North Governorate

Churches and Monasteries in North Governorate

Historic Churches & Monasteries

North Lebanon’s spiritual landscape is defined by the UNESCO-listed Qadisha Valley, where Maronite monasticism flourished in cliffside hermitages like St. Anthony of Qozhaya and St. Elisha. Along the coast, the 12th-century Greek Orthodox Balamand Monastery showcases Cistercian-influenced architecture. Significant sites include Batroun’s Saint Estephane Cathedral, which blends Romanesque and Byzantine styles, and the Saydet el Nourieh shrine perched on Cape Chekka. These sites preserve centuries of Christian history through ancient frescoes, rock-cut chapels, and fortress-like stone structures.

Historic Churches & Monasteries — Map

A

Qadisha Valley

Deep gorge and UNESCO World Heritage site featuring ancient Christian monasteries and hermitages carved into rugged cliffs. Historically serving as a sanctuary for monastic communities, the site includes natural caves and is located near the Forest of the Cedars of God.

Playfair, Principal / CC BY-SA 3.0

B

Balamand Monastery

The Balamand Monastery, is a monastery for the Greek Orthodox Church of Antioch founded in 1157 in Balamand, the Crusader County of Tripoli…

C

Mar Sarkis, Ehden

In Ehden, Lebanon, Mar Sarkis is a monastery of the Antonins. It is located in the Zgharta District of the North Governorate, in the Qozhaya…

D

Monastery of St Anthony of Qozhaya

Qozhaya, also transliterated Qazahya is located in the Zgharta District in the North Governorate of Lebanon.

E

Saint Estephane Cathedral

Located by Batroun's old harbor, this Maronite cathedral was built in the early 20th century using local sandstone. Its architecture blends Romanesque and Byzantine styles, featuring three naves and a prominent facade overlooking the Mediterranean.

F

saydet el nourieh

A Greek Orthodox monastery and shrine perched on a cliff at Cape Chekka. The site features a 17th-century monastery and a modern chapel built near the spot where sailors reportedly saw a miraculous light.

G

Saint Elisha Monastery

A rock-cut monastery in the Qadisha Valley that served both Maronite and Discalced Carmelite monks. It features an ancient church built into a cave and cells carved directly into the cliff face.

H

Saint Georges Cathedral

A Greek Orthodox cathedral situated near Batroun’s historic Phoenician wall. The interior contains traditional iconography and serves the city's Orthodox community near the coastal archaeological district.

I

Dyr mar antwnyws

A historic monastery located in the Qadisha Valley region, featuring stone-built structures integrated into the rugged mountain landscape and traditionally associated with the Maronite monastic order.

J

Knyst sydt hwqt

A 13th-century rock-cut hermitage in the Qadisha Valley. It consists of a small chapel built into a natural cave and is known for its medieval frescoes and views of the gorge.