Saint Maron Monastery
Sanctuary of St Charbel
History of the Monastery
Location of the Monastery
In the region of Mount Lebanon of Jbeil, on a hill, which is regarded as one of the nicest hills in Lebanon, is a Monastery belonging to the Lebanese Maronite Order, known as St Maron Monastery - Annaya. It lies in Annaya, seventeen kilometers from Jbeil, and is 1200 meters of altitude.
Construction of Saint Maron Monastery
The construction of the first part of the monastery was completed in 1828, which was the year of St Charbel’s birth. Wasn't God preparing for what was going to happen in that blessed land. Between 1838 and 1841, the church was completed and so were all the cellars.
After St Charbel had been declared Blessed in 1965, the Order started to build a new church creating facilities to receive the multitudes of believers flowing to Annaya.
Saint Charbel Church
In 1974, a new church was constructed under the name of Saint Charbel on the western side of the monastery. The Lebanese Maronite Order continuously repairs and prepares facilities for the sake of the visitors’ services and the meeting of the spiritual needs.
Activities of the Monastery
Following the way of St Charbel who combined heaven and earth, Saint Maron monastery performs a distinguished agricultural activity and a variety of production such as wines, jams and dairy products. The monks also serve nearby parishes and provide them with all the necessary care.
Today, thanks to Saint Charbel, Saint Maron Monastery has become a great national and international shrine where thousands of believers come to pray.
Sanctuary of Saint Charbel
The Sanctuary of Saint Charbel is the sacred place where the tomb of Saint Charbel rests.
It is a space of prayer, silence, and reverence, where pilgrims from around the world gather to seek Saint Charbel's intercession and experience the profound peace that surrounds his resting place.
The Tomb Church
The tomb of Saint Charbel is located in a vaulted structure that has today been transformed into a church known as the “Tomb Church,” also referred to as the “Church of the Sepulchre.”
The saint’s body was transferred from the monks’ cemetery into several coffins of different shapes and sizes. Various examinations were conducted on it to determine the cause of the phenomenon of the exudation of water and blood from his body.
On August 7, 1952, the body of Saint Charbel was placed in its present coffin, crafted from Lebanese cedar wood and resting upon a base of Italian Verona marble.
The Visit of Pope Leo XIV
On December 1, 2025, His Holiness Pope Leo XIV knelt in reverence at the tomb of Saint Charbel at the Monastery of Saint Maron - Annaya. During his visit to the shrine, the Pope prayed and reflected on the life of the hermit monk Charbel, highlighting four essential pillars that shaped his spirituality: prayer, silence, humility, and poverty.
This shrine stands as a living testimony to the holiness of Saint Charbel and to the many graces received by the faithful through his intercession.
Saint Charbel Church
The Church of Saint Charbel was built in 1974 and is a place of worship dedicated to preserving his spiritual legacy.
It welcomes the faithful to celebrate the Holy Mass and to reflect on the life of humility, prayer, and devotion that Saint Charbel embodied throughout his monastic journey.
The church remains a symbol of steadfast faith and the enduring presence of Saint Charbel’s mission in Annaya and Lebanon.
A stained glass window from the works of Father Abdo Badawi, featuring a depiction of the face of Saint Charbel.
A stained glass piece by the artist Saliba Douaihy, in which the name of Saint Charbel is written in the Syriac language.
A stained glass piece from the works of Father Abdo Badawi, featuring a depiction of the hermitage of Saints Peter and Paul.
Stained Glass representing Youssef (Charbel)
Right panel: Youssef prays with his mother.
Middle panel: Youssef visits his two monk uncles.
Left panel: Youssef sets out toward the Monastery of Saint Maron.
Stained Glass representing Charbel the Monk
Right panel: Charbel professes his monastic vows.
Middle panel: Novice Charbel studies theology under his teacher, Saint Nimatullah Kassab Al-Hardini.
Left panel: Charbel is ordained a priest.
Stained Glasses representing Father Charbel the Hermit
Right panel: Father Charbel the hermit lights an oil lamp before the image of the Virgin Mary.
Middle panel: Father Charbel prays in the oratory with his fellow monks.
Left panel: Father Charbel the teacher helps children learn how to read and write.
Right panel: Father Charbel the hermit working in the field.
Middle panel: Father Charbel celebrating the Holy Mass, holding the Eucharist in his hands.
Left panel: Father Charbel at the hour of his passing, on Christmas Eve, 1898.
Stained Glass representing Father Charbel the Saint
