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Saint Charbel
The remains of Lebanon’s Saint Charbel are entombed in Annaya in the Byblos district. Born on May 8, 1828 in Bqaa Kafra, a high village in the region of the Cedars, Mar Charbel is today the object of veneration and his life is a supreme example of absolute devotion to God. Even at a young age he was called “the Saint” because of his great piety. In 1875 he retired to the hermitage overlooking the valley of Ehmej, which has since become one of the most popular places of pilgrimage in the country. He lived there in the greatest austerity for 23 years until his death on December 24, 1898. Beatified in 1965, he was canonized in October 1977.
The Monastery of Mar Maroun at Annaya is a simple building where a statue of Saint Charbel stands in the courtyard, arms raised to heaven. His tiny church is always filled with the prayers and the voices of believers, while nearby a small museum displays the frugal objects that belonged to the Saint. These reminders of Charbel’s life contribute to the unique atmosphere at Annaya, where the faithful find hope and solace in the quiet landscape.
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