Qadisha Valley, Deir Mar Elichaa, Deir Qannoubine...

Qadisha Valley

The holy valley of the Qadisha is famed for its amazing scenery and for sheltering the first Maronite Christians, followers of Saint Maron in the 4th and 5th century. The valley is filled with grottos, convents, hermitages, troglodyte cells where hermits, monks and ascetics lived. A multitude of Christian communities such as Maronite, Syrian Orthodox, Orthodox, Nestorian, Ethiopian and even Muslim Sufis used to hide to keep on practicing their faith. The site is highly praised for its dramatic landscape as well as for being one of the most significant Christian monastic settlements in the region.

Qadisha in Semitic means "holy" and the valley is home to important convents and hermitages that are open year-round to the public.

> Deir Mar Elichaa (Monastery of St Eliseus)
Mar Elicha was a well-known hermitage that used to shelter Maronites disciples. They slept in cells and tiny holes, the modest cradle of the Maronite Order of Monks. Here was buried in 1644 the capuchin father François de Chasteuil, through a tiny road leading to the base of the valley and onto the opposite side of the hill. Check out the convent's outlet that sells homemade jams, honey and syrups.

> Deir Qannoubine
The convent is located in one of the cliff's cavity. In the 15th century, this was the seat of the Maronite Patriarch. It is beautifully preserved convent adorned with fresco paintings from the 18th century. Donations cover the restoration of these wall paintings. Recently, a fresco dating to the 13th century and representing the head of an angel was discovered. Access to the site is by foot. Nearby is the chapel-cave of Marina where 17 Maronite patriarchs are buried.

> Deir Es-Salib
From Hadchit, access approximately half an hour on foot.
Dated to the Middle Ages, the convent is built under a natural porch. Fresco paintings of Byzantine local style from the end of the 12th and the beginning of 13th century used to adorn walls.

Some rupestral chapels are spread over the valley and can also be visited. Amongst these are Deir Mar Semaan, Qidisseh Shmuni, Mar Youhana, Mar Assia (these two are adorned with geometrical and naive frescoes).

On the lower side of the valley, the famous Orthodox Monastery of Hammatoura is one of the most ancient rupestral structures of the valley. Byzantine style frescoes adorn its walls.
Extract from the book 'A Complete insiders Guide to Lebanon