MONASTERY
Saint Anthony of Qozhaya Monastery
Qozhaya · Maronite Catholic
- Locality
- Qozhaya
- Tradition
- Maronite Catholic
- Type of place
- MONASTERY
- Coordinates
- 34.28338° N, 35.94621° E
- Identity
- Matched to a public listing
A brief history
This Maronite monastery in the Qadisha Valley is dedicated to Anthony the Great and is among the oldest in the valley; scholarly dating of its foundation differs, and remains from the seventh century survive. It served for a period as the seat of the Maronite Patriarchate. In 1584 Patriarch Sergius Rizzi installed here the first printing press in the Middle East.
An interesting detail
A large cave beside the monastery is known as the Grotto of Saint Anthony, and the monastery keeps its historic press where visitors can still see it.