With 18 religious sects living on a 10,452 sq. k surface, Lebanon is rich in significant religious sites, of many eras, dotted across its map
With its rich fabric of churches, saints,
mosques, religious sites and ruins,
Lebanon is the ideal place for those
seeking the history of faith. Be it a visit
to the Shrine of Syeda Khawla, the
daughter of Islam’s Imam Hussein, who
accompanied him during the tragedy
of Karbala or to Dahr El Ahmar, situated
in the Rashaya district, where there is
a shrine to Sitt Sarah, the niece of one
of the authors of the Druze Epistles
of Wisdom, Baha’u d-DÏn as-SamuqÏ.
She is remembered for being a great
peacemaker. Or even to the recently
restored Maghen Abraham Synagogue,
located in the former Jewish district of
Wadi Abu Jamil in Beirut, which was
abandoned after Israeli shelling destroyed
it during the Lebanese Civil War.
Of the many religious tours, we have
selected a walking trail and a day’s visit
that between them combine the sites
of one of the country’s major religions:
Christianity.
A walking tour of Ehden’s
churches
The municipality of Ehden, a
picturesque village, in the north of
Lebanon, along with Beyond Beirut, an
NGO, whose mission is to encourage
the development of experiential
tourism outside Beirut, as a means of
sustainable economic development,
have organized a three-hour tour of
area religious sites.
This itinerary begins at Al Midan, Ehden’s
historic souk, set in the iconic town
center and characterized by traditional
Lebanese architecture and includes
cafés, pastry shops and restaurants. The
next scheduled stop is at the Mar Mema
(Saint Mamas) church, built 1,260 years
ago. The asymmetrical architecture
of the nave is quite remarkable. It is
believed that the reason for this irregular
construction was due to a shortage of
stones from the Hellenistic temple of Ehden, which supplied the building of
the church.
“Mar Yaacoub is on the ruins of an Ethiopian church built by refugees fleeing persecution in their homeland”
Your next visit will be the Mar Yaacoub
church (Saint Jacob), reachable by taking
the “Dawalib” road, passing the Town Hall
and through the bypass. Mar Yaacoub
stands as a symbol of the large Maronite
community in the area. It was built in
1885 on the ruins of an Ethiopian church
built by refugees fleeing persecution in
their homeland.
After which the convent of Mar Kibrianos
(Saint Cyprianus) awaits you with its altar
made out of recycled wall sections. Your
next stop is the Mar Moura monastery
(Saint Maur), built in 1339, which was
deserted and damaged many times
but restored, every time. It is linked to
the founding of the Maronite Lebanese
Monastic order, in 1695.
Before reaching the neighboring Mar
Gerges Cathedral (Saint Georges) that
was inaugurated in the year 1880, you
will pass by Saydet el Hara (Our Lady of
el Hara) built in 1512 and the 13th century
Mar Youhanna church (Saint John). This
lovely church has impressive vaults that
are so characteristic of the construction
features of the time.
A break at the Al Midan souk for a welldeserved
meal concludes your tour.
Tour agent
Adonis Travel
Tour: Land of God and Humanity
+961 9 949599
Anastasia Travel
Offers a car, driver and guide to a religious destination of choice
+961 1 510051
Kurban Travel
Various religious tourism tours
+961 1 760500
Lebanon Roots
Specializes in religious tourism and pilgrimages
+961 9 638128
Lebanon.travel
A Lebanese internet tour operator that arranges visits to shrines, such as Saint Rafqa and Hardini
+961 70103222
Get a guide
The Syndicate Guides in
Lebanon will provide the
number of a guide to lead you in
your travels.
+961 3 636162
Religious stays
Lebanon Roots
This tour operator has a network
of monasteries and religious
places that offer a bed for the
night.
+961 9 638128