكنيسة بشكلها الحاليّ في عهد البطريرك بولس بطرس المعوشي: نمط بازيليكيّ بثلاث أروقة، وزيّنها بالجداريّات الفنّان أسعد رنوّ.

Our Lady Church - Bcharre

As the population of Bcharreh experienced a notable increase in the late eighteenth century, both the local community and the sheikhs approached Patriarch Youssef Al-Tyan with a request to construct a new church in Bcharre. Consequently, a church was erected in honor of the esteemed Virgin Mary. In order to bring this vision to fruition, two skilled builders were sourced from Aleppo to undertake the construction of the church. Subsequently, in the year 1875, Youssef Arida, a prominent clergyman in Bcharre, was appointed as the custodian of Our Lady Church. Under his stewardship, a wing was added to the existing structure on the southern side, and a school was erected on the eastern side. The principal altar within the church was generously donated by Youssef Bey Karam in 1869. Additionally, Father Anton, in his first entreaty from Mikkeleng School, contributed a crucifix that became an integral part of the church. Then, in 1970, during the reign of Patriarch Boulos Boutros Al-Maoushi, the church was reconstructed in its present form—a magnificent basilica-style edifice featuring three aisles. Notably, the gifted artist Asaad Ranno adorned the interior with captivating murals, further enhancing its aesthetic appeal.