Lebanon will soon have its own camino, according to the Association of Pilgrimages in Lebanon. Source: CNA.
On Friday, the group unveiled its plans for Caminos Lebanon, an innovative project designed to revitalise Christian religious tourism through a unique pilgrimage experience inspired by the renowned Camino de Santiago in Spain.
The launch event, held in Bkerké, the episcopal see of the Maronite Catholic Patriarchate of Antioch of the Maronite Church in Lebanon, gathered prominent figures, including Maronite Patriarch Cardinal Bechara Boutros al-Rahi and Lebanon Tourism Minister Laura Khazen Lahoud, alongside a diverse audience of clergy, religious leaders, and stakeholders.
The Caminos Lebanon project seeks to highlight Lebanon’s rich religious heritage by creating a comprehensive network of pilgrimage trails that connect historical and spiritual sites across the country.
During the launch, APL president Fr Khalil Alwan articulated the project’s core mission.
“Lebanon is not just a country of natural beauty and a pleasant climate; it is a land of saints and a land of message,” Fr Alwan said.
Connecting the initiative to the Maronite Patriarchal Synod of 2006, which recognised the importance of religious tourism, Fr Alwan emphasised the spiritual significance of rediscovering mountain trails and the home to numerous shrines, deeply intertwined with the liturgical calendar.
The trail network is ambitious, spanning four distinct routes that traverse Lebanon’s diverse terrain:
Religious Mountain Trails will follow historic routes where saints once walked.
Cross Trails will connect areas like Tartij, Qartaba, and Smar Jbeil, allowing pilgrims to walk through the Stations of the Cross.
Thematic Trails will trace significant religious journeys, including the footsteps of Jesus in southern Lebanon and the Transfiguration Trail on Mount Hermon.
Cultural Religious Trails will highlight regions such as Zahle, Ghosta, and Bchaaleh, offering visitors a deep dive into local traditions and heritage.
Cardinal Bechara Boutros al-Rahi described the project as a powerful spiritual initiative.
“These paths are trails of faith and holiness, carrying the essence of the divine message,” he said. “When believers walk these paths, they experience popular devotion, which is the source and strength of faith.”
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Lebanon will soon have its own ‘camino,’ once traveled by Christ and the Romans (By Marguerita Kallassy, CNA)
