Stella Maris Church - "Our Lady of Mount Carmel"
This time we will visit the neighborhood in Haifa where the church is located - "Stella Maris" ("Star of the Sea" in Latin) - which is one of the nicknames of Mary, the mother of Jesus, who here, in this context, is shown as protecting seafarers, sailors and fishermen.
the drop of the sea
Some believe that the name is a corruption of the phrase "Stila Maria", which means "drop of the sea" or "drop of Mary", since according to the Carmelite tradition Mary and Jesus passed through the place.
Stella Maris Church • Watch
The expulsion from Carmel
The Carmelite Order was founded on Mount Carmel after the Third Crusade in 1192, by monks who lived in caves in Nahal Shikh inspired by the prophet Elijah. This order prospered and expanded from there all over Europe. But immediately after the conquest of the Crusader Acre by the Mamluks in 1291, the monks were expelled from the Carmel.
The church "Stella Maris" is dedicated to "Our Lady of Mount Carmel" and is shaped like a Greek cross.
Celebrations of the return to Carmel
The walls of the church are covered with marble slabs that were installed in 1931, on the occasion of the 300th anniversary celebrations of the Carmelites' return to Carmel.
Cave of Elisha
The holy area and the apse in the church are located directly above a cave which was known in the Middle Ages as "Elisha's Cave", to distinguish it from Elijah's Cave at the foot of the mountain. However, the Carmelite tradition attributes both to Elijah the prophet. In the cave itself you can see an altar and on it is the statue of Elijah.
Right in the center of the apse above the cave, stands the statue of the Madonna and Child.
During the First World War, the monks feared that the Muslims would harass this special statue, so it was hidden in one of the city's houses.
Returning the statue
After the occupation of Haifa by the British, the statue was returned to its place, and since then, every Sunday, the second after Easter, a procession is held in which the replica of the statue is carried from the Holy Family Church in the city to the monastery church, to mark the return of the statue.
In the grid which delimits the holy area are fixed small bulbs that represent the places in the world where there is a Carmelite presence and activity.
The dome of the church
When we turn our gaze upwards - we will see the dome of the church which was painted in the years 1926-1928 by the monk artist Luigi Fuji.
The dome is divided into eight segments:
- Elijah the prophet ascends in the heavenly storm and throws his cloak at Elisha
- King David was ported in harp
- Prophets
- Carmelite saints
- The visit of the Holy Family in Carmel.
four saints
At the four corners of the dome we will see the four Evangelions next to their attributes, and at the base of the dome appear verses in golden script related to Mount Carmel. Also, in the four corners of the church there are fixed reliefs on four panels. These reliefs refer to four saints who are members of the Carmelite order:
- Teresa of Avila - a nun of Jewish origin who lived as a Christian.
- Yohanan from the cross - and in the background a mountain to which several roads lead
- Edith Stein - Jewish and doctor of philosophy who lived in Germany.
- Miriam Bouardi - who was a Lebanese nun. (The Miriam spring in the village of E'ablin is named after her) and is known as the "Flower of the East".
the sacred heart
When you leave the church, down the path that leads to the Eliyahu Cave, you can see the Chapel of the Sacred Heart. This chapel was built with the intention of being used as a windmill and this with funds donated by a pilgrim from Alsace, when the goal was to grind flour for the congregation. But alas, this windmill was never put into operation... However, it was used for spiritual seclusion of the monks.
Observation and love
Today this special chapel serves as a spectacular observation point of the area and also as a charming gathering place for loved ones.
Thanks Rachel!
Sending this excellent post to my friends with whom we will travel in another month!
You should add a photo of the Carmelite flower, which is shaped like the Carmelite cross, and a few words about the order
What a beautiful article Racheli, to learn and enrich it for those who live with us in Israel is a blessing, I hope we will understand that there are other religions in Israel besides Judaism... and we will respect each and every one.
I read that there is a demand to review synagogues, I'm sure there is someone in Haifa who specializes in the field and can contribute from our knowledge
All the best to you Rachel, waiting for the continuation
A beautiful church.
All the best to you Racheli Orbach for the impressive report. Shalom and blessed Shabbat.
Very nice Racheli, I enjoyed the interesting explanations, the photographs and of course the music of Boxthode
well done!
Will synagogues also be surveyed or only churches?
True, in the Jewish state there is no investment in synagogues.
Tourists are brought to churches and monasteries, they do not enter synagogues.
There is no Jewish cultural center, simply not. Islamic and Christian there is. There are no Jews. in the Jewish state
The truth is that Jews here hate their religion and therefore also their own religious structures
They pray in musty trailers and basements. It's in the Jewish state.. let's remind ourselves.
Do not come and stay in the synagogue, it is not there for you or for tourists.
The churches are maintained by the Christian community and not the state. Tourists come because they chose to.
Maybe when you get rid of eye problems and get tired of the miserable bubble you live in, you can also donate to the synagogue you make sure to go to so that it looks better, instead of collecting alms in comments.
Envy.
We save ourselves and our children in order to survive and take care of our places of faith. You don't get one shekel from the state, in contrast, the state funds the synagogues, the rabbinate, the rabbis, the holidays, and more and more...without a penny for the salt of the Holy Land, Christians.