An Invitation from Fr. Aaron J. Sandbothe...

As part of the Centennial Jubilee Celebration of Saint George Maronite Church, we are excited to announce a once-in-a-lifetime pilgrimage to Lebanon in October 2026 — and we warmly invite all parishioners, families, and friends to join us on this extraordinary spiritual journey!

Together, we will walk in the footsteps of our ancestors, saints, and patriarchs as we visit the sacred valleys, ancient monasteries, and holy shrines that have shaped our Maronite faith for centuries. From Harissa to Bkerké, from the Qadisha Valley to the birthplace of St. Sharbel, we will explore the living heart of Lebanon — its rich history, breathtaking beauty, warm hospitality, and profound spirituality.

This pilgrimage is more than travel; it is an opportunity to reconnect with our roots, renew our faith, and strengthen the bonds of our Saint George family as we honor 100 blessed years of worship and community in Uniontown, Pennsylvania.

Whether you have visited Lebanon before or have always dreamed of going, this pilgrimage promises unforgettable experiences, heartfelt prayer, and moments of grace to treasure for a lifetime.

Mark your calendars and begin preparing for a truly meaningful Centennial Jubilee celebration. We hope you will join us!

Fr. Aaron J. Sandbothe

Pastor of St. George Church

Throughout this pilgrimage, you will experience Daily Mass, celebrated privately on most days and in English, at some of the most sacred and historically significant Christian sites in Lebanon.

Beirut

Explore the historic heart of Lebanon’s capital, including Nejmeh Square, Martyr’s Square, the restored Solidere District, and the Beirut Port. Visit three major cathedrals—St. George Maronite, St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox, and St. Elias Melkite Greek Catholic—while staying at the Hilton Beirut Habtoor Grand Hotel, where the 32nd floor serves as our dining room for breakfasts and dinners overlooking the city and the Mediterranean.

Qadisha Valley (The Holy Valley)

• Mar Lichaa Monastery (private Mass)

• Qannoubine Monastery

• Grotto of St. Marina the Monk

• St. Anthony Monastery (first printing press in the Middle East)

• Our Lady of the Fortress

• Scenic hikes and valley restaurants among the trees

• Cedars of God (Horsh Arz el-Rab)

• House of St. Charbel

Saints of Lebanon

• Monastery of St. Maroun (private Mass; near the tomb of St. Charbel)

• Hermitage of St. Charbel

• Monastery of St. Hardini

• Monastery of St. Rafka

Coastal Ancient Cities

• Batroun

  • St. Stephen’s Cathedral (private Mass)

  • Old Souk (shopping & leisure)

  • Golf cart tour

• Byblos

  • One of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world

  • Ancient port and archaeological sites

  • Golf cart tour and walking exploration

  • Origin of the word Bible (from byblos, papyrus)

• Harissa & Bkerké

  • St. Paul’s Greek Melkite Basilica

  • Our Lady of Lebanon (private Mass)

  • Monastery of Our Lady of Bkerké (See of the Maronite Patriarch)

  • Rosary and meeting with Patriarch Rai – pending availability

  • Patriarchs’ private museum (time permitting)

Special Meals & Experiences

• Welcome Dinner in Beirut

• Lunch among the Cedars

• Monastery-garden lunch at St. Maroun

• Dinner at Mounir, one of Lebanon’s most celebrated restaurants

• Meet Father Louis, miracle archivist of St. Charbel, if available

• Pray the Rosary with Patriarch Rai, if available

• Visit the Parish of St. George, where we will have a private Mass and meet the pastor

• Boat tour of Jeita Grotto (time permitting)

Air Travel: This pilgrimage is offered as a Land Only Package. Participants are responsible for arranging and covering the cost of their own air travel for the Lebanon: Ancient Monasteries & Modern Saints pilgrimage. After booking, you will receive the name and contact information of our recommended travel agent.

Arrival Information:

• Airport: Beirut International Airport (BEY)

• Date: Saturday, October 10, 2026 (Day 1 of the pilgrimage)

• Flight Arrival Time: 7:00 AM - 5:00 PM (Local Time) This arrival time allows approximately one hour to clear passport control and retrieve your baggage before your private transfer. If you arrive outside the times listed above, a $50 transfer fee will be applied. This fee also applies to early arrivals, including those arriving one day before the pilgrimage begins.

• Transfer: An individual transfer from the airport to the hotel is included in your package for arrivals between 7:00 AM and 5:00 PM.

It is highly recommended that participants consider arriving on Friday, October 9, 2026, a day before Day 1 (Saturday, October 10, 2026) of the pilgrimage. Arriving early provides time to rest.

For those arriving before Day 1, we have arranged a designated early-arrival hotel: the Hilton Beirut Habtoor Grand Hotel, which will also serve as the hotel for Day 1 of the pilgrimage. Participants will be responsible for any additional costs for nights not included in the package.

Regardless of whether you arrive a day early on Friday, October 9, 2026, or on Day 1, Saturday, October 10, 2026, of the pilgrimage, an individual airport transfer is included in your package, but only to the designated early-arrival hotel.

Departure Information:

• Airport: Beirut International Airport (BEY)

• Date: Monday, October 19, 2026 (Day 10 of the pilgrimage)

• Time: Flight departure after 7:00 AM (Local Time)

• Transfer: Individual transfers to the airport are provided. You must depart the hotel three hours before your scheduled flight departure. If your flight departs before 7:00 AM, a $50 transfer fee will apply. Our final night of the pilgrimage will be at the Hilton Beirut Habtoor Grand Hotel.

Recommended Travel Agency:

For booking flights, we recommend using an experienced travel agency. They will handle your airline reservations and forward the details to our office, ensuring a seamless process. You will receive the contact information for Inside the Vatican Pilgrimages' recommended seasoned travel agent in your Welcome Letter, which is sent immediately after you register.

To get an idea of the cost and availability of flights, we recommend using Google Flights as a helpful and simple tool for initial research.

With more than 33 years of publishing Inside the Vatican magazine, we have colleagues and friends all over the world — and many of them have become part of our Pilgrimage family.

Designing an Inside the Vatican pilgrimage begins with a theme or a particular country; then we weave in encounters with real people who live and work there, as well as those with expert knowledge in its historical and spiritual perspectives. Each day includes the opportunity to attend Mass.

Our itineraries encompass both world-renowned and lesser-known destinations, and every detail is meticulously arranged to create a truly unique experience; we do not offer cookie-cutter pilgrimages. Our pilgrims also appreciate that we limit our pilgrimages to a maximum of 33 pilgrims. For custom pilgrimages, we may exceed this number only at the client’s request.

Crafting an Inside the Vatican pilgrimage is about knowing firsthand what makes a place extraordinary and knowing personally the people of the land—relationships formed through more than 33 years of publishing Inside the Vatican magazine and covering the universal Church. It is about understanding how best to experience each place and then refining the countless details, moments, and encounters—both planned and spontaneous. This thoughtful approach creates the kind of boutique pilgrimage experience that cannot be mass produced—an experience shaped with care, a flexible pace, and strong local connections. These are just a few of the reasons why many pilgrims return to join us again and again.

Contact Information:

Phone: +1.202.536.4555  Monday-Friday 9:00 am - 6:00 pm ET.

Email: Pilgrimages@InsideTheVatican.com. 

WhatsApp: +1.540.631.4392

Before you book your trip with us, please carefully read our Terms and Conditions

Use EARLY when you register on or before Wednesday, December 31, 2025, to receive a $100.00 discount.  Contact us to inquire about any applicable discounts.

Upon arrival in Beirut, you will be met immediately after exiting the secured area by Inside the Vatican Pilgrimage representatives. You will be transferred by private vehicle to the Hilton Beirut Habtoor Grand Hotel, where you can check in immediately and take some time to rest after your travels.

This evening, we gather for a Welcome Dinner on the 32nd floor of the Hilton, a beautiful space overlooking the city of Beirut and the Mediterranean Sea. Throughout the pilgrimage, our Inside the Vatican representatives will accompany you from your arrival until your departure, ensuring a seamless and enriching experience.

Overnight in Beirut.

Dinner included.

This morning begins with breakfast on the 32nd floor of the Hilton Grand Hotel, overlooking the city of Beirut and the Mediterranean Sea. After breakfast, we walk just five minutes to St. Rita’s Church to attend the Sunday Maronite Liturgy, joining the local parish community for Sunday Mass in Arabic.

Following the liturgy, we depart for the Qadisha Valley—approximately a two-hour drive, with lunch along the way. Known as The Holy Valley, Qadisha cradles centuries of Christian monasticism and preserves the earliest roots of the Maronite Church, dating back to the 4th century. UNESCO recognizes this sacred place as “one of the most important early Christian monastic settlements in the world.”

Weather and time permitting, we will visit Our Lady of the Fortress, a remarkable vantage point. On a clear day, the view stretches across northern Lebanon, the full sweep of its coastline, and even into Syria and its distant shoreline.

We then continue to the Monastery of St. Anthony, nestled deep within the Qadisha Valley. This monastery is believed to be the birthplace of the first printing press in the Middle East, which is said to have been built in 1584. Its earliest known printed text is The Book of Psalms from 1610. The Lebanese Maronite Order restored the printing press in the early nineteenth century. Though its operations were interrupted during the 1860 war and again during World War II, it stands today as a treasured witness to the region’s cultural and religious heritage.

Dinner in the Qadisha Valley.

Breakfast and Dinner are included.

Today, we continue our time in the Qadisha Valley, visiting numerous holy sites and encountering the places where monks and hermits lived, prayed, and sought God in silence for many centuries.

We begin with breakfast at our hotel before driving down into the valley to visit Mar Lichaa Monastery, one of the ancient monastic communities carved into the cliffs. Here, we will have a private Mass.

For lunch, we enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime dining experience at a small restaurant nestled among the trees at the bottom of the Qadisha Valley—an unforgettable setting of natural beauty and peace. After lunch, those who wish may take part in an optional hike through the valley to Qannoubine Monastery and the Grotto of St. Marina the Monk, both treasured sites of early Christian monastic life.

Qannoubine Monastery, one of the oldest in the valley and for centuries the seat of the Maronite Patriarchate.

Grotto of St. Marina the Monk, a deeply moving site honoring the saint whose life of humility and hidden holiness has inspired pilgrims for generations.

Dinner this evening is in the Qadisha Valley (OYO – on your own).

Overnight in the Qadisha Valley.

Breakfast and Lunch are included.

We begin the day with breakfast at our hotel in the Qadisha Valley before departing for the town of Bcharre, a center of Maronite Christian heritage.

Our first stop is the Basilica of Saba, a historic and beloved church in Bcharre. From there, we continue to the House of St. Charbel, a place deeply connected to the life of Lebanon’s most beloved modern saint. Here, we will have a private Mass at the House of St. Charbel.

Following Mass, we visit The Cedars of God (Horsh Arz el-Rab)—a protected grove of Lebanon’s famous ancient cedar trees. These towering cedars, some thousands of years old, are among the last survivors of the great forests that once covered the mountains of Lebanon. The cedars are mentioned in the Bible 103 times, including this verse from Ezekiel:

“Behold, the Assyrian was a cedar in Lebanon with fair branches, and with a shadowing shroud, and of a high stature; and his top was among the thick boughs.”

We enjoy lunch among the majestic Cedars, a serene and memorable experience in this remarkable mountain region.

Dinner this evening is in Bcharre 

Breakfast and Lunch are included.

This morning we depart the Qadisha Valley and begin our journey toward the coastal town of Batroun. Along the way, we stop at several significant monastic sites connected to the great saints of Lebanon.

Our first visit is to the Monastery of St. Hardini (1808–1858), a Maronite monk, priest, and scholar best known as the spiritual master and teacher of St. Charbel. His life of simplicity, devotion, and deep learning shaped the spirituality of many who followed him.

We continue to the Monastery of St. Rafka (1832–1914), the site associated with this beloved Maronite nun who was canonized in 2001 by St. John Paul II. St. Rafka is known for offering her profound suffering—including blindness and paralysis—to Christ, uniting herself completely with His Passion.

From there, we visit the Parish of St. George, where we will have a private Mass in the church.

Lunch follows Mass.

We then continue to Batroun for dinner and an evening at leisure.

Overnight in Batroun.

Breakfast and Lunch are included.

We begin the day with a private Mass at St. Stephen’s Cathedral, a beautiful church overlooking the harbor of Batroun. After Mass, we enjoy a guided golf cart tour of Batroun, one of Lebanon’s oldest coastal cities, taking in its seaside charm and historic neighborhoods.

Late morning and early afternoon are free for lunch on your own (OYO) and time to explore and shop in Batroun’s Old Souk, known for its artisan boutiques, cafés, and traditional Lebanese craftsmanship.

In the afternoon, we depart for the ancient seaside city of Byblos, one of the world's oldest continuously inhabited towns. Here, we take a golf cart tour and explore its historic port, stone streets, and archaeological sites.

The name Byblos is Greek; papyrus received its early Greek name (byblos, byblinos) because it was exported to the Aegean world through this coastal city. The English word Bible is derived from byblos meaning “the (papyrus) book.”

After exploring Byblos, we depart in the late afternoon for Beirut and check in once again at the Hilton Grand Hotel.

Tonight, we gather for dinner on the 32nd floor of the Hilton, with sweeping views over Beirut and the Mediterranean Sea.

Overnight in Beirut.

Breakfast and Dinner are included.

This morning begins with breakfast on the 32nd floor of the Hilton, overlooking Beirut and the Mediterranean Sea—a relaxing and unhurried start to the day.

After breakfast, we transfer to downtown Beirut for a private Mass.

The rest of the day is dedicated to exploring the rich layers of downtown Beirut, a district where ancient history, modern architecture, and Lebanon’s resilience story all converge.

Our tour includes:

• Nejmeh Square, the central plaza known for its iconic Ottoman-era clock tower

• Martyr’s Square, a place of deep national memory, home to the bullet-scarred martyrs’ statue and, on many days, rotating art exhibits

• The Solidere District, once devastated during the civil war and now restored under the French Mandate plan into a beautiful quarter of cafés, elegant shops, and pedestrian streets

• Three of Beirut’s prominent cathedrals:

  • St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Cathedral

  • St. George Maronite Cathedral

  • St. Elias Melkite Greek Catholic Cathedral

• A visit to the Beirut Port, the site of the August 4, 2020, explosion, a place that stands as a testimony to both tragedy and recovery

We enjoy lunch in the old city of Beirut, followed—time permitting—by a boat tour of the famous Jeita Grotto, a spectacular natural wonder known for its dramatic limestone formations and underground waterways.

Dinner this evening is at the Hilton (OYO – on your own).

Overnight in Beirut.

Breakfast and Lunch are included.

We begin the day with breakfast on the 32nd floor of the Hilton, overlooking Beirut and the Mediterranean Sea.

This morning, we travel a short distance up the mountain to Harissa, a beautiful hilltop overlooking Beirut and the coastline below. Here we will visit three significant sites of the Maronite and Melkite traditions:

• St. Paul’s Greek Melkite Basilica, with its striking architecture and sweeping views

• Our Lady of Lebanon, one of the most beloved Marian shrines in the Middle East

• The Monastery of Our Lady of Bkerké, the See of the Maronite Patriarchate—often called the Vatican of Lebanon
  

At Bkerké, we will pray the rosary with Patriarch Rai, the Patriarch of the Maronite Catholics, followed by a personal meeting with him if his schedule allows. Time permitting, we will also visit the Patriarchs’ private museum.

We will have a private Mass at Our Lady of Lebanon, a beautiful setting high above the Bay of Jounieh.

This evening, we gather for a very special dinner at Mounir, an iconic open-air restaurant nestled in the hills overlooking Beirut. Surrounded by lush gardens, stone terraces, and panoramic views of the city lights, Mounir is considered by many to be the finest Lebanese restaurant in all of Lebanon. It is renowned for its traditional mezze, wood-grilled specialties, and warm hospitality—an unforgettable dining experience.

Overnight in Beirut.

Breakfast and Dinner are included.

This morning begins with breakfast on the 32nd floor of the Hilton, overlooking Beirut and the Mediterranean Sea. After breakfast, we travel north for a private Mass at the Monastery of St. Maroun, near the tomb of St. Charbel.

After Mass, we remain at the Monastery of St. Maroun to spend time in prayer at the tomb of St. Charbel (1828–1898), one of Lebanon’s most beloved miracle-working saints. Here, we will also meet Father Louis, who has documented St. Charbel’s miracles for more than 30 years. He will share remarkable stories and testimonies of the saint’s intercession that he has personally witnessed over the decades.

We then continue up the mountain to visit the Hermitage of St. Charbel, where the saint lived in solitude and prayer. Overlooking a beautiful valley, the hermitage includes his simple cell and the quiet surroundings that shaped his life of deep devotion.

For lunch, we enjoy a delicious Lebanese meal at St. Maroun, prepared with ingredients from the monastery’s own garden.

Dinner this evening is on your own (OYO) at the Hilton, once again on the 32nd floor with views of Beirut and the Mediterranean Sea.

Overnight in Beirut.

Breakfast and Lunch are included.

After breakfast, private transfers to the airport will be arranged according to your individual departure times.

Breakfast is included.