When it comes to my favorite places in Lebanon, the Saydet el Nourieh (Our Lady of the Light) Orthodox Convent in the Batrouni village of Hamat, which many people incorrectly believe is in Chekka, ranks high.
It’s possibly one of the most peaceful and picturesque places you can find. But I may be biased. Batroun pride, I guess. I think it’s very difficult not to be taken by the beauty of the mountain descending almost perpendicularly into the sea, giving you a breathtaking view of the Mediterranean and for religious people a very serene place to pray.
The story of the convent goes as follows: around the year 503 AD, two sailors found themselves in peril at sea. So they prayed to the Virgin Mary for salvation. She appeared to them as light and guided them safely to shore. To honor Her, they carved a cave where they saw the light emanating from. An Orthodox monastery was built in the 17th century.
And what better way to bid farewell to the Marian month than with a tribute to one of the most famous Marian shrines in Lebanon?
The convent
The view from the top of the mountain
Going towards the cave
The cave that was carved
All of these pictures were taken with an iPhone 4S and edited with the app Camera+.
A Separate State of Mind | A Blog by Elie Fares 
It’s a beautiful place. And the sea view is breathtaking. The color and the clear water at the shore never fail to amaze me every time.
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Yeah the clear water is great. The whole place is just awesome.
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I’ve never been there. Stunning pictures!
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You need to go!
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Wow! Such beautiful pictures. I keep looking at them again and again. I need to visit that place soon.
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Yes you should 🙂
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Such a beautiful place 🙂
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Indeed!
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Thank you Elie for those peaceful pics, I have visited the place from years ago and I keep remembering as if it was yesterday.
I just want to check for the story, because I’ve heard that the place was a Phoenicians shrine/ temple, for the god sea to protect the ships in the sea. And when the Lebanese converted to Christianity they build the church on the temple.
Best,
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Well the story I know and that I’ve read on many occasions is about the Virgin Mary appearing in the sky and guiding the sailors to safety. I’m not sure how the place could be a Phoenician shrine since there’s nothing left of that anymore.
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My family and I have been to this beautiful place many times and every time we go to the North of Lebanon. It is a place of complete Peace and Tranqility and Faith. God Bless those who established this Holy Place and Those who live within it’s walls. They are very lucky People
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I’m very glad you know it 🙂
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Amazing Elie… The next time you visit, make sure to take a photo of the Icon placed outside within the fountain bay. A story say that during the civil war a bullet came in and hit the Icon but couldn’t make it through to the (Lady of the Light)… The bullet is still stuck in the glass till date.
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