St. Charbel

Charbel Makhluf (sometimes spelled Sharbel Maklouf) was a Maronite monk and priest in Lebanon during the nineteenth century. Throughout his lifetime he had a reputation for holiness. He was raised in a religious home and took care of the family’s flock of sheep on the hillsides of Lebanon. He would spend time in prayer and devotion to the Blessed Virgin, and had an icon of her installed in a cave on the hillside. As a young man he entered the monastery and studied to take his vows. The last twenty-three years of his life he spent as a solitary hermit until he died in 1898 at the age of seventy. He was buried at St. Maron’s monastery and a few months after his death a bright light was seen surrounding his tomb. The tomb was opened and his body was found to be intact and incorrupt. The feast day of St. Charbel is commemorated on July 24^th. In church art and stained glass St. Charbel is usually depicted as an elderly man with a large white beard and wearing a black hood over his head. If you need to purchase a stained glass window for your church building we will gladly assist you with your quest. Contact us for more details on how we can help you with all your stained glass needs.S