Lehfed – The church of St Stephen

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.

Saint Nohra and saint sophia (مار نوهرا), Kfar Mashoun, Lebanon

Name in arabic:  كنيسة مار نوهرا ومارت صوفيا

City:  Kfar Mashoun

District:  Jbeil

Governorate:  Mount Lebanon

History: 

كنيسة مار نوهرا ومارت صوفيا - دملصا

هي كنيسة بخوروسين تعود للعصر البيزنطيّ. تحوي الكنيسة على نقوش صلبانٍ وآثار جداربّات من القرون الوسطى. من هذه الكنيسة خرج البطريركان يوحنّا الدملصاوي في القرن الثامن وإرميا الدملصاوي (١٢٨٢-١٢٩٧). رُمّمت الكنيسة سنة ١٩٩٩.

The Church of St. Nouhra (Logius) and St. Sophia - Dmalsa

It is a double-choired church that dates back to the Byzantine era. The church holds cross engravings and the remains of medieval frescoes. From this church, two patriarchs were given to the Maronite community: Youhanna Dmolsawi in the VIIIth century and Ermia Dmolsawi (1282-1297). The church was restored in 1999.

St Georges Church, Bane, Lebanon

Name in arabic:  كنيسة مار جرجس

City:  Bane

District:  Bcharre

Governorate:  North

History: 

كنيسة مار جرجس - بان

هي كنيسة بان الرعائيّة، بُنيت أوائل القرن التاسع عشر موضع كنيستين صغيرتين على اسم مار اسطفان والأخرى على إسم مار نوهرا أقدم عهدًا، وبقي أثر أعتاب هاتين الكنيستين في الواجهة الحاليّة، وكرّس المذبحين الجانبيّين لشفاعة هذين القدّيسين. الكنيسة نمطها بازيليكيّ بثلاث أسواق تنتهي بثلاث مذابح رخاميّة نمطها نيوغوطيّ. رمّمت الكنيسة عدّة مرّاتٍ آخرها في العام ١٩٢٤ حين أخذ مدخل الكنيسة شكله الحاليّ، مع مدخلٍ جنوبيٍّ برتاجٍ ضخم. أواسط القرن العشرين تمّ بناء القبّة وهي من تصميمٍ إيطاليّ.

The church of St George - Bane

St George is the parish church of Bane, built in the XIXth century, over the ruins of two older smaller churches dedicated to Sts Stephen and Nohra. The entablature of the old churches were inserted into the new building, and the two side altars were dedicated to both saints respectively. The church is basilical with three naves ending with three marble neo gothic altars. The church was restored many times the last being in 1924 with the grand southern entrance and portico. In the mid XXth century the bell tower was added by an Italian architect.