St. Charbel Aannaya TO St. Charbel Beqaa Kafra: pilgrimage trail

A ritual pilgrimage trail that the youth of Hsarat do on yearly basis, i was so excited to join them this year. They set off from their village Hsarat, a neighbor village to my mother’s hometown “Sakiet El Khait”. I chose to start from Saint Charbel Aannaya. Lit a candle at Aannaya shrine and took another candle from Aannaya to light it at Beqaa Kafra Saint Charbel’s cave/shrine.
A prolonged journey that provides much time for reflection. An incredible adventure and a personal achievement, connecting the two most famous shrines for Saint Charbel in Lebanon, trekking all night long on high pace passing by many beautiful authentic villages. At night we stayed gathered in one group in anticipation of any wild attack. At the early hours of the morning, before dawn, we took our coffee break under the umbrella of Mar Antonios shrine next to Tannourine reserve, it was freezing in there in the barren mountains between Tannourine and Hadath El Jebbeh.
It wasn’t a time trial, we had many pit stops breaks to ensure a smooth journey and minimizing injuries as much possible.
I started my journey at 4:30pm
from Saint Maroun monastery at Aannaya ( Mar Charbel Aannaya), from here till Jaj village, where i joined the group approximately about an hour later, it was a running phase.
All the time we were on paved road wearing our shorts and running shoes.
We passed by Mechmech, then Lehfed, Saqi Rechmaya, Jaj, Tartij, Bchaaleh, Douma, Hrayeq, Tannourine El Tahta, Wata Houb, Tannourine El Faouqa, Hourata, Miel, Harisset Tannourine, Hadath L Jebbeh, Brissate, Dimane, Bazaoun, Hasroun and finally Beqaa Kafra.
The trail is easy in term of inclination difficulties, ascents and descents are not that gnarly!
In Tannourine we met KarimBoukarim, a professional photographer that was taking shots of the milky way on that clear lovely night, the first two photos are his.
A great experience indeed and a beautiful company.