Our Lady of Nourieh (''Saydet el Nourieh'' in Arabic) is a

Marian shrine A shrine to the Virgin Mary (or Marian shrine) is a shrine marking an apparition or other miracle ascribed to the Blessed Virgin Mary, or a site on which is centered a historically strong Marian devotion. Such locales are often the destinatio ...

Hamat Hamat is a village in Lebanon. It is located 287 meters atop the historic cape of Theoprosopon. It is home to the historic shrine and monastery of Our Lady of Nourieh. The village is also home to Saint Elias Church, which overlooks the Jawz ...

Lebanon Lebanon ( , ar, لُبْنَان, translit=lubnān, ), officially the Republic of Lebanon () or the Lebanese Republic, is a country in Western Asia. It is located between Syria to Lebanon–Syria border, the north and east and Israel to Blue ...

. ''Nourieh'' is a derivative of the Arabic word, ''nour'', meaning light. Thus, in English, the Marian shrine can be called, Our Lady of Light. The story of Our Lady of Light shrine and monastery is celebrated throughout Lebanon, a country where Christianity has existed since Jesus first evangelized in Tyre and

Sidon Sidon ( ; he, צִידוֹן, ''Ṣīḏōn'') known locally as Sayda or Saida ( ar, صيدا ''Ṣaydā''), is the third-largest city in Lebanon. It is located in the South Governorate, of which it is the capital, on the Mediterranean coast. ...

, and therefore, Lebanon is often considered part of the “ Holy Land.” Lebanon - A Holy Land with a message , religious tour to Lebanon , Cathedral of Saint George , Pigeon’s Rock , Sarafand , Crusaders’ castle , monastery of Deir Nourieh , Syriac Maronite Monastery in Kaftoun , Deir El Balamand
/ref> Some of the first Christian communities were set up in Lebanon during the time of the apostles. It is believed that two sailors built the shrine in the 4th century. One winter night, on a very stormy sea, the two sailors found themselves in peril. They began praying, and the Virgin appeared to them as a light and guided them gently to the shore of

Theoprosopon Theoprosopon is the Greek name of Lithoprosopon, a cape in north Lebanon, also known today by the name of ''Râs ach-Chaq’a’''. The cape is situated between the ancient cities of Batroun and Tripoli. The promontory creates a massive barrie ...

near modern-day Chekka in North Lebanon. The grateful sailors carved a cave in the cliff and dedicated it to the Virgin Mary, and called the shrine, Our Lady of Light. A Greek Orthodox monastery was built in the 17th century. The miraculous icon of the Theotokos has been venerated for centuries for having glowed with light to attract wayward ships.The Road From Damascus: A Report from the Delegation to Damascus to Consecrate Three New Bishops for North America , Antiochian.org
/ref> The shrine is a popular Christian pilgrimage site in Lebanon, and tourists and pilgrims alike enjoy the beautiful view of the bay from atop historic Cape

References

{{coord missing, Lebanon Shrines to the Virgin Mary Marian devotions Titles of Mary Catholic devotions Religious buildings and structures in Lebanon Eastern Orthodoxy in Lebanon Greek Orthodox monasteries Nourieh