Meet Charbel Bassil: A Talented Iconographer & Painter from Zahle

Iconography is by definition "the science of identification, description, classification, and interpretation of symbols, themes, and subject matter in the visual arts". The beginnings of Christian iconography can be dated to Saint Luke the Evangelist and this art has been an integral part of the worship and mystical life of Christians ever since. Iconography is quite present in Lebanon and I've stumbled recently upon a popular painter & iconographer whose artwork is quite stunning. His…

Pictures From The 2024 Zambo Festival in Mina, Tripoli

Zambo is one of the most unusual celebrations in Lebanon and it takes place in Mina, Tripoli every year right before the start of the Orthodox Lent. Participants from all different cultural, social and religious backgrounds paint their faces and wear colourful costumes to take part in this festive and vibrant event that includes music, dancing and feasting, and ends with all participants jumping in the sea to wash off their paint. It's still not…
Baladi

Darb Mar Charbel, Lebanon’s First Long-Distance Pilgrimage Route Set To Open in 2026

9 months ago
After completing their pilgrimage to Spain’s Santiago de Compostela in 2018, a group of Lebanese decided to put in place Lebanon’s first long-distance pilgrimage route, a 130km route crossing 40 villages and covering significant places ...
Baladi

Mar Charbel Mosaic To Be Displayed in St Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican

9 months ago
A mosaic representing Saint Charbel will be put on display in St Peter’s Basilica today at 7pm. Saint Charbel is a Lebanese Maronite monk and priest who was beatified in 1965 and venerated as a ...
Baladi

Cypriot Maronite Arabic or Sanna: A Dying Language

1 year ago
An AFP report on the Cypriot Maronite Arabic language, also known as Sanna, caught my attention few years back. Unfortunately, and based on this most recent article, no substantial efforts have been done to save ...
Information

Forced Underage Marriages Are on The Rise in Lebanon

2 years ago
Underage marriage is still a big problem in Lebanon and has unfortunately increased during the pandemic. Back in 2017, UNICEF revealed that for 1 in 25 girls was married before 18 in Lebanon. Despite years ...
Middle East

Civil Marriage Now Allowed in Abu Dhabi

2 years ago
The UAE has issued a new law regulating personal status matters for non-Muslims and applying civil principles in organizing family cases. In other words, non-muslims will be allowed to marry, divorce and get joint child ...
Information

Lebanon Has 2,405 Churches, 1,502 Mosques & 3,315 Schools & Universities

3 years ago
A study by International Information, a Beirut-based research & consultancy firm, revealed that there are 3,907 churches and mosques in Lebanon as well as 3,315 schools and universities. The study also listed the churches/mosques for ...
Baladi

Visit Our Lady of Lebanon (Harissa) Virtually

3 years ago
The month of May is a time of honor and devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary for Catholics around the world. In Lebanon, the most visited shrine is Our Lady of Lebanon in Harissa whereas ...
Baladi

Make a Virtual Visit To Seven Lebanese Churches This Year

3 years ago
Last year, I shared a blogpost on churches you can visit virtually around the world for the The Seven Churches Visitation tradition. This year, XYZ Lebanon setup a website to give all Lebanese Christians the ...
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