PAINTING IN THE CHURCH OF MAR SARKIS AND BAKHOS IN BEJJE (OR BEJEH) Lebanon, circa 1890 courtesy of the Saadi Family.

ICON IN THE MARONITE CHURCH OF MAR SARKIS AND BAKHOS, IN GHBELEH Icon painted by Moussa Dib Moussa Dib was born towards the middle of the 18th century. He became Head of the Convent of Our Lady of the Fields (Dayr Saydat Al Haqlé), in 1777, succeeding his uncle Boutros Dib. He documented in paint a miracle that took place in 1777, the Virgin resurrecting the dead son of a Shiite woman while on a visit to the above convent. This painting remains to this day at the church of the convent. He died in 1826.

MONASTERY OF MAR SARKIS & MAR BAKHOS - DEIR EL AAKABA KOBAYAT - AKKAR - HELSBAN VALLEY - LEBANON Kobayat is a beautiful town in the north of Lebanon. Pictures © Elie Abboud

THE MONASTERIES OF EHDEN - DEIR MAR SARKIS The monastery of saints Sergius and Bacchus, known as the monastery of Mar Sarkis Ras An-nahr, stands on a mountain presently known as the mountain of Mar Sarkis which dominates Ehden from both north and east. The monastery is built on the ruins of a pagan temple whose huge stones were used in the foundations of the old monastery. Two churches belonging to Mar Sarkis convent were built, the first in the 8th century and the other in the 12th. Between 1473 and 1638, the monastery became the seat of the bishops of Ehden. Ehden is located in the central northern side of Mount Lebanon, with a 1450 metre elevation from sea level. It is 120 km from Beirut, 30 km from Tripoli and 23 km from Zgharta.

CHURCHES AND MONASTERIES OF MAR SARKIS ET MAR BAKHOS IN LEBANON There are various Maronite churches, still in use, devoted to Saints Sergius and Bacchus (Mar Sarkis et Bakhos) in Lebanon - Here is the list of the ones I got to know about: Diocese Parish Baalbeck Aïnata Batroun Rachkedeh Kfaraabida Beyrouth Daher Souane Jedaydeh Jbeil Bejeh (see documentation) Kartaba Jebbeh Beit Menzer Chira Rachdebine Torza (see documentation) Jounieh Fatka Ghbeleh (see documentation) Tripoli Aarjas Ajbaa Aslouf (see documentation) Ayto Basloukit (see documentation) Haref Meziara Kfardlakous Zekroun Besides these ones, there are also several old churches or monasteries, that are now in ruin.