Perched at the western edge of Mount Carmel, high above the Mediterranean and the coastal city of Haifa is Stella Maris Monastery and church. The name of the 19th-century monastery — Latin for “Star of the Sea” — refers not to the magnificent view, but rather to an early title accorded Mary, the mother of Jesus. The monastery is the world headquarters of a Catholic religious order of friars and nuns, the Carmelites. The order had its origins at the end of the 12th century when St Berthold, a Frenchman who had gone to the Holy Land as a Crusader, had a vision of Christ denouncing the evil done by soldiers.

1. Stella Maris Monastery
Haifa, Israel

2. Stella Maris Church on Mount Carmel

3. Eastern facade of Stella Maris Monastery

4. Chapel in Stella Maris Church

5. Ceiling of Stella Maris Church

6. Cave of Elijah in Stella Maris Church

7. Carmelite emblem with zeal I have been
zealous for the Lord God of Hosts

8. Interior of Stella Maris Church with cave of
Elijah Beneath

9. Inside Stella Maris Church

10. Haifa Bay from Stella Maris Monsatery

11. First Station of the Cross in Via Dolorosa at
Stella Maris Monastery

12. Eastern Facade of Stella Maris

13. Stained glass window of Elijah up to heaven in
a chariot of fire

14. Ruins of Original foundation of Carmelites in
Wadi of Mount Carmel

15. Plaque in Stella Maris Church

16. Monument of French soldiers at Stella Maris
Monastery

17. Milstone at main entrance to Stella Maris
Monastery

18. Statue of the Prophet in Cave Elijah

19. Statue of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Stella
Maris Church

20. Statue of Mary and Jesus at Stella Maris
Church

21. Stained glass window of Elijah

22. • Perched at the western edge of Mount Carmel, high above the
Mediterranean and the coastal city of Haifa is Stella Maris Monastery
and church.
• The name of the 19th-century monastery — Latin for “Star of the Sea”
— refers not to the magnificent view, but rather to an early title
accorded Mary, the mother of Jesus.
• The monastery is the world headquarters of a Catholic religious order
of friars and nuns, the Carmelites.
• The order had its origins at the end of the 12th century when St
Berthold, a Frenchman who had gone to the Holy Land as a Crusader,
had a vision of Christ denouncing the evil done by soldiers.