While St. Joseph's Monastery is mainly known for sheltering the tomb of one of the most venerated saints in Lebanon, Saint Rafqa, the place on which it is located never seizes to amaze its visitors.
Nestled at over 350 m above the ad-Dahr plateau and at the foot of Mount Jrabta, its wild landscape is adorned with trees that are particular to that region in Lebanon and add an essence of tranquility.
It is also famous for being the scene of many miraculous healings, which turned the monastery into a place of pilgrimage for believers eager to thank the lord and ask for grace.
The presence of Saint Rafqa is rooted in the history of Saint Joseph and still contributes to the posterity of the building. She lived there from 1897 to 1914 and died there at the age of 81.
At the age of 39, she rejoined the Maronite sisters and played an integral role in the founding of a new monastery. Along with five other nuns from Saint-Simon, she transferred to Saint-Joseph and helped establish this holy site on November 3, 1897.
These six nuns participated in the development of the convent and continued the building process with their own hands. They even planted the vineyards, olive trees, and fig trees.
After Saint Rafqa's passing, her remains were interred in a tomb that remains present in the church. On November 17, 1985, Pope John Paul II recognized her beatification and approved her veneration by the church.
Visitors to the monastery today can still encounter Lebanese nuns as the monastery is currently home to postulants and novices. These nuns maintain the sanctuary through manual labor and provide services to the elderly residing in the monastery's hospice.
