Sharbel (Charbel, Sabelius) Makhluf* (baptismal name: Joseph) was a Christian from Lebanon. The son of a poor family of small farmers in the mountainous country, he entered the monastery of the Lebanese Order of St. Anthony in Maifuq at the age of 13, then came to the monastery of St. Maron in Annaye, where he took his vows in 1851. He then studied theology, was ordained a priest in 1859 and lived in his monastery for 16 years. In 1875 he retired to the mountain solitude of the monastery of St. Peter and Paul. His entire existence was filled with prayer, self-denial and charity. He was regarded as the «perfect monk», is said to have healed numerous sick people and was venerated as a saint even during his lifetime. + He died on 24.12.1898 as a result of a stroke. – His body still rests undecomposed in St. Maron’s Monastery in Annaye. The memory of «Abuna Sharbel», the «holy monk of Lebanon» is honored not only by Christians, but also by Muslims. Numerous miracles have taken place at his burial site to this day.
