Lebanon, officially the Republic of
Lebanon or the Lebanese Republic, is a country in Western Asia. It is located
between Syria to the north and east and Israel to the south, while Cyprus lies
to its west across the Mediterranean Sea; its location at the crossroads of the
Mediterranean Basin and the Arabian hinterland has contributed to its rich
history and shaped a cultural identity of religious diversity. Lebanon is home
to roughly six million people and covers an area of 10,452 square kilometres
(4,036 sq mi), making it one of the smallest countries in the world. The
official language of the state is Arabic, while French is also formally
recognized; the Lebanese dialect of Arabic is used alongside Modern Standard
Arabic throughout the country.
The Shrine of Our Lady of Lebanon
(also known as Our Lady of Harissa) is a Marian shrine and a pilgrimage site in
the village of Harissa in Lebanon. The shrine belongs to the Maronite
Patriarchate who entrusted its administration to the Congregation of Maronite
Lebanese Missionaries since its foundation in 1904 and also to the jesuit
Lucien Cattin, according to Christian Taoutel (Lebanese historian from the
Saint Joseph University). It is one of the most important shrines in the world
honoring Mary, Mother of Jesus. The shrine is highlighted by a huge, 15-ton
bronze statue. It is 8.5 m high, and has a diameter of five meters. The Virgin
Mary stretches her hands towards Beirut.
The Shrine of Our Lady of Lebanon
draws millions of faithful both Christians and Muslims from all over the world.
The 50th jubilee in 1954 was also the hundredth anniversary of the
establishment of the Catholic dogma of the Immaculate Conception. During these
celebrations, Pope Pius XII sent his representative, Cardinal Angelo Roncalli
(later to become Pope John XXIII) to Lebanon. Pope John Paul II visited Our
Lady of Lebanon in 1997.
The Congregation of Maronite Lebanese
Missionaries, responsible for the administration, works at reinforcing
relations among all local Churches, Christian communities and apostolic
movements. The Lebanese Christians as well as the Druze and Muslims have a
special devotion to Mary, Mother of Jesus. The Maronite Patriarch of Antioch
named her the "Queen of Lebanon" in 1908 upon completion of the
shrine. Overlooking the bay of Jounieh, the shrine has become a major tourist
attraction where tourists take the gondola lift, the Téléphérique, from the city
of Jounieh to Harissa.
The Statue of Our Lady of Lebanon is
a French-made, 13-ton statue, made of bronze and painted white, of the Virgin
Mary. It was erected in 1907 on top of a hill, 650 meters above sea level, in
the village of Harissa, 20 km north of Beirut in honor of Our Lady of Lebanon.
The land was donated by Yousef Khazen. It was made up of seven sections that
were assembled on top of the stone base, which had a bottom perimeter of 64m,
an upper perimeter of 12m and with an overall height of 20m. The height of the
statue is 8.50m while its diameter is 5.50m. The statue and the shrine were
inaugurated in 1908, and it has become a major pilgrimage destination.
Sources :
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lebanon
https://www.ololb.org/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Our_Lady_of_Lebanon
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