Hassroun – The church of St Laby the Apostle

Holy Family Convent - Congregation of Maronite Sisters of the Holy Family, Aabrine, Lebanon

Name in arabic:  دير راهبات العائلة المقدّسة المارونيّات

City:  Aabrine

District:  Batroun

Governorate:  North

History: 

دير راهبات العائلة المقدّسة المارونيّات - عبرين

سنة ١٨٩٦ غادرت الأم المؤسِّسة لراهبات العائلة المقدّسة روزالي مع راهباتها من مدرسة بطرس شحادة في جبيل إلى عبرين لتداعي البناء وحاجته للترميم. وشاءت العناية الإلهيّة ان تتدبّر الأموال بيد المطران (البطريرك المكرّم) الياس الحويّك، لشراء بيت ومزرعة واكد الشيخاني في عبرين وتحويلها إلى دير ومدرسة، مع كنيسة ذات زجاجيّات مميّزة، وقبوٍ معقودٍ تحتها، هو مرقد البطريرك الآن. والقبو مزيّن بجداريّات يوسف الحويّك. أصبح دير العائلة المقدّسة الدير الأمّ للجمعيّة وأصبحت الراهبات تُعرفن براهبات عبرين.

The Holy Family’s convent - Ibrin

1896 was a pivotal year for Mother Rosaly the new superior general of the new Maronite congregation of the Holy Family, as the nun moved from Boutros Shehade’s school in Jbeil to the farm estate of Waked el Shikhany in Ibrin. In his diaries Bishop Elias Howayek (later Venerable Patriarch) relates how the money for the purchase was due to the Divine Providence’s intercession. Bishop Howayek transformed with the nuns the estate into a convent with a school and a beautiful church with stained glass windows, and a crypt with Youssef el Howayek’s frescoes (the only Lebanese art deco style paintings). The crypt is also the resting place of Patriarch el Howayek. Since its construction, the convent became the mother house of the Holy Family’s nuns and they are widely known as the Nuns of Ibrin.

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.

Saint Michael Convent, Antelias - Bikfaiya Road, Lebanon

Name in arabic:  (ساقية المسك) دير مار ميخائيل - بحرصاف

Year built:  1740

City:  Bhersaf

District:  Metn

Governorate:  Mount Lebanon

History: 

بنى دير مار ميخائيل مشايخ آل بليبل سنة 1740. تسلَّمت الرهبانيَّة اللبنانيَّة هذه الوقفيَّة من الشيخ عبد الأحد بليبل، في تشرين الثاني 1756، بموجب صكٍّ مكتوبٍ وموقَّعٍ ومصدَّقٍ، لكي "تعلِّم الأولادَ وتفيد القريبَ... والأنفس حسب الإمكان"... شيَّدت الكنيسة الجديدة، سنة 1905. وبدأت، سنة 1997، ورشة ترميمٍ للكنيسة وإلباسها حلَّةً جديدة. يتابع دير مار ميخائيل رسالتَه الثقافيَّة بالإضافة إلى نشاطاته الرعويَّة.

The Monastery was built by the Bleibels a feudal lords family in 1740. It was put under the custody of the Lebanese Maronite Order by Sheikh Abd el Ahad Bleibel in 1756, in a decree that widens the mission of the monastery to education and pastoral work.
The church was rebuilt in 1905. And since 1997 the monastery was renewed to continue the mission.