Kaftoun

Kaftoun
كفتون
City
Map showing the location of Kaftoun within Lebanon
Kaftoun

Location within Lebanon

Coordinates: 34°16′N 35°46′E / 34.267°N 35.767°E / 34.267; 35.767Coordinates: 34°16′N 35°46′E / 34.267°N 35.767°E / 34.267; 35.767
Country  Lebanon
Governorate North Governorate
District Koura District
Time zone EET (UTC+2)
  Summer (DST) EEST (UTC+3)
Dialing code +961
Website http://www.kaftoun.com/

Kaftoun (Arabic: كفتون) is a small Lebanese village located along the north bank of the Walnut River, in the Koura District, North Lebanon. The population of the village is approximately three-hundred, spread around seventy-four houses. They are mostly of Greek Orthodox ancestry.[1] The village is famous for the Moussa-Georges family.[2] The name "Kaftoun" in the ancient Aramaic language means "dug from" or "sculpted from" a cliff and also (Kftuna) could means "the domed". Both roots of the word lead us to believe that the village of Kaftoun was named after the domed Theotokos Monastery[3] which is carved in the red rock cliffs by the banks of the Jaouz River.

Kaftoun has three historic churches:[4] Saint Phocas Church (Mar Foka's[5]), the Church of Saint Sergius and Bacchus (Mar Sarkis[6]) 6th century, and the most famed Theotokos Monastery,[7] which houses a two-sided Byzantine icon[8] from the 11th century.

References

  1. "Municipal and ikhtiyariah elections in Northern Lebanon" (PDF). The Monthly. March 2010. p. 23. Retrieved 1 November 2016.
  2. Kifraya website
  3. Photo Gallery. Kaftoun. Retrieved on October 12, 2011.
  4. Kaftoun Churchs. Kaftoun.com (6 November 2004). Retrieved on October 12, 2011.
  5. Photo Gallery. Kaftoun. Retrieved on October 12, 2011.
  6. Photo Gallery. Kaftoun. Retrieved on October 12, 2011.
  7. The Kaftoun Theotokos Monastery - a jewel of spirituality!. Kaftoun.com (30 March 2005). Retrieved on October 12, 2011.
  8. Kaftoun's Theotokos. Ortmtlb.org.lb. Retrieved on October 12, 2011.
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