The Hand of St. Charbel

Raymond Nader Page

   Today,   Annaya is  the place of prayer, meditation and the  finding of oneself.   Following the example of  "Charbel" you will find,  that prayer is the ultimate way that brings you close to God. Far from the world you will meet God in the silence of your heart.

   There, you will experience the road that St.Charbel walked to sainthood. the road of Love that leads to the heart of God.

   There, on the hills of Annaya, the Hermit Saint took Raymond Nader by the arm to lead him to the Way of Christ. He left a burn-print of His hand on Raymond's arm. And since the first apparition on November 10, 1994, Saint Charbel has appeared at least 8 times on particular religious occasions. On every apparition, the Saint renews the burn-print and delivers a message through Raymond.

   Raymond has already born witness in at least 750 Lebanese churches. He has done the same in Australia in Lebanese parishes during Lent of 1997. For years now, hundreds and sometimes thousands of people have kept on flocking to Annaya, every Friday, to join Raymond and "the Family of Saint Charbel" in the celebration of the Holy Eucharist, prayers, Bible study sessions and listening to Raymond recounting his testimony.

   Saint Charbel has started with His hand a spiritual wave that keeps on growing and spreading in Lebanon and elsewhere.

"From the top of the cedar, from the highest branch I will take a shoot and plant it myself on a very high mountain ... this branch will bear fruit and become a noble Cedar."
( Ezekiel 17:22-26)

Saint Charbel 

"... a hermit of the Lebanese mountain is inscribed in the number of the blessed... a new eminent member of monastic sanctity is enriching, by his example and his intercession, the entire Christian people... May he make us understand, in a world largely fascinated by wealth and comfort,  the paramount value of poverty, penance and asceticism, to liberate the soul in its ascent to God ..."

Pope Paul VI
October 9, 1977