DAY 1 : ARRIVAL BEIRUT (L/D)
Arrival at Beirut Int’l airport. Meet your guide at the arrival hall and if the time allows proceed for a meeting with Mgr. Mazloum in Bkerke, the see of the Maronite Catholic Patriarchate, located 650 m above the bay of Jounieh, northeast of Beirut, followed by Mass. Then, transfer to your accommodation. Dinner and overnight.
DAY 2 : BEIRUT – TYR – MAGDOUCHE – SAIDA – BEIRUT (B/L/D)
Amazing Roman ruins overlooking the sea. Visit the second site of Tyr with its necropolis and its Roman racecourse. Then, departure for the sanctuary of Mantara “Our Lady of Awaiting” in Magdouche, religious center of the Melkite Greek Catholics of Lebanon. Discover the sanctuary, mass of opening of the pilgrimage in the Grotto. Lunch. Continue to Saida, visit the “castle of the sea”, cross fortress dating from the time when St. Louis was staying in Tyr. Visit the church of Saint Nicolas. It was built in the 15th century (the cathedral of the Byzantine Antiochian archbishopric in Sidon) following the Christian worship that dates back to the 7th century. Its dome is the biggest in the city and its altar dates back to the Mameluke period. Its iconostasis dates back to the 18th century. In 1819, the church was divided into two parts: one for the Greek Orthodox community and another one for the Greek Catholics. The latter part is closed in order to be renovated. At the door of the Greek Orthodox bishop (part of the cathedral) is a small chapel dedicated to Saints Peter and Paul. The church tradition places the memory of a meeting between these two Saints (around 58 AD) according to the Acts of the Apostles. Visit of the old souks if time allows. Then return to Beirut. Dinner and overnight.
DAY 3 : BEIRUT – THE CHOUF – BEITEDDINE – DEIR EL QAMAR – BEIRUT (B/L/D)
In the morning, drive to the site of Beiteddine famous for its Bechir II palace, currently the summer palace of the Lebanese presidency. Then drive to Deir El Kamar, former capital of Mount Lebanon. Mass at Notre Dame de Tall. The church is today included within a Maronite Bishopric. Its massive nave is twenty-six meters long. Before it was last renovated in the 1990’s, a cordon ran all the way around the interior walls of the church because popular belief was that this “belt of Our Lady” would protect the worshipers from all scourges, danger, war and illness. Then meeting with Father Marcel Abi Khalil. Lunch. Visit of Deir El Qamar. Then drive to your hotel. Dinner and overnight.
DAY 4 : BEIRUT – ANNAYA – BYBLOS (B/L/D)
In the morning, departure to Annaya. Visit the sanctuary dedicated to Saint Charbel, and the monastery where the tomb of Saint Charbel is located. Mass at the Monastery of Saint Maron. Meeting time Lunch in Annaya. In the afternoon, departure for Byblos. Byblos, visit of the Phoenician city, the same where the linear alphabet was born. Discovery of the port and the city with its ancient and medieval monuments.. Dinner & overnight at Byblos hotel.
DAY 5 : BEIRUT – BCHARRE – THE CEDARS – THE VALLEY OF KADISHA – QOZHAYA (B/L/D)
Departure for the Cedars forest. Stop at Bcharre, meeting at the Cathedral Seba of Bcharre. Then discover and stop in the reserve of trees millennia, symbol of Lebanon. Short walk in the cedars reserve. Mass at the little chapel on the way or in the open air. Lunch in Bcharré. Then drive to Qozhaya through the holy valley. Arrival at the convent Saint Anthony. Then, visit of the convent and the museum which presents, in particular, the encrusted stock of diamonds, offered to the convent by Louis IX. Meeting with Father Gaby and Father Jean, hermit. Dinner and overnight at the Foyer in Qozhaya.
DAY 6 : QOZHAYA – BALAMAND – BATROUN – BEIRUT (B/L/D)
Morning Mass with the monks of the convent. Breakfast. Departure for Balamand. Visit of the Monastery of Our Lady of Balamand, Great Religious and Cultural Center of Greek Orthodox Christians located near the city of Tripoli, in North Lebanon. Meeting if possible with the president of the University of Balamand, Dr. Georges Nahas and / or Dr. Elie El Halabi (Christian-Muslim relationship study center), Father Fadi Porfirius Georgi (Institute of Theology) & Mr. Elie Dannaoui (Institute of History, Archeology and Near Eastern Studies). Lunch at Batroun. Afternoon, continue to the monastery of St. Rafqa. The Saint Joseph Monastery is known for the tomb of Saint Rafqa, one of Lebanon’s most revered saints. This sister, who lived from 1832 to 1914, was famous for her many miracles and healings. The monastery nestles 350 meters above sea level, on the plateau “ad-Dahr”, at the foot of Mount Jrabta, in the central region of Batroun in northern Lebanon. Visit of the monastery. Then drive to Kfifan. Visit the Monastery of St. Cyprian and St. Justine, where are the tombs of St. Nematullah and Bhx Estephan . Return to Beirut for dinner & overnight.
DAY 7 : BEIRUT (B/L/D)
The morning, meeting with the Sisters of Charity. Mass and prayer time at the Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes. Lunch with the Sisters of Charity. Afternoon, discover Beirut, the national museum, downtown Beirut , the place of the martyrs etc., St Joseph’s Church of the Franciscans, custodian of the Holy Land …. In the evening, proposal to meet with Dr. Caraccache – founder of the NGO who helps Syrian refugees. Dinner and overnight in Beirut.
DAY 8 : BEIRUT – DEPARTURE (B)
In the morning, transfer to the airport for your departure international flight.
