Carmelite monastery Stella Maris

Stella Maris Monastery is a Catholic Christian monastery for Discalced Carmelite monks, on Carmel mount whose interior walls are covered with white marble panels, so bright and well-placed that they seem to be painted.

Stella Maris, or the Monastery of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Haifa, is a 19th-century monastery of the Discalced Carmelite Order, located on the slopes of Carmel mount in Haifa, Israel.

The dome of the church, decorated by the Maltese Carmelite Luigi Poggi in 1924-1928, depicts episodes from the Bible, the most striking of which is the scene of the ascension of the prophet Elijah to heaven in a fiery chariot. The statue of the Virgin Mary, placed in the center of the main altar and standing on a pedestal carved from Lebanese cedar, is venerated by local Christians.

Below the altar is the Cave of Elijah (there are two caves of Elijah: a small grotto in the monastery of Stella Maris, and a larger cave Elijah the Prophet at the foot of the mountain), where, according to the Old Testament, the prophet lived for some time. Inside the cave is an altar carved into the rock with a small statue of the prophet.

There is also a special urn where you can leave your message to the prophet Elijah. It must be written in advance.

On the pilasters of the basilica are four reliefs dedicated to four Carmelite saints: Saint Teresa of Avila, Saint John of the Cross, Saint Edith Stein and Saint Mariam Buardi.

In the room to the right of the entrance you can see a permanent nativity scene and an exhibition of some artifacts from the ancient Byzantine church that once stood on this site.

Outside you can enter a small gift shop where you can buy religious items and scapulars.

Just in front of the church entrance is a pyramidal monument to the French soldiers who died after Napoleon's retreat in 1799, which reads: "How the mighty have fallen in the midst of battle!", recalling King David's lamentation over the death of Saul and Jonathan.

Across the road, in front of the lighthouse, is a column supporting a statue of the Immaculate Conception. This monument was erected by the Chilean people, who wanted to honor the patroness of their nation.

The church of the Stella Maris Monastery is open to the public daily from 6:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. The entrance to the monastery is through the parking lot and the cafe located nearby.