SAINTS PIERRE et MICHEL
“A sanctuary of golden stone, facing the Mediterranean breeze, anchored in centuries of faith.”
A Chapel of Stone and Light
Built by the families of the Amchit coast near the legendary city of Byblos, the Chapel of Saints Pierre et Michel rises with the sober elegance typical of Mount Lebanon. Shaped from golden limestone weathered by coastal salt, it shelters the dual maritime and celestial identity of this ancient village.
“Here, the liturgy meets the sea: it unfolds in the raw limestone, shaped by centuries of prayer and Syriac hymns.”
Marble, Gold, and Stone
A barrel-vaulted nave of silence and light
Treasures of the Chapel
DETAIL IThe Patron Saints Icons
Byzantine gold-ground icons on the altar wall.
Hand-painted icons of Saints Pierre et Michel in traditional Byzantine-Syriac style, flanking a crucifix above a carved wooden tabernacle. The gold leaf catches the intimate candlelight of the chapel.
DETAIL IIThe Vaulted Nave
Limestone blocks shaped into a perfect barrel vault.
The interior vault rises without intermediate columns, a testament to the skill of Amchit stonecutters. The bare stone reveals warm ochre tones and ancient traces of soot from centuries of beeswax devotions.
DETAIL IIIThe Bronze Bell
A voice that carries across the village.
Mounted atop the stone arch facing the Mediterranean, this bronze bell has called the faithful of Amchit to prayer for generations. Its singular voice carries the joys and sorrows of the parish.
Mass & Celebrations
The chapel celebrates the weekly Eucharist according to the ancient Syro-Maronite rite of Antioch, one of the oldest Christian traditions of the East. Readings, prayers, and hymns rise in Syriac-Aramaic, the language of Christ, and in Arabic.
Anticipated Divine Liturgy
Celebrated in the Syro-Maronite rite. Prayers and hymns in Syriac-Aramaic and Arabic. A peaceful moment of reflection at sunset.
Sunday Mass (Qurbono)
The weekly gathering of the parish community. Followed by a warm fellowship moment under the garden trees.
Location & Directions
From Beirut: ~40 minutes north via the coastal highway. Exit at Amchit.
From Byblos: ~5 minutes north along the old road.
Parking: Street parking available near the chapel.