Mayfouq – The monastery of Our Lady of Mayfouq

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.

Saydit el Maounat (Maronites) كنيسة سيدة المعونات, Zahlé, Lebanon

Name in arabic:  كنيسة سيّدة المعونات

City:  Zahleh Maallaqa Aradi

District:  Zahle

Governorate:  Bekaa

History: 

كنيسة سيّدة المعونات - المعلّقة زحلة

الكنيسة قديمة العهد، تاريخ بنائها مجهولٌ. تعرّضت للتخريب في أحداث سنة ١٨٦٠. رمّمت من بعدها. بعد الحرب العالميّة الأولى أخذت الكنيسة شكلها الحاليّ: نمط بازيليكيّ بعقدٍ مصالب وسوقٍ واحد بواجهة حجرٍ مقصوبٍ مزخرف. نضمّ الكنيسة ثلاث مذابح من المرمر تعود لسنة ١٩٣٠: السيّدة، مار يوسف ومار يوحنّا مارون. رمّمت الكنيسة سنة ٢٠٠٨. تضمّ الكنيسة مدفن موسى بك نموّر رئيس مجلس النوّاب الأسيق.

The church of our Lady of Perpetual Help - Maalaka Zahle

The church”s year of construction is unknown, it was sabotaged during the war of 1860. The church took it’s current form after World War I : a basilical plan with one nave and a grand ornate facade on the western side. The church holds three marble altars dedicated to the Assumption, St Joseph, St John Maroun. The church was restored in 2008, and it enshrines the tomb of the late lebanese speaker of the parliament Moussa Bey Nammour.

كنيسة سيدة الزروع Church of Our Lady of Sown, Deir Al-Ahmar, Lebanon

Name in arabic:  كنيسة سيّدة الزروع

City:  Deir El-Ahmar

District:  Baalbek

Governorate:  Baalbek-Hermel

History: 

كنيسة سيّدة الزروع - دير الأحمر

منذ القرن السابع عشر سكن الرعاة النازحون من جبّة بشرّي والعاقورة بلدة دير الأحمر، وبدأوا ببناء كنيسة للسيّدة على اسم سيّدة الزروع بإذن مشايخ آل حرفوش، وحفروا بقربها بئراً. في الربع الأوّل من القرن السابع عشر سنة ١٦٢٥ انتُخب القس يوحنا من بيت قيزوح على دير مار اليشع بشري ودير الأحمر بحسب كتاب تاريخ الأزمنة للبطريرك الدويهيّ، وجُعلت هذه الكنيسة مقرًّا له. سنة ١٧٥٩ هُدمت الكنيسة بفعل زلزالٍ كبيرٍ ضرب المنطقة، ولم يبقَ منها سوى حجر عتبة الباب. أعيد بناء الكنيسة الحاليّة في النصف الثاني من القرن العشرين.

The Church of Our Lady of ٍSown - Deir el Ahmar

From the beginning of the XVIIth century, many families of shepherds relocated from the regions of Bsharre and Aqoura to Deir el Ahmar. With the approval of the local lords of the Harfoush family, the locals began the construction of a church dedicated to our Lady of the Sown, and they dug a well near it. In 1625 Deir el Ahmar had a bishop as indicated by Patriarch El Douwaihy in his book Tarikh al Azmina where he talks about the monk John of the house Qaizouh bishop of the monastery of St Elishaa and Deir el Ahmar, this bishop had this church as a residence. In 1759 the church was destroyed by an earthquake and only a fraction of the tympant remained of the old church. The church was reconstructed in the second half of the XXth century.