Kaftoun Churchs

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Bcharre
Gibran's Birthplace This lovely mountain resort town is perched above the eastern end of the beautiful Kadisha Gorge and at the foothills of the Cedars of Lebanon. It is the brith place of Lebanon's most famous author Khalil Gibran. It has a small museum which pays tribute to him.
Beiteddine
"House Of Faith" Beiteddine palace was built over a period of thirty years by Emir Bechir Chehab II. It's architecture reflects the typical oriental architecture of the 19th century Ottoman Era. It is remarkable for its glamorous arcades, multicolored mosaic floors, reception rooms, harems, hammams and even by its guest house "Diyafa" where passing guests were lodged (French poet Lamartine stayed once there).
Byblos
Ancient Phoenician City Detail of the Sarcophagus of Ahiram, king of Byblos, seated on a cherub throne, before an offering table, 13th century B.C (National Museum of Beirut). Around 1200 B.C. the scribes of Byblos developed an alphabetic phonetic script, the precursor of our modern alphabet. By 800 B.C., it had traveled to Greece, changing forever the way man communicated.
Baalbek
Roman Temple of Jupiter Located in the Beqaa Valley of Lebanon, Baalbek is an ancient city that has been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site. Originally Canaanite (3rd century BC), the Assyrians, Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, and Arabs successively occupied Ba'albek and left their imprints on the place, often modifying what existed previously.

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Kaftoun Churchs

Written by Revd Fr Bassam Nassif

Saturday, 06 November 2004 14:29

The Theotokos Monastery, Kaftoun, Archdiocese of Mount Lebanon

Kaftoun Theotokos This historic monastery, located just 10 km to the east of Botrys district, in Lebanon, houses one of the most important Byzantine icons of the hieratic and expressive style "The Theotokos Hodigitria of Kaftoun".

The Monastery of Kaftoun and the locality are cited by historians of the 9th century; between the 11th and 13th centuries the monastery had a great spiritual influence in the region. The Bibliothèque Nationale de Paris and the British Museum in London possess some liturgical parchments from this monastery dating back to the 13th century and testifying to the flourishing liturgical life of the Kaftoun Monastery.

Until 1972 the icon was affixed to the iconostasis of the monastery's chapel where it was venerated by pilgrims. During the Lebanese war (1975-1992) the icon was stolen twice and recovered back.

It's currently exposed back for veneration at the monastery's church in a special way exposing both written sides.

The Theotokos Hodigitria of Kaftoun

Author anonymous,11th Century A.D.
Tempera on wood & endued (bilateral).
H / W: 111 x 80 cm.

The Basilica of Saint Sergius and Bacchus (Mar-Sarkis)

Recent excavations have shown that this basilica is particularly rich at the archaeological level.

Saints Sergius and Bacchus were third century Roman soldiers who are commemorated as martyrs by the Catholic, Eastern Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox churches. Serge and Bacchus were officers in Caesar Maximian's army, and were held high in his favor until they were exposed as secret Christians. They were then severely punished in 303, with Bacchus dying during torture, and Sergius eventually beheaded. Churches in their honor have been built in several cities, including Constantinople and Rome. Their feast day is 7 October.

St. Phokas Church - Holy Martyr and Wonderworker Phokas Bishop of Sinope

As bishop in his birthplace, the town of Sinope on the shore of the Black Sea, he strengthened the devout in their faith by his divine example and words, and brought many idol worshippers to the true Faith. During the persecution of the Roman Emperor Trajan, he was captured and thrown into boiling water, in which this courageous soldier of Christ finished his earthly course and entered into the joy of his Lord in the year 102 AD. The Holy Church celebrates his memory on September 22, and the transfer of his holy relics on July 23.