Day 1 - Beirut

 

Our airport representative will be on hand to meet and welcome you.

Drive to the hotel.

Hotel check-in and a briefing on our pilgrimage tour.

 

Day 2 - Harissa, The Carmel of Unity and visit of the Down Town of Beirut

 

Today, we will start our Pilgrim with Harissa, located at 650 meters altitude from the coast and 20 km distance from Beirut; and considered as an important Lebanese pilgrimage site where is located Our Lady of Lebanon inaugurated in 1908.

Then after the rosary in Harrisa, we will walk toward the Byzantine-style, Melkite Greek Catholic basilica of St. Paul, built between 1947 and 1962.

Our trip to Harissa, will finish by visiting the Hermitage of the Carmelite nuns at the Carmel of Unity.

Then proceed to the Down Town of Beirut, for lunch and visit of the center of Beirut and its main churches and museums.

Overnight in Beirut

 

Day 3 - South of Lebanon (Qana / Tyre / Sidon / Saydet el mantara)

 

Journey to South of Lebanon.

Visit Qana El Jalil, where Christ performed his first miracle: turning water into wine at the wedding party. Carvings on rocks near the cave are evidence suggesting that the event took place here.

After the holy mess in the grotto, we head towards the Phoenician Queen of the Seas “Tyre” that attracted Grand Conquerors such as Babylon King, Alexander the Great; learn about Tyre traders who expanded the city to North Africa and created Carthage. Tyre, UNESCO World Heritage Site: its Hippodrome, Arch of Triumph and Colonnades. Proceed to Sidon, inhabited since 4000 Years; where we will have lunch, then visit the Old city, Khan El Franj, Saint Nicolas Church where we believe that St. Paul met St. Peter before he started his mission, and finish with the Soap Museum.

Before we take the road to Beirut, we will stop by “Saydet el mantara”, where we believe that the Virgin used to wait for Jesus during his visits to the region.

Overnight in Beirut

 

Day 4 - A day with the Saints

 

Visit the Monastery of “Mar Youssef Al Dahr” at Jrebta. Surrounded with ancient trees, the monastery lies at the heart of a lonely region notable for its savage beauty. It is in here that the Blessed Sister Rafqa is buried. Her remains were moved to the tomb and the Church became a place of pilgrimage.

“Kfifane” is today a pilgrimage burial site of the Beatified “Nematallah Kassab Al Hardini” & the Beatified Estephan Nehme.

Proceed to “Mayfouk”, site of the old 13th century church “Saydet Elige” – served as the seat of the Maronite patriarchs.

Proceed to the shrine of Saint Charbel in Annaya. Mar Charbel is today the object of veneration and his life is a supreme example of absolute devotion to God.

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.

Overnight in Byblos

 

Day 5 - North of Lebanon (Meziarah, Ayto, Annoubine, Besharre)

 

Prepare yourself for a long explorative journey. Start the visit at “Em El Marahem” located in Meziarah, a one-piece statue carved in stone of our Virgin Lady. “Mar Sema’an Monastery” (Ayto), where St. Rafqa spend a big part of her life.

We precede toward one of the stunning monasteries of the Holy Valley of Qannoubbine which is “Deir Qozhaya” which is located in a wilderness of lush greenery gives it an aspect of primeval solitude. The origins of the monastery go back to the 5th century when the monastic movement was taking hold in the region. A model of religious community life, Deir Mar Antonios Qozhaya was the site of the Middle East’s first printing press, which was imported around 1585. The first publication in 1610 was an edition of the Psalms, now kept in the library of the Holy Spirit University in Kaslik.  

We continue up in the mountains to reach Bekaa Kafra, which is the highest village in Lebanon. It is best known as the birthplace of Saint Charbel (1828-1898), to whom a large number of healing miracles have been attributed since his death. He was beatified in December 1965 and made a saint in November 1977.

Overnight in Besharre.

 

Day 6 - The Bekaa (Saydet Beshweit/ Baalbeck/Zahle)

 

Early morning - Breakfast, and after the morning prayer at the blessed forest of the Cedars, we cross Mont Lebanon and hit the road toward Deir el Ahmar to visit the miraculous shrine of the Virgin known as Saydet Beshweit, where recently many saw the statue of the Virgin close and open her eyes; and lots of miracles have been reported.

Then, we hit the road toward Baalbek, to visit Lebanon’s most famous archeological sites.

Once done, we continue toward Zahle for lunch.

Visit of the shrine of Our Lady of the Bekaa.

Continue toward Beirut for overnight.

 

Day 7 - Goodbyes

 

Morning check outs & transfers to Beirut international airport for departure.

 

HAVE A NICE AND SAFE FLIGHT HOME!