MECMiddle East
Churches
CHURCH BUILDING

Sanctuary of Our Lady of Bechouat

Bechouat · Maronite Catholic

A brief history

The sanctuary of Our Lady of Bechouat stands in a village of the Beqaa Valley. In 1741 a Byzantine wooden icon of the Virgin Mary was found in one of the deep caves there. A church was built above the cave, and the site has been a place of pilgrimage ever since.

An interesting detail

The church was built above the cave rather than beside it, so the place of the discovery remains underneath the sanctuary.

Sources & directions