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Qozhaya دير مار أنطونيوس قزحيا
City
The Monastery of Qozhaya - July 2003
QozhayaLocation within Lebanon
Coordinates: 34°16′59″N 35°56′50″E / 34.28306°N 35.94722°E / 34.28306; 35.94722
Country	Lebanon
Governorate	North Governorate
District	Zgharta District
Elevation	664 m (2,178 ft)
Time zone	UTC+2 (EET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+3 (EEST)
Dialing code	+961

Monastery of Saint Anthony of Qozhaya, or Monastery of Qozhaya (also Qazahya; Syriac: ܕܝܪܐ ܕܡܪܝ ܐܢܛܘܢܝܘܣ ܩܘܙܚܝܐ, Arabic: دير مار أنطونيوس قزحيا) is a large and important Maronite monastery. It is located in the Zgharta District in the North Governorate of Lebanon.

The Monastery of Qozhaya holds significant importance within Maronite tradition and history. Its origins date back to the 13th century, serving as a residence for monks and, at one point, functioning as the headquarters of the Maronite Patriarchate. In the 16th century, it housed the Middle East's first printing press, which is still accessible to visitors. Its land holdings extended to the surrounding areas of the Kadisha Valley.

The monastery features a notable church, housing for nuns and monks, and an expansive cave known as the Grotto of Saint Anthony. Known for its association with various events, it also offers a guest house.

Name and etymology

It is dedicated to Saint Anthony the Great. It is commonly called Qozhaya, in reference to the valley in which it is located. The valley of Qozhaya, along with the valley of Qannoubine (Arabic: قنوبين) to which it is connected to the west, form what is called the Kadisha Valley.

The etymology of the name Qozhaya varies according to the opinions of scholars. However, in recent years the Syriac origin was most commonly adopted, and approximately translates to the treasure of life.

History

Qozhaya is considered to be one of the oldest monasteries of the valley of Qadisha. It was founded during the last centuries of the Roman Empire in Roman Phoenicia.

Historians and scholars suppose that this Monastery was first built and began to be occupied by hermits at the beginning of the fourth century. It was several times looted, set on fire and razed to the ground, but there still remain vestiges dating back to the seventh century.

Several hermitages are attached to it; and at a certain period (probably the 12th Century AD) it has been the See of the Maronite Patriarch.

In 1584, the first printing press of the Middle East was installed in this monastery, under the leadership of patriarch Yuhanna Makhlouf. In 1610, The press printed a bilingual Psalter in a small folio of 260 pages. The psalms are arranged in two columns, on the right is the text in Syriac and on the left in Arabic, but written in Syriac letters, which is known as Garshuni.

In 1708, it was handed down to the newly formed Lebanese Maronite Order. It still belongs to this important Order. Qozhaya was at its pinnacle in the first part of the 19th Century with more than 300 monks belonging to it.

With its large properties in the valley, in Ain-Baqra and in Jedaydeh, Qozhaya is one of the richest monasteries of the Order. It contributes financially to the maintenance of the less fortunate monasteries of the Order.

What to see

• The Grotto of Saint Anthony the Great
• The Church
• The Museum
• The Library
• The Hermitage of Mar Boula

References

1. ^ Najem, Tom; Amore, Roy C.; Abu Khalil, As'ad (2021). Historical Dictionary of Lebanon. Historical Dictionaries of Asia, Oceania, and the Middle East (2nd ed.). Lanham Boulder New York London: Rowman & Littlefield. p. 215. ISBN 978-1-5381-2043-9.
2. History of the Monastery of Qozhaya

External links

• The official site of the Monastery of Qozhaya
• Ehden Family Tree

v t e Zgharta District, North Governorate
Capital: Zgharta
Towns and villages	Aarjes Aintourine Aitou Alma Arbet Kozhaya Ardeh Ashashe Aslout Asnoun Basloukit Bchennine Beit Awkar Beit Obeid Besbeel Bhairet Toula Bnachii Bousit Daraya Ehden Ejbeh Fraydiss Haret Al Fawar Harf Ardeh Harf Miziara Hawqa Hilan Houmeiss Iaal Jdaydeh Kadrieh Karahbache Karmsaddeh Kfardlakos Kfarfou Kfarhawra Kfarsghab Kfarshakhna Kfarhata Kfaryachit Kfarzeina Mazraat Al Nahr Mazraat Al Toufah Mazraat Hraikis Mejdlaya Miriata Miziara Sakhra Morh Kfarsghab Rachiine Raskifa Sebhel Sereel Toula Zgharta
Notable landmarks	Kadisha Valley Monastery of Qozhaya Mar Sarkis, Ehden Iaal Fortress
History	History of Kfarsghab Ehden massacre
Notable people	Patriarch Estephan El Douaihy Youssef Bey Karam Suleiman Frangieh René Moawad Anis Bey Moawad Hamid Frangieh Youssef Salim Karam Rvd. Seemaan El Douaihy Nayla Moawad Suleiman Frangieh, Jr. Salim Bey Karam Estephan El Douaihy Tony Frangieh Jawad Boulos Samir Frangieh Youakim Moubarac Marie al-Khazen

v t e Maronite Church
West Syriac Rite
Patriarch	List of Maronite Patriarchs of Antioch Bkerké Dimane Bechara Boutros al-Rahi
Eparchies	Archeparchy of Beirut Archeparchy of Antelias Archeparchy of Tripoli Archeparchy of Tyre Eparchy of Baalbek-Deir El Ahmar Eparchy of Batroun Eparchy of Byblos Eparchy of Sidon Eparchy of Zahleh Archeparchy of Damascus Archeparchy of Aleppo Eparchy of Latakia Archeparchy of Haifa and the Holy Land Patriarchal Exarchate of Jerusalem and Palestine Patriarchal Exarchate of Jordan Eparchy of Cairo Archeparchy of Cyprus Eparchy of the Annunciation, Ibadan Apostolic Exarchate of Colombia Eparchy of Our Lady of Lebanon of Paris Eparchy of Saint Maron of Montreal Eparchy of Our Lady of Lebanon of Los Angeles Eparchy of Saint Maron of Brooklyn Eparchy of Our Lady of the Martyrs of Lebanon in Mexico Eparchy of Saint Maron of Sydney Eparchy of Saint Charbel in Buenos Aires Eparchy of Our Lady of Lebanon of São Paulo
Churches	Cathedrals: St George Cathedral, Beirut Cathedral of Saint Elijah, Aleppo St. Louis the King Cathedral, Haifa Our Lady of Lebanon Cathedral (Brooklyn) Our Lady of Mt. Lebanon-St. Peter Cathedral (Los Angeles) St. Raymond Cathedral (St. Louis) Our Lady of Lebanon Procathedral, Bogotá St. Maron's Cathedral, Buenos Aires Our Lady of the Annunciation Cathedral, Ibadan Valvanera Cathedral, Mexico City Our Lady of Grace Cathedral (Nicosia) Our Lady of Lebanon Cathedral (Paris) Our Lady of Lebanon Cathedral, São Paulo St. Maron's Cathedral, Sydney Churches: Church of Saidet et Tallé Church of the Annunciation, Nazareth St. Ann's Church, Albany St. Sharbel Church, Portland Shrines: Our Lady of Lebanon Our Lady of Bekaa Our Lady of Bechouat Basilica and National Shrine of Our Lady of Lebanon (North Jackson, Ohio) Monasteries: Monastery of Saint Maron Monastery of Qozhaya Mar Sarkis, Ehden Monastery of the Holy Saviour, Kreim Maronite Convent, Jerusalem
Religious institutes	Lebanese Maronite Order Antonin Maronite Order Mariamite Maronite Order Congregation of the Lebanese Maronite Missionaries
Saints	Maron John Maron Abraham of Cyrrhus Domnina of Syria Chayna Nimatullah Kassab Charbel Makhlouf Rafqa Pietra Choboq Ar-Rayès Bl. Istifan al-Duwayhi Bl. Elias Peter Hoayek
Traditions	Three Sundays of Commemoration
See also	Lebanese Maronite Christians Cross of All Nations Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Notre Dame des Secours
Catholic Church portal

v t e Roman archaeological sites in Lebanon
Roman Berytus (actual Beirut)	Berytus Roman Forum of Berytus Berytus Roman Baths Cisterns of Berytus Baths Berytus Cardo Decumanus Berytus Colonnaded street Byzantine mosaics Roman hippodrome of Berytus Roman Law school of Berytus
Roman Phoenicia (actual Lebanon)	Heliopolis Temple of Bacchus Temple of Jupiter (Baalbek) Temples of Mount Hermon Temples of the Beqaa Valley Aaqbe temple Afqa Ain Aata temple Ain Harcha roman temple Amioun Monastery Arca Caesarea Augusti Pagus Bakka temple Batroumine Bziza temple Canalizations of Zenobia Dakoue temple Mansourieh Roman aqueduct Hebbariye temple Iaat column Kafr Zabad temples Khirbet El-Knese roman temples Labweh Roman temple Libbaya roman temple Monastery of Qozhaya Monastery of Saint Maron Nahle roman temple Nebi Safa temple Niha Hosn Niha Qalaat Faqra Qal'at Bustra temple Castra Chbib Castra El Banat Saraain El Faouqa Schleem roman temple Colonia Aurelia Pia "Sidon" Temnin el-Foka nymphaeum Tripolis in Phoenicia Tyrus Tyre Necropolis Roman temple to Venus in Yammoune
Related	Roman Lebanon Phoenice (Roman province) Palaestina Secunda Phoenice Libanensis Stone of the Pregnant Woman Ulpianus Marcus Valerius Probus Eudokia of Heliopolis Saint Barbara of Heliopolis Coele-Syria List of Christian cathedrals in Lebanon Christianity in Lebanon Catholic Church in Lebanon Saint George Greek Orthodox Cathedral 2nd century in Lebanon 3rd century in Lebanon 4th century in Lebanon 5th century in Lebanon 6th century in Lebanon 551 Beirut earthquake
UNESCO World Heritage Sites Proposed Category:Roman sites in Lebanon

v t e Archaeological sites in Lebanon

Aadloun Aaiha Aammiq Aaqbe Ain Aata Ain Choaab Ain Harcha Akbiyeh Akkar plain foothills Al-Bireh Amioun Amlaq Qatih Anjar, Lebanon Antelias cave Apheca Ard Saouda Ard Tlaili Arqa Augusti Pagus Baalbek Baidar ech Chamout Batroumine Batroun Bechamoun Beirut Beit Mery Belat temple Berytus (Roman Beirut) Bustan Birke Byblos Canalizations of Zenobia Dahr El Ahmar Dakoue Deir El Aachayer Deir Al-Ahmar Deir Mar Maroun Dekwaneh Douris (Baalbek) Elaea (Lebanon) Flaoui Fadous Sud Hebbariye Hadeth south Haret ech Cheikh Hashbai Heliopolis in Phoenicia Hermel plains Iaat Jabal es Saaïdé Jbaa Jdeideh Jebel Aabeby Jeita Grotto Joub Jannine Jieh Kafr Zabad Kamid el-Loz Kamouh el Hermel Karak Nuh Kaukaba Kefraya Kafr Tebnit Kfar Qouq Kfarhata Khallet Michte Kharayeb Khirbet El-Knese Kouachra megalith field Ksar Akil Labweh Lake Qaraoun (Ain Jaouze) Libbaya Lion Tower Majdal Anjar Mansourieh Maronite mummies Mayrouba Mdoukha (Jebel Kassir) Moukhtara Mtaileb Nabi Zair Nachcharini Nahle, Lebanon Neba'a Faour Nebi Safa Hosn Niha Phoenician port of Beirut Plain of Zgharta Qaa Qal'at Bustra Qalaat Tannour Qaraoun Qasr el Banat Ras Baalbek I Ras Beirut Ras El Kelb Rashaya Roman Forum of Berytus Roman hippodrome of Berytus Roman temple of Bziza Sands of Beirut Saraain El Faouqa Shheem Sidon Sin el Fil Sarepta Stone of the Pregnant Woman Tahun ben Aissa Taire Tayibe Tell Aalaq Tell Ablah Tell Addus Tell Ahle Tell Ain Cerif Tell Ain el Meten Tell Ain Ghessali Tell Ain Nfaikh Tell Ain Saouda Tell Ain Sofar Tell Ayoub Tell Bar Elias Tell Beshara Tell Bir Dakoue Tell Deir Tell Delhamieh Tell Derzenoun Tell Dibbine Tell el-Burak Tell El Ghassil Tell El Hadeth Tell Fadous Tell Hazzine Tell Hoch Rafqa Tell Karmita Tell Khardane Tell Kirri Tell Jezireh Tell Jisr Tell Kabb Elias Tell Majdaloun Tell Masoud Tell Mekhada Tell Meouchi Tell Mureibit Tell Murtafa Tell Nahariyah Tell Neba'a Chaate Tell Neba'a Litani Tell Qasr Labwe Tell Rasm El Hadeth Tell Rayak Tell Saatiya Tell Safiyeh Tell Saoudhi Tell Serhan Tell Shaikh Hassan al Rai Tell Shamsine Tell Sultan Yakoub Tell Taalabaya Tell Wardeen Tell Zenoub Tell Zeitoun Temnin el-Foka Temple of Bacchus Temple of Eshmun Temple of Jupiter Temple of the Obelisks Toron Tripolis (region of Phoenicia) Tyre Necropolis Tyre Umm al-Amad Wadi Koura Wadi Yaroun Yammoune Yanta Ain W Zain Zahlé

• Maronite monasteries in Lebanon
• Populated places in the North Governorate
• Zgharta District
• 4th-century establishments in the Byzantine Empire