Mar Boutros – Paroisse de la Transfiguration

Sayedat El Reaayeh - Church, Aaqoura, Lebanon

Name in arabic:  كنيسة السيّدة الرعائيّة

City:  Aaqoura

District:  Jbeil

Governorate:  Mount Lebanon

History: 

كنيسة السيّدة الرعائيّة - العاقورة

بنيت الكنيسة الأولى على أنقاض هيكلٍ رومانيّ كرّس للزهرة، أواسط القرن الخامس عشر، وكانت كنيسةً كبيرة حَوَت مكتبة مخطوطات مهمّة. رُممّت الكنيسة وجُدّدت عدّة مرّات لكنّ الكنيسة القديمة هُدُمت أواسط القرن العشرين لتبنى الكنيسة الحاليّة الأكبر. تحوي الكنيسة على بيت قربان رخاميّ من أثر الكنيسة القديمة، كذلك العديد من اللوحات المحليّة العائدة للقرنين السابع والثامن عشر.

The Parish church of Our Lady - Aqoura

The church was built over a roman temple dedicated to Venus, in the mid XVth century. The church had a rich manuscript library. It was restored many times, yet the old church was destroyed in the mid XXth century to make space for the new bigger church. The church holds the marble tabernacle of the old one and a collection of locally made paintings dating back to the XVIIth and XVIIIth century.

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 Joseph Church, Bteddine El Loqch, Lebanon

Name in arabic:  كنيسة مار يوسف

City:  Btedine El-Leqch

District:  Jezzine

Governorate:  South

History: 

كنيسة مار يوسف - بتدين اللقش

بنيت الكنيسة الأولى أوائل القرن التاسع عشر وكانت صغيرةً تعرضت للتخريب بعد حوادث سنة ١٨٦٠. سنة ١٨٧٠ بُنيت الكنيسة الحاليّة بشكل عقدٍ مُصالبٍ. تضمّ الكنيسة لوحتين الأولى للعائلة المقدّسة وهي أيقونة من المدرسة الأورشليميّة تعود لأواسط القرن التاسع عشر أمّا الثانية فهي لوحة غربيّة من أوائل القرن العشرين.

The Church of St. Joseph- Bteden Al-Laqsh

The Church of St. Joseph in Bteden Al-Laqsh has a rich history dating back to the early XIXth century. The original church was constructed in the first half of the 1800s but was unfortunately vandalized during the events of 1860. In response, a new church was constructed in 1870 with a cross-vaulted architectural style. Today, the church is known for its stunning interior, which contains two significant paintings. The first is an icon of the Holy Family from the Jerusalemite school, dating back to the mid-XIXth century. The second is a classical painting from the early XXth century.