Our Lady of the Wind Church

Our Lady of the Wind church was built during the Byzantine era. It is located on the Northern coast of Anfeh, at the beginning of the Peninsula of Anfeh. Its presence in Anfeh gave  the town more importance and attention. The church is considered by many historians and experts to be the oldest church in the Middle East.

From the inside, the church is decorated with many icons painted on its walls (Peintures Murales). Because they were painted hundreds of years ago, the images can be viewed only when the wall is wetted with clean water! Unfortunately, some people used to apply salty water from the sea to view the icons on the wall. Over time, salty water damaged some of the icons which made it very hard to view them.

Its most wonderful icon is of the Virgin Mary. It is painted on the church right-side wall. 

On every August 14^th night and August 15^th, people from many areas in Lebanon visit the church to celebrate Virgin Mary's Day (Eid Al-Saydeh). Tourists from all over the world visit it from time to time, too.

The church was mentioned by more  than one historian. For instance, Shamseddine Al-Dimashqi, a historian from Damascus, wrote about it "In (Anfeh), they claim there is a place to be the first called with Mary's name in Al-Sham". Al-Sham is the area Anfeh was part of at that time.

The church is registered in the public list of monumental buildings, based on an official resolution (number 475, date 10/21/1959).    

Click Here to view the photo of a beautiful icon of Our Lady of the Wind. This photo was dedicated to Anfeh.com by Mr. Georges Mikhael Sassine in February 2002.

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