For Understanding and Living the Liturgy

An Orthodox monastic community and spiritual destination (its modern revival was launched in late 1957). The monastic community of Deir El Harf is an Antiochian ascetic community in Mount Lebanon, whose journey was revived and its modern community founded by Father Elias Marqas. This monastic community is considered a pivotal landmark in the history of the contemporary Orthodox Church, and a living spiritual lung that accompanied the revival launched by the Orthodox Youth Movement. The monastery's journey explores ways of organic balance between the hidden prayer of the heart in solitude and community life that overcomes selfishness, and delves into the Patristic heritage to offer it as sustenance for the contemporary world. The monastic community faced severe trials throughout its history, most notably the destruction of the monastery and the dispersion of its monastics following shelling and war in 1983, but it shook off the dust of war and returned to repair the damage starting in 1987. Among the greatest contributions of this monastic community is the enrichment of the theological library through "Deir El Harf Publications," where its monastics dedicated themselves to translating the treasures of ascetic literature and Patristic heritage into Arabic, foremost among them the Arabization of "The Ladder of Divine Ascent" and the homilies of Saint Isaac the Syrian, and spreading the culture of the heartfelt "Jesus Prayer."