Ghalboun – The church of our Lady of Hawsh

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.

Saydet l bzez - سيدة البزاز, Behdaidat, Lebanon

Name in arabic:  كنيسة مار اسطفانوس - بحديدات

Year built:  1200

City:  Behdaydat

District:  Jbeil

Governorate:  Mount Lebanon

History: 

كنيسة مار إسطفانوس رئيس الشمامسة وأوّل الشهداء - بحديدات
هي بقايا لكنيسةٍ أثريّةٍ مكرّسة على اسم مار إسطفانوس، بُنيت على أنقاض رومانيّة أواسط القرن الثاني أو الثالث عشر. تتميّز بشكلها الدائريّ.

The ruins of St Stephen’s church in Bhdeidat belong to and old medieval church that dates back to the twelfth or thirteenth century. The church is built on top of roman ruins, and it is unique with its rotunda shape

Aintourine, Lebanon

Name in arabic:  كنيسة سيّدة الشير

City:  Aintourine

District:  Zgharta

Governorate:  North

History: 

كنيسة سيّدة الشير - عينطورين

هي كنيسة على سفح الوادي المقدّس، بُنيت في القرن الثاني عشر، واتّخذها الأسقف تادروس مقرًّا له إلى يوم وفاته سنة ١٥٠٢ بحسب البطريرك الدويهيّ. بقيت الكنيسة فترةً طويلة مُهملة إلى أن رُمّمت في ستينيّات القرن العشرين.

The church of our Lady of the Cliff - Aintourin

The church is built on the cliff side of the Holy Valley. The church was built in the XIIth century and was made an episcopal residence by Bishop Tadros until his death in 1502, according to Patriarch Douweihy. The church was left abandoned for a long time and restored during the sixties.