Beirut, August 3, 2010
Construction has begun of a new monastery dedicated to the Dormition of the Mother of God in Arba, Lebanon, not far from the Lebanese village of Baino Akkar. Metropolitan Basil (Mansour) of Akkar placed the first stone in the foundation of the future monastery, in the presence of a large crowd of local Orthodox Christians, including such public figures as former Lebanese Prime Minister, Issam Fares, and the abbot of Balamand Monastery, Archimandrite Isaac (Barakat).
In his homily at the placing of the corner stone, Metropolitan Basil said that Akkar diocese, to which he was appointed by Synodal resolution, was the only diocese in Lebanon that did not have a monastery—a fact which motivated him to correct this lack. “A diocese without a monastery is like a body without a soul, and a Church without a monastery is like a torso without a head. If there are monasteries and holy shrines throughout the hills and valleys of Lebanon, why is there not a single one in this region?” he said. His Eminence reminded those gathered that it is the Lord Who builds the house; He sends the building materials, He sends the workers, and gives them the strength to do the work.
The monastery project includes the construction of a church and several other buildings, covering a total area of 300 square feet. Bishop Basil expressed his hope that the building of the main portion will be finished in 2011.
Pravoslavie.ru/OrthoChristian.com
