(Medieval
church on a Temple Site 52 km)
Set in the foothills above Byblos, the 12th century Church of
Saint Charbel the Ancient in Maad village has a fine view of
the coast. The original church, which may date to the 6th
century, was built on the foundations of a Roman temple. Many
architectural elements and columns of this temple are inside
the church or scattered around the site.
The church is decorated with
Byzantine-style Wall Paintings from the pre-Crusader and
Crusader Periods. Note the two layers of the frescos
representing the Dormition (death) of the Virgin.
The Crusader tomb in the church probably
belongs to a Frankish lady, Anne Boulanger, who died in 1243. |