In 2001 we were commissioned to build a large church on the terrain of the existing church of Our Lady of Hrajel, a XIXth century building, patrimonial in character and emblematic of the village. As there was not enough space left to build a new church next to the old one and the option of demolishing the old one was out of the question, we formulated the concept of enclosing the old structure in a new envelope, while preserving its character and functionality.

The old church has two distinctive features: a tall and elaborate bell tower and an ornate facade. The concept consists of opening the filling walls of the vaults of the old church and to use the groin vaults as the central nave of the new church, adding to it a large modern apse, large side naves, and a narthex. The bell tower was to be dismantled and rebuilt on the portico of the narthex.

The new church is minimalist in character, characteristic of patrimonial Maronite architecture.