Kadisha Valley, also known as Wadi Kadisha or the Kadisha Gorge, is a deep valley located in the Bsharri and Zgharta Districts of the North Governorate in Lebanon. The valley was formed by the Kadisha River, which is also called Nahr Abu Ali when it reaches the city of Tripoli. The word "Kadisha" means "Holy" in Aramaic, and the valley is sometimes referred to as the Holy Valley. For many centuries, Christian monastic communities have lived in this area. The valley is situated at the base of Mount al-Makmal in northern Lebanon.
The valley faces risks from human activity, such as the expansion of settlements, illegal construction, and uneven conservation efforts. While it is not currently listed on UNESCO’s "in danger" list, there are concerns that ongoing violations could lead to its inclusion in the future.
Geography
The holy river, Nahr Qadisha, flows through the valley for 35 kilometers from its source in a cave (grotto) near the Forest of the Cedars of God. The valley sides are steep cliffs with many caves, often located more than 1,000 meters above the ground and hard to reach. The most scenic part of the valley is about 20 kilometers long, stretching between Bsharri (Arabic: بشري), the hometown of Kahlil Gibran, and Tourza (Arabic: طورزا).
Kadisha Valley is located west of the Forest of the Cedars of God, which sits on a mountain above. This forest contains survivors of the ancient Cedars of Lebanon, once the most valuable building materials in the ancient world. The forest is reported to have 375 individual trees, including two believed to be over 3,000 years old, ten over 1,000 years old, and the rest at least several centuries old. The Lebanon Cedar (Cedrus Libani) is described in ancient botanical writings as the oldest tree in the world. It was admired by the Israelites, who transported it to their land to build the First and Second temples in Jerusalem. Historical records note that cedar forests began to decline during the 6th century AD, around the time of Justinian.
History
The natural caves in Qadisha Valley have been used as shelters and places for burials since the Palaeolithic period. The Aassi Hauqqa cave, located near Hawqa, has provided archaeological items that show its use during the Palaeolithic, Roman, and medieval periods. Since the early days of Christianity, the valley has been a place where people could live in solitude. The Maronite monks established their main center at Qannubin, in the middle of the Qadisha Valley, and monasteries spread across the nearby hills. Early Maronite communities in the valley lived together and also practiced a lifestyle of living alone.
In the 13th century, Mameluk sultans Baibars and Qalaoun attacked the fortress-caves, monasteries, and nearby villages. Despite these attacks, the Deir Qannubin monastery became the home of the Maronite Patriarch in the 15th century and remained so for 500 years. In the 17th century, the Maronite monks were known for their religious devotion, partly because of the Maronite school started in Rome in 1584. Because of this, many European poets, historians, geographers, politicians, and clergy visited and even lived in the valley. The first printing press in the Middle East was created in 1585 at the Monastery of Qozhaya in the Qadisha Valley. In 1610, it printed its first book, the Book of Psalms in the Syriac language, using special symbols for that language. It was also the first printing press to print in Arabic.
In 1989–1991, a team of scientists from the GERSL scientific group discovered eight well-preserved mummies of villagers from around 1283 A.D. in the 'Asi-al Hadath cave. These mummies were found along with many other items.
In 1998, UNESCO added the valley to its list of World Heritage Sites because of its importance as a location for some of the earliest Christian monastic communities and its ongoing example of Christian faith.
Christian monasticism
The Kadisha (Holy) Valley is home to some of the oldest Christian monastic communities in the Middle East. The natural caves in the valley were uncomfortable, scattered, and hard to reach, offering monks and hermits a quiet and isolated place to live, pray, and think deeply about their faith. Many caves and uneven parts of the valley’s cliffs were carved into homes (cells), chapels, and monasteries. Some buildings have painted walls and outer walls. Around the caves, hermits created terraced fields to grow grain, grapes, and olives.
There are many monasteries in the valley, but several are especially important:
The Qannubin Monastery (Deir Qannubin) is on the northeast side of the Kadisha Valley. While some believe Emperor Theodosius the Great founded it in 375 AD, it is more likely that a follower of St. Theodosius the Cenobite built it. Most of the monastery is carved into the rock cliff, including cells for monks, a church, a cloister, and rooms for visitors.
Since the 1500s, Qannubin has been the home of the Maronite Patriarch.
The Monastery of Qozhaya (Deir Mar Antonios Qozhaya) is on the opposite side of the Kadisha Valley from Qannubin. Tradition says St. Hilarion founded it in the 4th century to honor St. Anthony the Great, an Egyptian monk. However, written records only date back to about 1000 AD. The monastery was destroyed in the 1600s but rebuilt quickly. It includes a hallway, a meeting room, and a chapel, along with a mill and nearby rock-cut hermitages.
The monastery also houses the first printing press in the Middle East, created in 1610. The first book printed was a Psalter with text in both Syriac and Arabic, written using Syriac letters, known as Garshuni.
Saydet Hawqa is located at an altitude of 1150 meters between Qannubin and Qozhaya Monasteries, near a large cave. It was founded in the late 1200s by villagers from Hawqa. The hermitage appears to have been built on a wide platform halfway up the cliff, where a water reservoir was fed by channels. Above this, a cave about 47 meters long was accessible only by ladder. Archaeological finds, such as medieval pottery and arrowheads, suggest it was used as a shelter. Evidence of fortifications was also found in the Aassi Hauqqa cave at 1170 meters altitude. This cave was used during the Paleolithic, Roman, and Medieval periods.
The Monastery of Mar Sarkis, also called Ras Al Nahr, overlooks the areas of Ehden, Kfarsghab, Bane, and Hadath El Jebbeh. Located at 1500 meters altitude, it is called the "Watchful Eye of Qadisha" because of its high position overlooking the valley. It honors Saints Sarkis and Bakhos (Saints Sergius and Bacchus). The name Ras Al Nahr means "the top of the river," as it is near the source of the Mar Sarkis River, which flows into the Qannubin River in the valley.
The first church for Saints Sarkis and Bakhos was built in the mid-8th century AD on the ruins of a Canaanite temple dedicated to a god of agriculture, Dagan. A church for Our Lady was added in 1198 AD. Additional buildings were added from 1404 to 1690, when Patriarch Estephan Douaihy restored parts of the monastery.
Mar Lishaa, also called St. Elisha (Deir Mar Alishu), was first mentioned in the 14th century. It is shared by two groups: a Maronite solitary order and the Barefoot Carmelite order. The monastery includes three or four small cells, a dining hall, and some offices. The communal church has four chapels carved into the rock.
Other monastic sites in the Kadisha Valley include the Monastery of Mar Girgis with the Chapel of Mar Challita, the Monastery of Mar Yuhanna, the Monastery of Mar Abun with the Hermitage of Mar Sarkis, and the Monastery of Mart Moura in Ehden. Nearby, in the Hadchit Valley (Ouadi Houlat), there are other monasteries, such as Deir es-Salib, Mar Antonios, Mar Semaane, and Mar Assia, along with isolated chapels for Mar Bohna and Mar Chmouna.
Towns, villages, and monasteries
- In the Bsharri District
Bsharri, Dimane, Bane, Blaouza, Tourza, Hasroun, Bazaoun, Bqarqacha, Bqaa Kafra, Braissat, Hadchit, Blaouza, Hadath, Monastery of Qannoubine, Monastery of Hawqa
- In the Zgharta District
Arbet Qozhaya, Ehden, Kfarsghab, Hawqa, Aintourine, Sereel, El Fradiss, Mazraat En Nahr, Beit Balais, Monastery of Qozhaya, Monastery of Mar Sarkis Ras Al Nahr