CONVENT OF SAINT AANTOINE OF KOZHAYA

This hermitage appears to have been occupied since the Middle Ages. Partially housed in the caves, the convent of Saint-Antoine de Kozhaya (meaning «treasure of life» in syriac) is one of the most important monasteries in the valley. The convent continues to be a place of pilgrimage frequented. The entrance - typically Arabic style - made from a alternation of ochre and beige stones opens onto a large courtyard overlooking the valley. Housed in the rocky wall, a small church, surmounted by three clochers, is harmoniously integrated into the cave, from which it was built.

In the th century, the convent was the seat of the first printing of the Arab-Islamic world (in syriacs characters). The first printed book (between the th and th centuries) was the Book of Psalms of David. This company concerned only religious writings and in a language only the priests knew. In the Arab-Islamic Empire, printing was forbidden, and that is how the Koran was printed only two hundred years later. There was no trace of the original printing, which dates back to 1595. Today the convent is only one hundred or two hundred years old.

Behind the printing machine, a museum - which is partly dedicated to it - presents a collection of sacerdotal manuscripts, objects and clothing, as well as the diamond-filled lacrosse, offered in the convent by Louis IX, and some old agricultural tools.

Left of the entrance to the cave opens a huge cave called "the cave aux fous". It still shows the chains with which the «fous» or «owned» are kept waiting for a miraculous healing. Indeed, Saint Anthony was passing to have the power to make the reason for those who had lost it. The sick were chained to the altar, at the bottom of the cave, while a monk sent them a boxe to the head, shouting «Satan, withdraw yourself».

However, the convent was an important pilgrimage centre. People came from everywhere and some went through the night asking Saint Antoine to give them children. This saint was feared by all and even by the Turkish band, the monks of the convent benefited from it and promised a thousand frustrations to the Ottoman soldiers, if they behaved badly in the region. It is said that attracted by the influence of the place, the famous Lady Stanhope wanted one day to visit the convent, which was strictly forbidden to women… and to animals. In no way discouraged, Lady Stanhope made it possible to pacha him from Tripoli that the monks feared. She had a big dinner in the convent and invited all the sheikhs in the area. But thinking that the monks would not diminish before no revenge, she made cover of all her mules lest the nuns beat the hot peppers in the anus of the poor beasts!

From the convent (which is still inhabited by a handful of monks), you can either return to the bottom of the valley of the Kadisha and return to the road leading to Kousba, or to the road from Tripoli to Ehden. The convent has a home where it is possible to stay for 60 dollars at night (double room with bathroom).