BEIRUT — The Syriac Maronite Union–Tur Levnon launched an effort to persuade Duolingo, one of the world’s most widely used language-learning platforms, to add Syriac to its growing catalogue of languages, bringing a centuries-old language of the Middle East into an app used daily by millions of learners around the world. The initiative builds on Tur Levnon’s broader campaign to revive Syriac in Lebanon through education, cultural awareness and religious life.

BEIT MERY (BETH MORYO), Tur Levnon —The Monastery of Saint John the Baptist (Mor Yuhanon) at al-Qalaa in Beit Mery, administered by the Syriac Maronite Antonine Order, stands on a site whose history reaches from ancient Phoenician worship through the Roman and Byzantine periods to the Christian monastic tradition that continues there today. Archaeological remains at Deir al-Qalaa include the ruins of a major Roman sanctuary associated with the god of dancing Baal Marqod, as well as a Byzantine church and mosaics.

BEIRUT — Lebanese architect, historian and author Dr. Amine Jules Iskandar, president of the Maronite Union-Tur Levnon (Mount Lebanon), is calling for a renewed commitment to the Syriac language, arguing that its preservation is inseparable from safeguarding Lebanon's historical identity, Christian heritage and cultural continuity. Speaking in an interview with Dixit, a program featuring conversations with contemporary intellectuals, writers, and artists, Iskandar presents the Syriac language not as a relic of the past but as a living foundation of Lebanon's civilization, one that continues to shape the country's language, liturgy, and collective memory despite decades of political and social marginalization.

BEIT MERY, Tur Levnon ─ The Syriac Maronite Church of Saint Sassine in Beit Mery, Mount Lebanon Governorate, continues to stand as a living witness to the firmness and deep-rootedness of faith in the Tur Levnon (Mount Lebanon) region throughout the centuries Today, this historic church belongs to the Saint George and Saint Sassine parish under the Syriac Maronite Archdiocese of Beirut, and it has been officially classified among the churches of the Upper and Central Matn district, making it a prominent spiritual and historical landmark in Tur Levnon.

BRUMMANA (BETH RAMANNA), Lebanon — In the Lebanese town of Brummana, surrounded by pine trees and renowned for its mild climate and mountainous landscape, stands Mor Isaiah Rûm Orthodox Church, bearing witness to a religious and spiritual history that has endured through successive generations. The church is distinguished by its stone vault and historic architecture. It also serves as a space where historical memory converges with the Antiochian spiritual heritage and the Orthodox identity that have shaped the history of the region.

BRUMMANA (BETH RAMANNA), Mount Lebanon —The Syriac Maronite Church of Mor Isaiah the Prophet has become more than a place of worship. It is a living record of the town’s religious, cultural, and social history. The church, dedicated to the Old Testament prophet Isaiah, reflects a Christian presence in Mount Lebanon that dates back centuries. In an episode of “From Lebanon” on Suroyo TV Lebanon, Father Boutros Boudaher, pastor of the Syriac Maronite parish of Mor Isaiah the Prophet in Brummana, explains how Christians began settling in the area in the 17th and 18th centuries and initially worshiped together in an older church.

BROUMANA, Lebanon — Amid the picturesque natural surroundings of Broumana, a town that preserves a deep spiritual heritage throughout its neighborhoods, the Our Lady of the Assumption Church of the Melkite Greek (Rûm) Catholic Church stands as one of the area’s prominent places of worship. Its presence is not limited to its historic stone structure, but extends to its spiritual mission and steadfast faith passed down through generations.

BEIRUT — Lebanese MP Elias Hankash, a member of the Kataeb parliamentary bloc, announced that the State Shura Council has issued a ruling suspending the implementation of a circular issued by the Ministry of Finance concerning the common lands of Tur Levnon (Mount Lebanon). The decision came in response to a legal challenge submitted by Hankash together with several concerned parties.

QADISHA VALLEY, Lebanon — Qadisha (Qannoubine) Valley, also known as the Holy Valley, derives its name from the Syriac word ܩܕܝܫܐ (Qadisha), meaning "holy." One of Lebanon's most important religious and cultural heritage sites, the valley has been closely associated with monks and hermits for centuries. It served as the spiritual and historical center of the Syriac Maronite Church and is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.