Tannourin el Fawqa – The church of Our Lady of Assumption

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 George Church كنيسة مار جريس - رميش, Rmaych, Lebanon

Name in arabic:  كنيسة مار جرجس

City:  Rmaich

District:  Bent Jbeil

Governorate:  Nabatieh

History: 

كنيسة مار جرجس - رميش

تأسّست الكنيسة الأولى سنة ١٧٤٠، مع قدوم الموارنة إلى البلدة. تعرّضت هذه الكنيسة للتخريب جرّاء الزلازل والحروب عدّة مرّات. أُعيد بناؤها بالشكل الحاليّ سنة ١٩٢٩ ورمّمتها مديريّة الآثار سنة ١٩٩٥. الكنيسة كناية عن سوقٍ واحدٍ مستطيل مسقوف بسقفٍ بغداديّ. مذبحها رخاميّ يحوي نقشًا لمار جرجس. وتحوي الكنيسة لوحتين للسيّدة ومار جرجس.

The church of St George - Rmeish

The church was founded in 1740 when the first Maronites came to the village. It was damaged many times due to wars and earthquakes. It took its current form in 1929, and was restored in 1995. The structure is a single roofed rectangular nave with a wooden ceiling. The main altar contains a marble Bas-Relief of St George. The church holds two local paintings: the Madonna and St George.

كنيسة بربارة - عمشيت St Barbara Church z Amshit, Qataah, Lebanon

Name in arabic:  كنيسة القدّيسة بربارة

City:  Aamchit

District:  Jbeil

Governorate:  Mount Lebanon

History: 

كنيسة القدّيسة بربارة - عمشيت

كُرّست الكنيسة سنة ١٨٤٧، وهي بالأصل بقايا معبدٍ رومانيّ. البناء كناية عن عقدٍ سريريّ. وُسّعت سنة ١٩٠٤ ورُمّمت سنة ١٩٨٨. تضمّ أيقونةً أثريّة محليّة للشهيدة بربارة. وبقرب الكنيسة ثلاث آبار لعائلات عمشيت الثلاث التي قدمت أوّلاً إلى البلدة

The church of St Barbra - Amshit

The structure served as a roman temple, it was consecrated in 1847. The church is a crib vault, it was enlarged in 1904 and restored in 1988. The church holds a local icon for the martyr. Near the church are three wells for the three families that came first to Amshyt.