St. John's Cathedral, Byblos, Romanesque cathedral in Byblos, Lebanon
St. John's Cathedral in Byblos is a Romanesque church featuring a bell tower and baptistery. The main altar is dedicated to Saint John the Baptist, while a northern altar honors the Virgin Mary.
Crusaders constructed the cathedral in 1115 on the foundations of a temple destroyed by an earthquake in 555. The building thus stands on a long history of this sacred site.
The cathedral serves as an active place of worship for the Christian community in the Keserwan-Jbeil region. It remains a gathering space where people come to pray and observe religious celebrations.
The cathedral is located in central Byblos and is accessible on foot, making it an easy stop during a walking tour of the town. The site is well connected by local roads and works well for a daytime visit.
A prince donated the cathedral to local Franciscans in 1767 after it had been used as a horse stable for years. This turnaround shows how the building recovered from neglect to spiritual purpose.
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