Our Lady of the Well Convent – Bkennaya

At the Convent of the Cross, as Abouna Yaacoub continued to pay attention to its construction and expansion, his interest was great in securing water for the convent. So he bought a piece of land in “Daourate”, in order to dig a reservoir to collect water. At the beginning of the work, Abouna Yaacoub encountered a problem: the walls of the reservoir had cracked and the water had flowed out. One day when Abouna Yaacoub was passing through the Capuchin convent in Bab Idriss, he saw in the corners of the library an old painting representing the Virgin, holding the Child Jesus, with a well in front of her, and under the image the following caption: “Our Lady of the Well”. This coincidence gave birth to a new convent and sanctuary, in homage to the Virgin in 1941.

It was then that Abouna Yaacoub made a vow to Our Lady of the Well that if he could through her intercession, ensure water in the Daourate reservoir, he would build a church in the name of Our Lady of the Well. Well. And so it was. After World War II, he repaired the large reservoir and built a beautiful church on it, that relies fully on the walls of the reservoir.

Abouna Yaacoub did not know that Our Lady of the Well home would become one day a very important center for the Congregation. In the beginning, it was transformed into a center for girls having a religious vocation. After his death, it was officially declared a novitiate on March, 25, 1964. 

The Convent today

In 1976, Our Lady of the Well Convent welcomed hundreds of refugees from the inhabitants of Damour, when the first sparks of the Lebanese war broke out. During the celebration of the jubilee of the year 2000, the church is listed among the sanctuaries consecrated by the grace of indulgence to pilgrims. And in 2004, the General House of the Congregation was transferred there.

Over the years, the buildings sank, which necessitated the initiation of restoration works to ensure better service to those who came to the convent for retreats and congresses. And with the preparation of the beatification of Abouna Yaacoub, it was necessary to hasten the restoration to receive the delegations from abroad to participate in the event. Delegations presided by cardinals, bishops, priests. 

Today, of Our Lady of the Well Convent, with its new appearance, has become one of the most important centers accredited in Lebanon to receive spiritual retreats and religious, scientific and clerical congresses, in particular for delegations coming from outside Lebanon. A conference hall was built that could accommodate two hundred people, with its utilities. In addition, gardens have been created to help residents enjoy the serenity and calm of nature, surrounded by green oases.