Nimattullah Kassab, also known as Al-Hardini, was a 19th-century Lebanese Maronite monk, priest, and scholar. Born Youssef Kassab in 1808, he entered the Lebanese Maronite Order in 1828, receiving the monastic name Nimatullah. He served the church through teaching, administration, and monastic leadership, notably directing seminarians, including the future saint Charbel Makhlouf. Recognized for his deep spirituality and devotion, he lived a life of prayer and service until his death in Kfifane in 1858. He is venerated as a saint in the Catholic Church.
Monastic life
After his ordination in 1833, Kassab dedicated himself to education and monastic duties. He established free schools in Kfifan and Bhersaf and served as a director for seminarians. While he held high administrative roles, including serving on the general council and as Assistant Abbot General, he declined the position of Abbot General. He was known for his self-discipline and his commitment to community life over solitude.
Veneration and miracles
Following his death, Kassab's body was found to be intact during a re-burial in 1864. He is remembered for various attributed miracles, including healings and prophetic warnings that saved lives. Many people have sought his intercession at his tomb, with reports of miraculous recoveries from blindness and paralysis. His feast day is observed on 14 December.