An impressive quantity of churches decorated with medieval wall paintings have been discovered in the mountainous regions of North Lebanon and Western Syria. Today over thirty sites with murals, unfortunately often in a poor state, are known in the area between Tripoli and Jbeil, in the Qadisha Valley and in Beirut, and about ten more are present in the Qalamun region north of Damascus, and in Homs. This is, however, only the tip of the iceberg as written sources report about the presence of many other, now vanished, embellished sanctuaries. Most of these buildings were used by indigenous Christian communities - Byzantine Orthodox (Melkite), Maronite and Syrian Orthodox - and witness of the prosperity of the local Christians and interaction with their Muslim and Latin neighbors. The Crusader element is disappointingly limited, though this is not very surprising since the surviving churches are mainly located in remote areas. The Latins had their churches in coastal cities, where urban renewal and renovations have erased almost all traces of painted decoration. Exceptions are the finds in the chapels of the defence forts Marqab Castle and Crac des Chevaliers in Syria, which, however, seem to have been embellished by local artists.

By the edge of Kaftoun you turn right towards the Walnut River (Nahr el Jaouz) valley; on your right a vast expanse of olive groves and on your left the el Majdel Mountain dressed in its majestic green cover of scrub oak. As you approach a small pine forest perched above the river valley, turn left down the steep and winding road descending towards the river. On a spring morning you can observe the dawn mist lifting itself from the river as the sun's rays stream down gloriously from behind the majestic Lebanon mountain peaks. As the cool mist rises from the river you are engulfed by the aromatic fragrances it caries with it from the flowering orange trees in the valley below. The gushing waters of the el Jaouz River break over the large boulders in the valley on their final journey to the Mediterranean. They cry, as if lamenting their inevitable fate, their cries and moans amplified by the echo of the river valley. As you are mesmerized by the sights, smells and sounds of the river you become totally unaware of your purpose, savoring every moment, oblivious of what lies ahead. But then, suddenly, there it is! The Greek Orthodox Theotokos Monastery, nestled by the river's edge, a jewel of spirituality! Adorned and perfectly set within the red limestone cliff above, protected from prying eyes and sheltered from the elements. What a sight! What a find! You rush towards it with adoration and disbelief. Your sanctity restored!

This article is about the life of Kaftoun's distinguished son Emile Daher, born to Georges Abdallah Daher and Alida Semaan on January, 25th, 1935. Emile was an enterprising individual and a good Samaritan who died tragically in 1989 while in the prime of his life. This article highlights his life and works and is written by his daughter Aline Daher.

He was born the year 1932 in his father's typical stone village house with mud roof in Kaftoun. His house consisted of two large rooms for sleeping and living, a cooking and baking area, an outhouse, and most essentially a well to collect rain water for the family summer drinking and washing needs. His father Jurjus was a farmer and landowner of independent means. Jurjus and his brother Elias had orchards of Olives, and Tobaco Fields, and they used to harvest hard Grains which they processed on their own Baydar located then between Mekhael Fares' House and the Old Kaftoun School by the present Kaftoun main thruway.

Preservationists organize excursion to raise awareness (and funds) for endangered treasures -
May 30, 2006 Kaelen Wilson-Goldie-Daily Star

"A lot of these frescoes are discovered by accident," says historian Ray Mouawad, gingerly turning the pages of a doorstop-sized photography book documenting medieval churches in Lebanon. Mouawad is particularly interested in the wall paintings that adorn these structures, or rather, what is left of them.

Every day more lives are lost in the country some call Israel and some call Palestine. Israeli gunfire kills Palestinians everyday, many of whom are small children or young teenagers who still have their lives ahead of them. The Israeli's suffer similar casualties on a daily basis due to Palestinian attacks. Many innocent lives on both sides are continually at stake.