Haiyatah – The Church of St Maroun

Church Mar Maroun, Tripoli, Lebanon

Name in arabic:  كنيسة مار مارون

City:  Trablous Ez-Zahrieh

District:  Tripoli

Governorate:  North

History: 

كنيسة مار مارون - طرابلس

بُنيت الكنيسة وسط مدينة طرابلس سنة ١٩٥٦ في عهد المثلث الرحمات المطران أنطون عبد، صمّمها المهندس الإيطاليّ بيار أريكوني. نمطها بازيليكيّ بشكل صليب لاتينيّ وقبّة، مع برج ساعة في مقدّمها. تتميّز الكنيسة بمذابحها من رخام الكرارة الإيطاليّ وهي من عمل مؤسسة شبطيني الطرابلسيّة. كذلك تتميّز بالأثاث البيعيّ الغربيّ الطراز. رمّم البناء سنة ٢٠٠١ بسعي المثلث الرحمات المطران يوحنا فؤاد الحاج.

The church of St Maroun - Tripoli

The church was built in 1956 during the pontificate of Archbishop Antoun Abed. It was designed by the italian architect Pierre Ariconi according to a latin cross basilical plan with a transept and a dome. The church holds a bell tower with a clock on the western front. The church interior has a neo gothic style with carrera marble altars made by the Chabtiny association from Tripoli. The church aslo holds western style church furnishings. The building was restored in 2001 during the pontificate of Archbishop Youhanna Fouad el Hajj.

NOTRE DAME NOURRICIÈRE كنيسة سيدة البزاز, Beit Chabeb, Lebanon

Name in arabic:  كنيسة سيّدة البزاز

City:  Beit Chabab

District:  Metn

Governorate:  Mount Lebanon

History: 

كنيسة سيّدة البزاز - بيت شباب

بنتها عائلة غبريل سنة ١٨٣٥ في حيّ بيت الزعرور. تجدّدت سنة ١٨٧٥ وأعيد تكريسها على يد المطران نعمة الله سلوان سنة ١٩٠٦. في الكنيسة لوحتين مريميّتين الأولى هي العذراء المرضعة لداوود القرم تعود لسنة ١٨٨٢، والثانية أقدم عهدًا غير موقعة. ولوحة لمار الياس عمل حبيب سرور سنة ١٨٨٨، وأخرى لمار يوسف بلا توقيع.

The church of our Lady of the Milk - Beit Chabab

The church was built by the Ghobril family in 1835 in the area known as Beit el Zaarour. In 1875 it was renewed and reconsecrated by Bishop Nematullah Selwan in 1906. The church holds two marian paintings: the first by Dawoud El Qorm from 1882 representing the breastfeeding mother, the second one is older and not signed. It also contains a painting of St Joseph not signed, with another of St Elias by Habib Srour from 1888.

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.