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57 - 59 Rochester Place, London, NW1 9JU
Tel: 020 7485 3003 Fax: 020 7485 3006 E-mail: info@paxtravel.co.uk
www.paxtravel.co.uk
Aid To The Church in Need
Pilgrimage to
Lebanon
Spiritual Director
Canon Christopher Tuckwell
3 rd - 11 th June 2013

This pilgrimage, to Lebanon, will be in prayerful solidarity with suffering Christians there
and throughout the Middle East. Neville Kyrke-Smith, the charity’s UK director, reflects on
what he encountered in this most ancient of Biblical lands during a recent fact-finding trip.
Building bridges of hope: Amid the turmoil and tension of the Arab Spring, Christians are
building bridges of peace and cooperation in Lebanon and the Middle East.
The Church in Lebanon faces some immense challenges – imploring us to respond in faith
and charity. Christian leaders are bridge-builders, engaged in dialogue as they strive to
bring about peace. Our continued help is vital to them, as they rely on our prayers and
compassion.
“We are bridge-builders with other faiths,” Melkite Archbishop Elie Haddad of Saida (Sidon)
told me when I visited Lebanon in June 2012.
Archbishop Haddad’s Maronite counterpart, Bishop Elias Nassar, agreed, saying: “The
Christian presence is so important here as a bridge-builder – the other communities like
to deal with Christians.” Urging ACN to continue its support for dialogue projects in the
Middle East, Bishop Nassar said:
“Please enable us to witness to God and show Jesus to the people.”
“We follow our Lord’s command to give testimony of our faith. Thank you!
We pray for you!”
The faith of Christians in the Middle East – in our Biblical homeland – inspires us. Please
join Aid to the Church in Need on this special pilgrimage to Lebanon, as together we try to
sustain the faith of our brothers and sisters in Christ.
Day one – Monday 3rd June
London – Beirut
Scheduled flight from Heathrow to Beirut. On arrival, transfer to our accommodation in Beirut, the
Monastery of Notre Dame Du Puits, for dinner and a four-night stay.
Day two – Tuesday 4th June
Sidon & Tyre
This morning, we drive along the coast to Sidon (50km), once an important provincial city, which
became part of the Roman Empire in the 1st century AD, visited by St Paul on his journey to Rome.
After St Paul’s visit the city fell into decline, but became a bishopric under the Byzantines. In the
seventh century it was captured by the Umayyads, but was recaptured by the Crusaders in the twelfth
Century. We visit the Greek Catholic Cathedral of St Nicholas, where we hope to meet Archbishop
Elie Haddad, and share lunch with local Christians. After lunch we drive 30km south to Tyre where
Paul stayed on the last night of his third missionary journey from Ephesus to Jerusalem, where we
visit the Roman ruins. In AD58 it was here that local Christians are said to have warned Paul that
it would be unsafe to continue his journey to Jerusalem. Mass will be celebrated at the Maronite
Cathedral in Tyre. We return to Beirut in the late afternoon. We hope to be joined by Mr Jacques El
Kalassi of Télé Lumière for dinner.
Day three – Wednesday 5th June
Deir el Qamar – Beiteddine – Kesserwan
Our first visit is to Deir el Qamar, the first capital of Mount Lebanon (17th – 19th Century), a picturesque

town with old palaces, a 16th Century church, Mosque and synagogues. Continue to Beiteddine (“The
House of Religion”), where we visit the palace, the summer residence of the President of Lebanon.
We meet Bishop Elias Nassar, who will introduce us to local Christians. Our final visit is to Mgr
Maroun Asmmar at the Maronite Patriarchal Seminary in Kesserwan where Mass will be celebrated.
We hope to have supper with the Seminarians before returning to Beirut.
Day four – Thursday 6th June
Byblos – Annaya – Harissa – Geita Cave
Today we travel north from Beirut, and visit the town of Byblos (40km), with its Byzantine church
and Crusader castle. We visit these as well as the twelfth century Maronite Church of St John - Marcus
where we celebrate Mass. Our next visit is to meet Fr Elias Aghiaof the Melchite Missionaries of St
Paul, in Harissa, and hope to join the Missionaries for lunch. Afterwards we visit the Shrine of Our
Lady of Lebanon. In the evening we hope that Mother Marie Haddad and the Ephraimite Sisters will
join us for supper.
Day five – Friday 7th June North Bekka – Ras Baalbek – Deir Maroun – Saydet – Beshovat
We depart the Bekka Valley to Baalbek (86km), the ancient city of Heliopolis, “City of the Sun”, the
greatest temple complex in the Roman world. Built on the remains of the temple is the “es Seide”
Aleppan Monastery. It is hoped to visit a vineyard, where we would have the opportunity to taste
the wines and purchase lunch. Afterwards we drive to Deis Mar Maroun, a spectacular rock-hewn
monastery located in the cliffs or orontis, where Maronite Priests sought refuge in the eight Century
AD. Continue to Saydet Beshouat where the church of Our Lady of Beshovat was built from the
stones of an ancient temple, an important Marian place of pilgrimage. From here we drive to our
accommodation for the next three nights at the Monastery of St Anthony of Kozhaya. We will celebrate
Mass here before dinner.
Day six – Saturday 8th June
Qadisha Valley
The word ‘Qadisha’ comes from the semitic root meaning ‘Holy’, and Wadi Qadisha is the Holy
Valley, filled with caves and rock shelters, inhabited from the third millennium BC to the Roman
period. Thy valley is scattered with cave chapels, hermitages and monasteries. We will visit some
of these, including Our Lady of Hawqa (if we are able to negotiate 750 steps), and Our Lady of
Qannoubine (40 minute walk). Mass will be celebrated back at the Monastery of St Anthony of
Kozhaya, where we are staying.
Day seven – Sunday 9th June
Bqaa Kafra – Cedars Forest – Ouyoun Orghoch
We visit Bqaa Kafra, the highest village in Lebanon at 1750 metres. It is famous for being the
birthplace of St Charbel, whose father’s house was transformed into a church. We celebrate Mass
here. Afterwards we visit the Cedars Forest (the Cedar is the symbol of Lebanon), said to be 6000
years old. The cedar Wood from here was sent to Solomon for the building of his Temple and Palace.
We have the opportunity to purchase lunch at Ouyoun Orghoc, in one of several lakeside restaurants.
Return to St Anthony’s Monastery for our final night in the north.
Day eight – Monday 10th June
Balamand to Beirut
Depart for our drive south, first visiting a twelfth Century Cistercian Monastery at Balamand, where
we hope to celebrate Mass. We also visit the ruins of a Crusader castle and medieval churches at Anfe,
before descending towards the Mediterranean Sea to the beautifully-located convent of ‘Our Lady of
The Light’ at Nourith. Many miracles have been attributed to Our Lady by pilgrims to this holy site.
Return to Beirut for our last night where we stay at Notre Dame du Puits. We will have a panoramic
tour of Beirut, during which we will visit St Elijah’s Catholic Cathedral.
Day nine – Tuesday 11th June
Transfer to the airport for our morning flight from Beirut to London.
Beirut to London

57 - 59 Rochester Place, London, NW1 9JU
Tel: 020 7485 3003 Fax: 020 7485 3006 E-mail: info@paxtravel.co.uk
www.paxtravel.co.uk
Price £1398
Includes:
• Return scheduled flights on British Airways: Heathrow – Beirut.
• UK and Lebanon airport taxes.
• 20kg luggage allowance per person (on the above flights).
• 8-nights accommodation as follows:
3rd – 8th June Notre Dame Du Puits Convent, Jal-el-Dib.
8th – 11th June St Anthony’s Monastery, Qadesha Valley.
• Meal plan: 8 continental breakfasts and 8 dinners.
• All touring and transfers as per the itinerary.
• English speaking guide to accompany the group whilst in Lebanon.
• Pax Travel tour manager to accompany the group.
• ATOL and ABTA financial protection.
Extras:
• Travel insurance at £52 per person.
• Single room supplement at £128 per person for 8 nights.
• Flight surcharges if passed on by the airline.
• Lunches, drinks and souvenirs.
• UK coach transfers.
To reserve your place on this pilgrimage please send a completed booking form
along with a £160 deposit (plus the insurance premium in the same payment if the
cover we offer is required) per person to Pax Travel Ltd.
The above price is guaranteed for bookings received by 31st January 2013. Any
bookings received after this date may be subject to a flight surcharge.
This tour involves a substantial amount of walking, some of which will be over irregular
surfaces such as cobblestones and badly-maintained walking areas. If everyday walking
is something you find difficult, this tour may be unsuitable for you.
This itinerary is a guide and subject to change.
Copyright 2012 © Pax Travel Ltd