QARNO D’AYLO, Lebanon — The newest episode of From Lebanon, broadcast on Suryoyo TV on Thursday, explored the historical past and mission of the Residing Monastery of St. Elias, a Syriac Maronite Antonine monastery within the mountain city of Qarno d’Aylo (Qarnayel) in Baabda district.
The program featured Father Elias Shakhtoura, the monastery’s superior, who traced the establishment’s practically three centuries of historical past and highlighted its enduring function in non secular life, schooling and fostering coexistence between Christian and Druze communities.
Father Shakhtoura stated the monastery, based in 1749, is the sixth monastery established by the Syriac Maronite Antonine Order. Positioned about 1,300 meters above sea degree, it is likely one of the highest parishes within the Syriac Maronite Archdiocese of Beirut. He famous that the city’s title, Qarnayel, derives from the Syriac Qarno d-Aylo, which means “Mountain of God.”
He stated the encompassing space comprises historical Roman and Phoenician stays and has lengthy been residence to each Christian and Druze communities. Because the monastery’s founding, he added, the 2 communities have maintained shut and cooperative relations.
In line with Father Shakhtoura, the monastery was established after Prince Youssef al-Mourad of the Abu al-Lama household invited the Antonine Order to ship a priest to minister to Christian households who had settled within the space to domesticate agricultural land. The prince donated a home and land that turned the muse of the monastery.
From its inception, the monastery centered on three pillars: non secular ministry, pastoral care, and schooling.
The unique church was modest in dimension however expanded over time because the native Christian inhabitants grew. Father Shakhtoura stated the complicated underwent a number of phases of restoration throughout the twentieth century, together with work within the late Nineteen Thirties and Forties, adopted by a serious renovation venture launched in 1999. The restoration preserved the church’s historic stonework whereas renewing the altar and including new parish services.
The monastery additionally established a faculty alongside its founding. Starting as a single classroom the place kids discovered studying, Arabic and Christian schooling, it developed into one of many area’s main academic establishments.
At its peak between 1960 and 1982, the college enrolled round 250 college students, together with about 200 from the Druze group and 50 from the Christian group. Schooling was supplied at little or no value, reflecting the Order’s dedication to creating schooling accessible to all households within the space.
The Lebanese Civil Conflict broken elements of the monastery and led to the college’s decline. Though the monastery resumed restoration and pastoral work after the battle, the college didn’t reopen as a result of a number of private and non-private faculties had since been established close by.
At the moment, Father Shakhtoura stated, the monastery continues to serve not solely Qarno d’Aylo but additionally neighboring communities, together with Kfar Salwan, Tarshish, Salima and Deir al-Harf, whereas cooperating with surrounding parishes and church establishments.
He described the shut relationship between the city’s Christian minority, which represents about 10% of the inhabitants, and its Druze majority as one of many monastery’s defining traits. Their cooperation extends past exchanging visits throughout spiritual holidays to incorporate municipal, social and humanitarian initiatives, with residents supporting each other throughout occasions of want.
The monastery additionally hosts spiritual confraternities, pastoral packages and group actions all year long. Its annual St. Elias Week attracts guests from throughout the area for liturgical celebrations, non secular gatherings and cultural occasions.
Father Shakhtoura stated the monastery’s mission extends past preserving spiritual heritage to selling peace, contemplation and mutual respect. He inspired believers to strengthen these values of their each day lives and proceed constructing coexistence amongst Lebanon’s various communities.
This system concluded by describing the Residing Monastery of St. Elias as each a testomony to the legacy of the Syriac Maronite Antonine Order and an enduring image of religion, heritage and intercommunal concord in Tur Levnon (Mount Lebanon).
