LEBANON – PILGRIMAGE THROUGH THE STEPS OF CHARBEL MAKHLOUF

LEBANON – PILGRIMAGE THROUGH THE STEPS

OF CHARBEL MAKHLOUF

ANNAYA · JRABTA · SIDON · TYRE · MAGHDOUCZE · BEIRUT NAHR AL.-KALB · BEKAAVALLEY · BAALBEK · KSARA · JEITA HARISA GROTTO · GHAZIR · KADISHA VALLEY · BEKAA KAFRA · BASHARRI · BYBLOS

DAY 1

Arrival in Lebanon. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

DAY 2

Breakfast. We drive to Annaya, a christian pilgrimage centre, known for its relics of Charbel Makhlouf, which can be found in the St Maron monastery. After 17 years of  staying at the monastery in Annaya, Charbel moved to the St Peter and Paul hermitage, in order to unite himself with Jesus by prayer, work, contemplation and life in absolute silence. Our next stop is St Joseph monastery in Jrabta. This large monastery community from the XIX century takes in many believers, pilgrimagers to the grave of st Rafka – a lebanese nun. Her body was burried in a chaple next to the monastery. Dinner and overnight.

DAY 3

Breakfast. We drive to Sidon (known locally as Sayda) – the third largest city in Lebanon. Heading over to the Sea Castle, built during the crusades by the crusaders. The castle is situated on a small Island, tens of metres away from the mainland.  In the past it was one of the fortifications of the castles’, which guarded the roads to the Holy Land. We’ll also see the Old Town, the soap factory and market from the XV cent. Visitting Khan El Franj – caravanserai – an impressive tavern, built during the XVII cent., currently renovated. Transfer to Tyre, which used to be a huge phoenitian city, rulling on the sea and a founder of huge trading colonies like Kadys and Carthage. We’ll also see the ancient harbor, baths, roman and bisanthium necropolis, aqueduct and hippodrome from the II cent. Taking a look at the sanctuary of Virgin Mary with a chaple in the grotto and a tower with a statue of Mary in Magdouché. Dinner and overnight.

DAY 4

Breakfast. We head to Beirut, which used to be called the Paris Of the Close East. A stroll along the city, which is full of squares, castles, narrow streets, mosques, as well as modern buildings. After this we conitnue to the National Museum, where we’ll also see the excavations from the roman times. We drive up to the polish cemetery, where i.e. Hanka Ordównais burried – a big legend of the polish music scene in the 30s and 40s of the XIX cent. Heading over to Nahr al.-Kalb – The River of the Dog, with commemorative rock reliefs, left here by the next armies of conquerors, starting from pharaoh Ramzes II. Dinner and overnight.

DAY 5

Breakfast. We start our day with a visit to the Bekaa valley, where we’ll visit Baalbek – the ancient Heliopolis with a temple complex. Baalbek and its monumental buildings are one of the best preserved examples of Roman buildings in the Close East. After this we continue to Xarrë, where we’ll be sightseeing and trying the local wine. The very favorable conditions  in the Bekaa valley – adequate soil, height, temparature and sunniness, helps in the making of excellent wine and arak. The biggest producents are founded by the jesuits in the XIX cent. Chateau Ksara and Chateau Kefraya. Dinner and accomodation.

DAY 6

Breakfast. We drive to visit the Jeita Grotto – the famous two level cave, which is considered to be one  of the seven world wonders. A stroll and cruise with a boat. over to the Sanctuary of Mother Mary the Lady of Lebanon in Harisa. Visitting the Bkerke monastery - the premises of the maronite patriarch. We then continue to Ghazir – a picturesque mountain town with an antique monastery of st Antony Padewski, where Julius Słowacki resided and during WWII many poles were able to hide. Dinner and overnight.

DAY 7

Breakfast. We drive to the north of Lebanon, to Kadisha Valley – a valley with two chapels, caves and deserts with twelve century fresco. Heading over to the Bekaa Kafra village, where Charbel Makhlouf was born. Drive to the cedrus forest, which was mentioned in the Old Testament and to Bsharii – a city, where the lebanese poet Khalil Gibran, was born. There one can also find a museum of the poet. Our last stop is the Kozhaya monastery, dedicated to St Anthony the Great. Dinner and overnight.

DAY 8

Breakfast. We head to Byblos – a city constructed in the V cent. BC and visiting the church of John the Baptist, a Roman theatre  and a castle of the crusaders. For centuries Byblos had an important role in papyrus trading – which is where its greek name comes from. After this we continue to Annaya once again with the dessert of Charbel Makhlouf and the St Maron monastery. Dinner and overnight.

DAY 9

Breakfast. Transfer to one of the sea resorts to rest. An opportunity to bath in the sea and to see the wonders of the city.

DAY 10

Breakfast or lunchboxes. Transfer to the airport and flight back. End of the pilgrimage.