Blat Byblos – The church of St Elias

Jrebta, Lebanon

Name in arabic:  كنيسة مار يوحنّا الحبيب

City:  Jrabta El-Batroun

District:  Batroun

Governorate:  North

History: 

كنيسة مار يوحنّا الحبيب - جربتا

سنة ١٨٦٥ شيّد الخوري يوحنّا جرجس بصبوص مدرسةً على اسم مار يوحنّا الحبيب في محلّة الضهر معاد، وجعل لها كنيسةً صغيرةً بعقدٍ مُصالب. أُوقفت المدرسة والكنيسة للرهبانيّة اللبنانيّة المارونيّة سنة ١٨٩٥ بُغية تحويلها لدير راهباتٍ مُحصّنات. قبلت الرهبانيّة الوقفيّة سنة ١٨٩٧ وصادق عليها البطريرك يوحنّا الحاج. سنة ١٩٠١ رقد الخوري يوحنّا بالربّ ودُفن في كنيسته. رُمّمت الكنيسة سنة ٢٠٠٣ ونُقل إليها مذبح دير مار يوسف القديم وهو من عمل الأخوين بصبوص من راشانا.

The Church of St. John the Apostle - Jrabta

The church was constructed in 1865 to serve as a chapel for St. John's School, which was established by Father Youhanna Gerges Basbous. The school was handed over to the Lebanese Maronite Order in 1895 and was transformed into a nunnery. The donation was accepted by the order in 1897, and the decision was authorized by Patriarch Youhanna el Hajj. In 1901, Father Basbous passed away and was buried in the chapel. The church underwent restoration in 2003, during which the magnificent marble altar of St. Joseph's Monastery, a masterpiece carved by the Basbous brothers, was installed.

Saint Challita church, Qatlabah, Lebanon

Name in arabic:  دير مار شليطا

City:  Qbaiyat Aakkar

District:  Akkar

Governorate:  Akkar

History: 

دير مار شليطا - القبيات

يقع الدّير في منطقة وادي حلسبان، في الأصل كان البناء معبدًا رومانيًّا للإله بان إله الرعيان والمواشي. حوّله الأهالي إلى كنيسةٍ بيزنطيّة على اسم القدّيس شليطا (أرتاميوس) شفيع الحيوانات والمواشي، إشارةً إلى تحوّلهم من الوثنيّة. بقي الدّير مُهملاً فترةً طويلةً، فآل إلى الخراب. خلال تسعينيّات القرن العشرين رُمّم الدّير، لكنّ الترميم أزال قسمًا كبيرًا من معالمه. أصبح الدّير اليوم مقصدًا للسيّاح ومحجًّا.

The monastery of Chalita - Kobayyat

The monastery is located in the valley of Helesban. The building was a roman temple dedicated to Pan the god of shepherds. The temple was converted into a church during the byzantine era and was dedicated to St Chalita (Arthemius) the patron saint of animals and heards. After the middle ages, the monastery fell into ruins for along time. The structure was restored in the last decade of the XXth century, yet the restoration destroyed many of the original elements. The monastery became a pilgrimage site.

جبل الرحمة الالهية, Ghosta, Lebanon

Name in arabic:  دير المخلص الكريم

City:  Ghosta

District:  Keserwan

Governorate:  Mount Lebanon

History: 

دير المخلص الكريم - غوسطا

سنة ١٧٠٨ وصل ثلاثة رهبان أرمن إلى لبنان لتأسيس رهبانيّة أرمنيّة، فأوقف لهم الشّيخ صخر الخازن، أراضًا في وادي غوسطا سنة ١٧١٦. فأنشىء الرهبان إكليريكيّة وامتدّ بناء الدير والكنيسة إلى سنة ١٧٣٣. سنة ١٨٦٥ اشترى الخوري يوحنّا حبيب (المطران لاحقًا)، الدّير من الرّهبان الأرمن حيث انتقل هؤلاء إلى بزمّار، وأسّس جمعيّة المرسلين اللّبنانيّين في الدّير مع العديد من الكهنة وفي مقدَّمهم الخوري إسطفان قزاح، الرّئيس العام الأوّل. إهتمّ الكريميوّن ووسّعوه.. وقد كان هذا الدّير ملجأً للعديد من المهجّرين والمشرّدين والجياع والهاربين من ظلم السّلطات العثمانيّة. خضع البناء لعدّة عمليّات ترميم كان آخرها سنة ٢٠١٣. كان الدّير مركزًا للرّئاسة العامّة للجمعية حتّى العام ١٩٢١، وهو حاليًّا ديراً للابتداء، توجد فيه كنيسة المُخلّص وتحوي لوحةً زيتيّةً قديمة،، تدعى "الثّالوث المتألّم"، ولوحة أخرى أرمنيّة للميلاد. وفي الكنيسة أيضًا مدافن عائدة إلى كلّ من المطران يوحنّا الحبيب مؤسّس الجمعيّة، والخوري اسطفان قزاح رئيسها العام الأوّل، والمطران شكرالله خوري، .

The Holy Savior Monastery - Kreim Ghosta

The monastery was established in 1708 by three Armenian monks who arrived in Lebanon with the intention of creating an Armenian monastic order. Located in Wadi Ghosta, Lebanon, the monastery's history is intertwined with various events and figures over the centuries. In 1716, Sheikh Sakhr al-Khazen granted the Armenian monks lands in Wadi Ghosta, enabling them to establish their monastic order. The construction of the monastery and church complex took several decades, finally extending until 1733. It served as a seminary, providing education and spiritual guidance to the community. Fast forward to 1865, and the ownership of the monastery changed hands. Father John Habib, who later became a Bishop, purchased the monastery from the Armenian monks. With this transaction, the Armenian monks relocated to Bzommar, and Father John Habib initiated the Lebanese Missionaries Congregation within the monastery. Many priests were part of this association, and Father Stephen Qazah became its first superior general. Throughout its history, the Holy Savior Monastery played a crucial role in the local community. It served as a refuge for the displaced, homeless, hungry, and those seeking refuge from the oppression of the Ottoman authorities. The monastery experienced several periods of restoration to preserve its historical significance and structural integrity. The last restoration took place in 2013, ensuring that the monastery continued to stand as a testament to its enduring history and cultural importance. The Holy Savior Monastery, historically serving as the center of the general presidency of the association until 1921, has evolved into a monastery dedicated to novices in the present day. Nestled within its walls is the sacred Church of the Savior, housing cherished relics from the past. One of the notable treasures preserved within the church is an ancient oil painting named "The Suffering Trinity." This artwork carries profound emotional depth and holds a place of reverence within the community, reminding all who behold it of the timeless spiritual journey. Adding to the artistic splendor, another precious possession within the church is an Armenian painting depicting the Nativity. This painting enriches the spiritual ambiance of the sanctuary, reflecting the shared heritage and faith of those who seek solace and inspiration within its halls. Moreover, the church stands as a memorial to the esteemed figures who have shaped the legacy of the monastery and the association it represents. The burials of Bishop Youhanna Al-Habib, the visionary founder of the Lebanese Missionaries Association, Father Estephan Qazzah, the dedicated first general president, and Bishop Shukrallah Khoury, a revered spiritual leader, grace the church grounds. As the monastery continues to embrace novices and nurture their spiritual growth, it remains an enduring symbol of devotion, compassion, and hope. The presence of these sacred artifacts and burials serves as a constant reminder of the monastery's illustrious past and the profound impact it has had on the lives of those who seek solace and enlightenment within its sanctuary.