Harissa-Our Lady of Lebanon: Protectress of the World

Image from article "Our Lady of Lebanon" on MajatTraveling.com

The Beauty of Harissa (through my eyes)

Harissa, a beautiful shrine dedicated to Our Lady of Lebanon, and I was there. I look around, taking in the wide expanse of scenery laid out before me, and it's inevitable– a smile takes over my face. It’s my last day visiting Lebanon, and so far, the trip has been one of my favorites, but this moment tops them all. Visiting Harissa is a well-loved tradition for my family, and as I look upon Our Lady, I ask her to bless us. Around me, people are praying in various languages and taking photos with their loved ones. My smile grows, this is what Harrissa offers– love.

Harissa's Structure

Harissa is a magnificent structure overlooking the small city bay, Jouneih, in Lebanon. To reach the site, tourists can take a Télphérique, or lift (similar to those at a ski resort), that is based in Jounieh.

The focal point of Harissa is its towering statue of Our Lady of Lebanon. She is sculpted with her hands outstretched, watching and protecting Lebanon. The statue is placed at the top of 103 stairs and sits at 28 feet high and 18 feet wide. Made in France, the statue weighed 13 tons before being painted white. The sheer size of Harissa is a tribute to Our Lady and Lebanon’s love for her.

Our Lady of Lebanon is made up of seven installments and stands “atop a stone base” which is “[measured to be] 64 meters at the bottom and 12 meters at the top, with an overall height of 20 meters,” according to an article from Catholic Shrine Basilica. Being up close to a statue this large makes Our Lady’s presence feel especially magnified, adding to the heavenly feel of Harissa.

collage made on canva (photo credits on the collage)

made by me in canva

Harissa's History

So, how did this stunning shrine come to be? Harissa has a complex history founded in a small town in Lebanon. Elias Boutrous Howayek (a patriarch, maronite catholic) and Monsignor Carol Duval founded Harissa as a place for Christians, Muslims, and people from all religions to honor Mary. They worked closely with the Maronite Missionaries superior to make Harissa as incredible of a religious site as it is.

The creation of Harissa can be traced back to the 50th anniversary of the Proclamation of the Immaculate Conception, in 1904, which led Howayek to conceptualize a shrine that honored Mary. This same year, construction began, but was soon paused due to concern over the size of the shrine.

Thus, construction of Harissa only resumed when a deed was signed in 1906 that solidified the agreement for proper construction by Ibrahim Makhlouf and another contracting company. In 1907, the project officially resumed once adjustments from the deed were made. The base of Harissa was built in 1908 and decades later, in June, 1971, the walls of Harissa were built.

Through Harissa’s construction, it was clear that Our Lady of Lebanon was with all those who contributed to its establishment. A notable moment in Harissa’s history that truly demonstrates the sanctity of the site was the approval from the Ottoman Empire. In order for Harissa to be built, the Ottoman Empire, which was ruling Lebanon at this time, had to sign off on the project. Their rule was extremely strict, and the prospect of a positive response from Ottoman authorities were slim to none. Through the divine intercession, a few hours after the telegram was sent, a strong “yes” from the Ottoman authorities came back and Harissa was ready to begin foundation. This is one of many instances where Our Lady of Lebanon interceded for Her people.

What Harissa Offers

Harissa is a place many visit to worship as well as to enjoy a fun evening under Our Lady of Lebanon’s gaze. Similar to the well-known Christ the Redeemer structure in Brazil, daily mass is offered at Harissa. Typically, there are seven masses a day, but on Sunday, there are 12. The main Basilica at Harissa can accommodate 3,000 people. There is also adoration at all times at the shrine.

Moreover, Harissa has supported individuals not just spiritually, but financially. Since it is such a vast religious shrine, lots of work to maintain its standard is required. Thus, Harissa has provided 120 jobs for those in need.

Currently, the shrine is being taken care of by the Congregation of the Maronite Lebanese Missionaries, who have caused an exponential growth of visitors. Recently, a restaurant and tourist park have been added to the religious site, which is mainly geared towards families and young children.

photos from me

Lebanon's Love for Mother Mary
One of the biggest reasons Harissa is such a significant pilgrimage site is because of Lebanon's great love and adoration for Our Lady. Shrines in honor of Mary are prominent all around the small country and can be seen throughout daily life.

In recent years, more and more Lebanese civilians have flocked to Harissa and asked Our Lady for help. This is greatly due to Lebanon’s economic crisis. As of late, Lebanon has been experiencing a great deal of inflation and the cost of living has become impossible for the average person to keep up with. Through this economic crisis, Harissa and Our Lady of Lebanon have stayed constant for those living there, becoming even more of a support for civilians and a place of refuge for those struggling.

One of the founders of Harissa, Monsignor Carol Duval, was quoted in writing saying “[Our Lady] would appear at a distance as the Queen and the Protectress of Lebanon,” he recognized that the “pious people of Lebanon, already so devoted to Mary, would love to visit Her, to invoke Her.” This quote truly encompasses the piety of Lebanese people to Mary. Even before Harissa was the religious shrine it has grown into, Duval understood the value it would hold for Lebanon.

An example of this great love for Our Lady can be seen through the story behind its funding. When Father Khoury and other partners realized that Harissa would need more financial support to exist, they called on the faithful to help gather donations from various charities and individuals. The significant amount of donations Lebanon amassed for Harissa truly reflects their great love for Mary.

A line graph taken from the article "Lebanon ill-equipped for further instability" from Diplomatic Courier, made by Benedict Vigers and Mohames Younis.

My Culture and Love For Our Lady of Lebanon

Harissa, an expansive shrine for Our Lady of Lebanon, is a place of refuge. With various masses and services offered each day, it is a popular site of pilgrimage. It truly is a product of love for Our Lady of Lebanon and a holy place for all, whose complex construction has lasted decades.

The shrine pictures Our Lady standing tall, arms outstretched overseeing Jounieh, the Mediterranean Sea, and the whole world. This is also how I picture Her, arms outstretched blessing me.

Throughout my life, I have been taught this great love for Our Lady of Lebanon. Before entering surgery for my arm, my mom prays over me and together we ask for Her blessing. Before every flight, my dad holds my hand and together we pray for Her to place a hedge of protection around us. After every decade in Lebanon, every mass or prayer, the beautiful song Ya Oum Allah by Fairuz, dedicated to Our Lady of Lebanon, plays. Our Lady has been and continues to be with me through every step of my life.

To see Harissa is to truly experience the accumulation of love for Our Lady of Lebanon. It is an eye-opening experience that never leaves you.

photo taken by my family

The song Ya Oum Allah by Fairuz taken from the account na3na3sarsar on Youtube.

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