Maria Goretti Church – Lebanon

The Maria Goretti Church stands as a symbol of purity, forgiveness, and strength. Built by the devotion of local families, it has become a gathering place for prayer and community over generations. Every corner tells a story of faith deeply rooted in the heart of Lebanon.

Who is Raya?
She was born in Miziara, North Lebanon, on January 14, 1991- graduated with a degree in law.
Raya grew up in the care of parents who were devoted to doing good deeds, by standing by the poor, the needy, the sick, and the elderly. She took this virtue from them and persevered in it throughout her life on earth, and continued it after her transition to the abode of the Heavenly Father. This is what many of those who saw Raya in their dreams have witnessed.
She adorned gatherings with her constant joy and cheerfulness, illuminating the paths of the miserable, wiping away the tears of children deprived of the most basic childhood rights, and healing the wounds of aching souls.
She passed away to be with her Heavenly Father on September 22, 2017, at the age of 26. Her death scene is very similar to that of Saint Maria Goretti.
On September 22, the body of Rayya Chidiac was found in her parents'home in the town of Mizyara. Autopsies found the body was bruised and bore signs of suffocation, as well as sexual assault.
The doorman who came on September 20 to steal without finding any cash in their home, came back on the 22 with ropes, tape, bag and knife to restrict his victim. As she did not have any cash on her, she proposed to give him her jewellery and car; but he refused as he wanted cash to leave to Syria. Afterwards, he assaulted her and killed her, using a nylon bag to suffocate her.
After her death Ria sent several signals from heaven, requesting that a church be built in the name of Saint Maria Goretti; that a shrine be erected opposite her parental home on the hill whose location her mother knew “because the property was registered in her mother’s name”; and that the shrine be a destination for girls who have no voice, so that they may find someone who will hear their voices and provide them with the desired assistance and support.
Raya also requested that prayer beads, with pink heart-shaped beads, be distributed. Thus, the Rosary of Divine Love and Divine Will was born, for the holiness of youth and families.
Construction of the church began in 2018 and was inaugurated during the reign of Patriarch Mar Bechara Boutros Al-Rahi in September 2022.

The church is located in the Miziara area of Zgharta District, 850 meters above sea level. Here in this area, a church named after the martyr Saint Maria Goretti was built on the hill of a rose and candle for Raya. This church is considered one of the most beautiful churches in the East and the world.
Upon visiting the shrine, we see a model of the rose-shaped church surrounding it. The rose-shaped thorns symbolize the crown of thorns placed on the head of Jesus Christ. With these thorns, we continue walking until we reach the church entrance. As we get closer to the church entrance, we notice the thorns get smaller. Then we climb three steps to enter the church.

The church is in the shape of a rose and there are three candles next to it:
Small candle engraved with the stations of the Cross.
The middle candle has the cross of Christ engraved on it with nails, and inside the candle are two bells, one manual and the other electric.
The large candle has the Resurrection Cross on its top. We also notice the Judgment statue, and in the center is a large face representing the face of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Judge. We also see the face of Saint Maria Goretti, the patron saint of the church, and the face of Saint Marina (the saint of the Qannoubine Valley).
The church door is a very beautiful model representing the 13th station of the Way of the Cross (the taking of Jesus from the cross and his placement in the arms of his mother, Mary).
The door was designed this way because in the summer when the sacrifice is moved outside, the door is closed and becomes the background of the altar, that is, behind the altar we see the cross, Jesus and the Virgin.

When the believer enters the church, the first thing that catches his eye is the mural in the church dome. This mural is distinguished by being surrounded by the crown of thorns, where the crown symbolizes the passage from earth to the heavenly kingdom, and this passage must be accompanied by suffering.
In the middle of the mural we see the Lord Jesus, the Almighty and King of Glory, and all the saints and blessed ones, and a host of angels revolving around Him.
Inside the church is a relic of Saint Maria Goretti, marking the first time a relic has left Italy, the saint's homeland. The relic has been transported to Lebanon to remain inside the church and be blessed by believers from all over the world.
The altar features a base depicting the face of the Lord Jesus surrounding
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