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Seven Churches Visitation

Posted by N10452

Why do we do it ?

The tradition of visiting seven churches on Holy Thursday is an ancient practice, probably originating in Rome, where early pilgrims visited the seven pilgrim churches as penance. They are Saint John Lateran, Saint Peter, Saint Mary Major, Saint Paul-outside-the-Walls, Saint Lawrence Outside the Walls, Holy Cross-in-Jerusalem, and traditionally Saint Sebastian Outside the Walls. Pope John Paul II replaced St. Sebastian with the Sanctuary of the Madonna of Divine Love for the jubilee year of 2000.

For those of you outside Lebanon, here are few pictures of the churches i visited today, that way you can at least visit them virtually :-)

Mar Maroun, Achrafieh ( Pic1 , Pic2 , Pic3 , Pic4)

Catholic Capucin Church, Beirut (One of the oldest catholic churches in Beirut), (Pic1, Pic2).

Maronite Church, Beirut ( Pic1, Pic2 )

Saydit el Bchara, Achrafieh ( Pic1, Pic2)

Mar Antonios Church, Achrafieh ( Pic1, Pic2)

St Joseph Cathedral, Achrafieh ( Pic1, Pic2, Pic3)

Mar Charbel, Adonis

And here is an eigth church that i did not visit today, but that is very meaningful to me and that i love visiting from time to time.

Saydit el Maysseh Church, Jbeil :
(Pic1, Pic2, Pic3, Pic4)


Filed under: Ethics & Religion, Events, Lebanon
Posted by N10452 on 03.20.08 @ 11:34 pm |

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5 Comments. Add your own...

  • 1. Hanoun | March 21st, 2008 at 3:55 am

    Thanks N, this helps when your out of Lebanon

  • 2. appo | March 21st, 2008 at 5:42 am

    Zyara makbouli, have a blessed holy week… yesterday a friend ask me, why we visit 7 churches at that day i was unable to answer her. i asked someone to get that answer:” we visit 7 churches this symbolise the 7 secrets of the church,,,”
    another question came to my mind, “what are the 7 secrets of the holy church???” does anyone know the answer??!!!!

  • 3. Rita | March 21st, 2008 at 7:24 am

    thnx N. 3anjad ^^

    and appo i tried to find something about the 7 commandments of the Church [they're not secrets] and i found a link that explains them.

    http://www.vaticaninexile.com/Encyclicals/CommandmentsoftheChurch.html

    it gives you the list then explains the commandment one by one.
    Hope i was helpful.

    And N. thanks again

  • 4. Toufic | March 21st, 2008 at 2:03 pm

    Thanks a lot N.
    T
    his is very kind oy you.I live in France and I am missing Lebanon…
    Take care

    Toufic

  • 5. rampurple | April 10th, 2008 at 10:16 am

    I know this comment is too late but I just saw this post. I asked my priest this year why we visit 7 churches. His response was that in the old days the Pope used to visit 7 hills that outlook the city and from there he used to pray and bless the city. Since most cities do not have 7 hills it was replaced with 7 churches.



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