Youssef Antoun Makhlouf

Youssef Antoun Makhlouf, commonly known as Saint Charbel, was a Lebanese Maronite monk and priest born on May 8, 1828. He dedicated his life to prayer, contemplation, and service to the sick, and is revered for his deep spiritual life and miraculous intercessions. Charbel was beatified in 1965 and canonized in 1977, becoming the first saint from Lebanon and the first Eastern saint canonized since the 13th century. His life exemplified a commitment to solitude and devotion, inspired by the hermitic life of his relatives. Today, his shrine in Annaya, Lebanon, attracts millions of pilgrims seeking his intercession.