Zahle – The monastery of St. Anthony the great

Monastery of Saint Antonios - دير مار مطانيوس, Tannourine El Tahta, Lebanon

Name in arabic:  محبسة مار أنطونيوس الكبير - تنورين التحتا

City:  Tannourine Et-Tahta

District:  Batroun

Governorate:  North

History: 

هي كنيسةٌ مُزدوجةٌ تعود لأواخر القرون الوسطى مبنيّة على ضفاف نهر الجوز. مذبحها الأوّل مُكرّس للسيّدة (والمُرجّح أنّه الأقدم) والثاني لمار أنطونيوس الكبير. هي كنيسة مزار ومحجّ لأبناء المنطقة.

A double late medieval church built on the banks of Al Jawz river. Her first altar is consecrated to the Madonna (and is presumed to be the older part) and the second for St Anthony the great. The church is a local shrine and a pilgrimage site

جبل الرحمة الالهية, Ghosta, Lebanon

Name in arabic:  دير المخلص الكريم

City:  Ghosta

District:  Keserwan

Governorate:  Mount Lebanon

History: 

دير المخلص الكريم - غوسطا

سنة ١٧٠٨ وصل ثلاثة رهبان أرمن إلى لبنان لتأسيس رهبانيّة أرمنيّة، فأوقف لهم الشّيخ صخر الخازن، أراضًا في وادي غوسطا سنة ١٧١٦. فأنشىء الرهبان إكليريكيّة وامتدّ بناء الدير والكنيسة إلى سنة ١٧٣٣. سنة ١٨٦٥ اشترى الخوري يوحنّا حبيب (المطران لاحقًا)، الدّير من الرّهبان الأرمن حيث انتقل هؤلاء إلى بزمّار، وأسّس جمعيّة المرسلين اللّبنانيّين في الدّير مع العديد من الكهنة وفي مقدَّمهم الخوري إسطفان قزاح، الرّئيس العام الأوّل. إهتمّ الكريميوّن ووسّعوه.. وقد كان هذا الدّير ملجأً للعديد من المهجّرين والمشرّدين والجياع والهاربين من ظلم السّلطات العثمانيّة. خضع البناء لعدّة عمليّات ترميم كان آخرها سنة ٢٠١٣. كان الدّير مركزًا للرّئاسة العامّة للجمعية حتّى العام ١٩٢١، وهو حاليًّا ديراً للابتداء، توجد فيه كنيسة المُخلّص وتحوي لوحةً زيتيّةً قديمة،، تدعى "الثّالوث المتألّم"، ولوحة أخرى أرمنيّة للميلاد. وفي الكنيسة أيضًا مدافن عائدة إلى كلّ من المطران يوحنّا الحبيب مؤسّس الجمعيّة، والخوري اسطفان قزاح رئيسها العام الأوّل، والمطران شكرالله خوري، .

The Holy Savior Monastery - Kreim Ghosta

The monastery was established in 1708 by three Armenian monks who arrived in Lebanon with the intention of creating an Armenian monastic order. Located in Wadi Ghosta, Lebanon, the monastery's history is intertwined with various events and figures over the centuries. In 1716, Sheikh Sakhr al-Khazen granted the Armenian monks lands in Wadi Ghosta, enabling them to establish their monastic order. The construction of the monastery and church complex took several decades, finally extending until 1733. It served as a seminary, providing education and spiritual guidance to the community. Fast forward to 1865, and the ownership of the monastery changed hands. Father John Habib, who later became a Bishop, purchased the monastery from the Armenian monks. With this transaction, the Armenian monks relocated to Bzommar, and Father John Habib initiated the Lebanese Missionaries Congregation within the monastery. Many priests were part of this association, and Father Stephen Qazah became its first superior general. Throughout its history, the Holy Savior Monastery played a crucial role in the local community. It served as a refuge for the displaced, homeless, hungry, and those seeking refuge from the oppression of the Ottoman authorities. The monastery experienced several periods of restoration to preserve its historical significance and structural integrity. The last restoration took place in 2013, ensuring that the monastery continued to stand as a testament to its enduring history and cultural importance. The Holy Savior Monastery, historically serving as the center of the general presidency of the association until 1921, has evolved into a monastery dedicated to novices in the present day. Nestled within its walls is the sacred Church of the Savior, housing cherished relics from the past. One of the notable treasures preserved within the church is an ancient oil painting named "The Suffering Trinity." This artwork carries profound emotional depth and holds a place of reverence within the community, reminding all who behold it of the timeless spiritual journey. Adding to the artistic splendor, another precious possession within the church is an Armenian painting depicting the Nativity. This painting enriches the spiritual ambiance of the sanctuary, reflecting the shared heritage and faith of those who seek solace and inspiration within its halls. Moreover, the church stands as a memorial to the esteemed figures who have shaped the legacy of the monastery and the association it represents. The burials of Bishop Youhanna Al-Habib, the visionary founder of the Lebanese Missionaries Association, Father Estephan Qazzah, the dedicated first general president, and Bishop Shukrallah Khoury, a revered spiritual leader, grace the church grounds. As the monastery continues to embrace novices and nurture their spiritual growth, it remains an enduring symbol of devotion, compassion, and hope. The presence of these sacred artifacts and burials serves as a constant reminder of the monastery's illustrious past and the profound impact it has had on the lives of those who seek solace and enlightenment within its sanctuary.

Saint Peter and Paul, Aaqoura, Lebanon

Name in arabic:  كنيسة مار بطرس وبولس

City:  Aaqoura

District:  Jbeil

Governorate:  Mount Lebanon

History: 

كنيسة مار بطرس وبولس - العاقورة

الكنيسة عبارة عن مغارة كانت مدفنًا لكهنة أدونيس وتحوي عدّة نواويس، وثلاث اعمدة تنضح الماء كانت قديمًا لنذور العواقر. وثّق المغارة العالم إرنست رينان والمفوّضيّة السّامية الفرنسيّة، لكنّ العديد من معالم المدفن خرّبت جرّاء البحث عن الطمائر. على الجدار الشرقيّ داخل الكنيسة كتابة منقوشة باللغة السريانيّة وهي مختلفة من حيث الاسلوب، لأنّها منقوشةٌ بشكلٍ عاموديٍّ وليس افقياً. وقد فسّر علماء الآثار هذه الظاهرة أنّه في القرن السابع للميلاد زمن الامويّين ذهبت بعثات نسطوريّة الى الصين. وهذا ما يفسّر الاسلوب العامودي في الكتابة الآراميّة المنقوشة، فهؤلاء تأثروا بالكتابة الصينيّة العاموديّة كالكتابات السريانيّة في شيان التي تعود للحقبة نفسها. رمّم المذبح سنة ١٨٩٥، والواجهة الأماميّة سنة ١٩٥٢.

The church of Sts Peter and Paul - Aqoura

The church was a funerary cave for the priests of Adonis, it holds many sarcophaguses and three columns that pour water. The cave was studied by Ernest Renan and the archeologists of the French high commissariat. The church holds a VIIth century Syriac calligraphy that is distinct since it was written vertically, which relates to the Nestorian monks who went to missions during the Umayyad era and reached China. There they were influenced by the mandarin calligraphy and began writing Syriac in this manner. The stella of Xian uses the same type of writing and dates back to that era. The church was plundered by tomb raiders, the high altar was restored in 1895, and the entrance in 1952.