This visit was part of a Viator tour I took.
The small town of Harissa hosts the Shrine of Our Lady of Lebanon. Since it’s foundation stone was laid in 1904, it has become an international pilgrimage site, a national site, a religious monument, a Marian shrine and a tourist attraction.
The town which sits on a sharp rock cliff (the word “Harissa” derives from Arabic and Hebrew for “a sharp blade”) provides a great vantage point over the city of Jounieh below, and the Mediterranean Sea.
Why go?
- Those seeking a spiritual connection may find the beautiful surroundings, the spacious shrine and the several churches an inviting place to pray or meditate.
- The view of Beirut is worth the visit.
- Harissa, Jeita Grotto, and Byblos make a good grouping of sites to visit in one day since they are close to each other and they can each take just a couple of hours to visit.
What you need to know:
- Harissa is about 26 kilometers from Beirut.
- The main attraction is Our Lady of Lebanon, a 8.5 meter high, 15 ton bronze statue (painted white) of the Virgin Mary with outstretched hands toward Beirut.
- This is an active Marian shrine and a pilgrimage site, which draws millions of faithful (including Pope John Paul II in 1997).
- You can drive up to the Shrine (there is a limited parking lot available), or you can take a cable car and then a funicular up from a parking lot at the base of the mountain.
- The base of the statue can be climbed by a spiral staircase, which gets more narrow as you get closer to the top.
- Related to this being a Christian site: A study done by Statistics Lebanon found that Lebanon’s population is 54% Muslim, 5.6% Druze (who do not consider themselves Muslim), and 40% Christian.
- Services are held daily.
The Mother of light`s church, upon which stands the statue of Harissa, our Lady of Lebanon
A 13-ton bronze (painted white) statue of the Virgin Mary
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Head to the link in my profile for more details: @mytravels.hdf .
Picture Taken: 11/2017
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#Harissa #OurLadyofLebanon #Lebanon #MotherofLight #motheroflightchurch #Travel #VirginMary #MiddleEast #ShrineofOutLadyofLebanon #Maronite
The Basilica as seen from the top of Harissa, our Lady of Lebanon
The modern Basilica was built to resemble a cross between a Lebanese cedar tree and a Phoenician ship.
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Head to the link in my profile for more details: @mytravels.hdf .
Picture Taken: 11/2017
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#Harissa #OurLadyofLebanon #Lebanon #Lebanese #Travel #Basilica #BasilicaofHarissa #ShrineofOutLadyofLebanon #Maronite
Visiting Harissa, our Lady of Lebanon
A 13-ton bronze (painted white) statue of the Virgin Mary
.
Head to the link in my profile for more details: @mytravels.hdf .
Picture Taken: 11/2017
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#Harissa #OurLadyofLebanon #Lebanon #Lebanese #Travel #VirginMary #MiddleEast #ShrineofOutLadyofLebanon #Maronite
Harissa, our Lady of Lebanon
A 13-ton bronze (painted white) statue of the Virgin Mary
.
Head to the link in my profile for more details: @mytravels.hdf .
Picture Taken: 11/2017
.
#Harissa #OurLadyofLebanon #Lebanon #Lebanese #Travel #VirginMary #MiddleEast #ShrineofOutLadyofLebanon #Maronite
The funicular which takes you from the cable car drop off up to the Shrine of Harissa, our Lady of Lebanon
Upon Harissa sits a 13-ton bronze (painted white) statue of the Virgin Mary
.
Head to the link in my profile for more details: @mytravels.hdf .
Picture Taken: 11/2017
.
#Harissa #OurLadyofLebanon #Lebanon #Lebanese #Travel #VirginMary #MiddleEast #ShrineofOutLadyofLebanon #Maronite
A cable car up to Harissa, our Lady of Lebanon
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Head to the link in my profile for more details: @mytravels.hdf .
Picture Taken: 11/2017
.
#Harissa #OurLadyofLebanon #Lebanon #Lebanese #Travel #VirginMary #MiddleEast #ShrineofOutLadyofLebanon #Maronite
The cable car on the way up to Harissa, our Lady of Lebanon
.
Head to the link in my profile for more details: @mytravels.hdf .
Picture Taken: 11/2017
.
#Harissa #OurLadyofLebanon #Lebanon #Lebanese #Travel #VirginMary #MiddleEast #ShrineofOutLadyofLebanon #Maronite
