دير قنوبين

Deir Qannubin - Our Lady Of Quannoubine Monastry

Useful Information

Location:
Open:	All year daily. [2020]
Fee:	free, donations welcome. [2020]
Classification:	Cave Church
Light:	Incandescent Electric Light System
Dimension:
Guided tours:
Photography:	allowed
Accessibility:
Bibliography:
Address:	Our Lady of Balamand Patriarchal Monastery, Greek Orthodox church, Balamand, Tel: +961-6-930-311.
As far as we know this information was accurate when it was published (see years in brackets), but may have changed since then. Please check rates and details directly with the companies in question if you need more recent info.

History

375	monastery founded.
1998	inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Description

Our Lady of Qannoubine is the oldest monastery in the Middle East. According to legend it was founded by Emperor Theodosius the Great in 375 AD. It is the oldest of the Maronite monasteries but it was most likely established by a disciple of St Theodosius the Cenobite. Most of the monastery is cut into the rocky cliff side, the monastic cells, the church, the cloister, and the accommodation for travelers..