Debbane Palace Museum, Sidon

Debbane Palace Museum is a former Ottomon Aristocrat's building from the 18th century. To get to the place the entrance is from a souq (market) via a tall staircase!

Maghdouché, Lebanon

Maghdouché is a town in the South of Lebanon. According to Christian belief, when Jesus came to Sidon, the Virgin Mary who accompanied him waited for him at the top of the hill where Maghdouché is located today.

Our Lady of Awaiting also known as Our Lady of Mantara is a Melkite Greek Catholic Marian shrine in Maghdouché, Lebanon, discovered in 1721 by a young shepherd. The shrine consists of a tower with the statue of the Virgin and Child, a cathedral, a cemetery and a sacred cave believed to be the one where the Virgin Mary rested while she waited for Jesus.

Maghdouché Virgin Mary

The Cathedral

The cave where The Virgin Mary waited for Jesus

Inside the cave....now a small chapel

Beautiful stained glass windows

Maghdouché town

In and around the shrine...some photos.

Hermitage of Saint Bichay, Kozhaya

Another interesting place that I got to see while in Lebanon was the Hermitage of Saint Bichay. The hermitage is built inside a hanging rock cavity and is one of the oldest cult buildings in this valley. This is now listed in UNESCO World Heritage site.