Hermitage

The construction of the Transfiguration monastery of Annaya, which became later on the St Peter and Paul hermitage started in 1798, on the hands of Yussef Bou Ramya and Daoud Issa Khalife, residents of Ehmej. The monastery’s completion took place in 1811. However, one year later, on August 9th, 1812, Maronite patriarch Youhanna El Helou changed the name of the place from “Transfiguration” to honor the two apostles, Peter and Paul. Consequently, the monastery came to be known as "St Peter & Paul Church '' Monastery.
Starting 1814, the worshipers abandoned the site of St Peter & Paul, along with the surrounding property, and joined the Lebanese Maronite Monastic. Fourteen years later, around 1828, the "St Peter & Paul Monastery'' transitioned into a hermitage, coinciding with the completion of the first construction in St Maroun Church, Annaya. Father Elisha El Hardini, the brother of the Blessed Nimutallah El Hardini, became the first hermit from the Order to enter this hermitage. Subsequently, on February 15, 1875, Saint Sharbel also entered the hermitage, where he spent the last 23 years of his life until his passing on December 24th, 1898.

• Route : Maronite major spiritual
• Village : Annaya