Quick History

Legacy of Peace

In 1993, the Bishop of Cornet Chehwan, His Eminence Archbishop Youssef Bishara, donated and blessed the land on which the Mariapoli Center in Lebanon, in Koneitra, would be built.

That year, the bishop celebrated Mass on the site, noting that this gift was not merely an “act of generosity,” but an “ecclesial appreciation of the Work of Mary in the local Church.”

Construction began in 1998. In June 2000, the Mariapoli Center opened its doors and began hosting Catholic and Orthodox church communities. Various gatherings brought together families, young people, bishops, and interreligious dialogue participants, aiming to foster better mutual understanding, deeper communication, and a witness to unity.

On July 12, 2006, many displaced people sought refuge at the center following the outbreak of war in Lebanon, which lasted about three months, allowing the group and its visitors to experience the spirit of brotherhood upon which this center, the ‘Big House’, is founded.

On September 23, 2024, the center welcomed more than 130 displaced people after the war resumed. It was an experience through which God calls us to be instruments of peace and experts in unity, living the spirit of love and fraternity among all.

Mission

Spirit of Hospitality

The Mariapoli Center is located in the heart of the Metn Mountains, 20 km north of Beirut.

Known as “The Source,” it serves as a beacon of unity, dialogue, and peace for Lebanese society and beyond. It is a space that brings people together in a spirit of hospitality, open to all ecclesial and social communities. The center hosts spiritual or professional retreats, workshops, training activities, intercultural and interreligious dialogues, all set amidst picturesque natural surroundings, in the shade of pine trees.

The Center aims to collaborate in building a more united world so that the prayer of Jesus to the Father finds fulfillment: “May they all be one” (Jn 17, 21).

Services

Spirit of Hospitality

The Mariapoli Center is located in the heart of the Metn Mountains, 20 km north of Beirut.

Known as “The Source,” it serves as a beacon of unity, dialogue, and peace for Lebanese society and beyond. It is a space that brings people together in a spirit of hospitality, open to all ecclesial and social communities. The center hosts spiritual or professional retreats, workshops, training activities, intercultural and interreligious dialogues, all set amidst picturesque natural surroundings, in the shade of pine trees.

The Center aims to collaborate in building a more united world so that the prayer of Jesus to the Father finds fulfillment: “May they all be one” (Jn 17, 21).