A modest structure, the church was established in the 17th century by Assaf Abu Taleh. The building itself was a former soap factory that belonged to the Arqawy family. The soap factory was remodeled, expanded and transformed into a Maronite church dedicated to St. Elias. The church’s main hall is accessed through a small courtyard that opens onto the street, a bell tower was added to the church upon construction. When the new Maronite Cathedral was erected outside the old town in 1938, the church was abandoned and fell into disrepair.