Larry's Photos: Wadi Kadisha

Photos of Wadi Kadisha

Wadi Kadisha (Arabic: وادي قاديشا‎, also romanized Qadisha) is a canyon in north-central Lebanon. Qadisha is the Aramaic word for 'holy', so in English this is also called the "Holy Valley". The name derives from the history of the canyon as the site of many Christian monastic communities. The canyon served as a refuge for Christians under persecution since the earliest centuries of Christianity, as well as an isolated place for Christians seeking solitude. The canyon is dotted with hermits' caves, churches, monasteries and shrines commemorating holy people.

I visited Wadi Kanisha with wife Martha and daughter Elissa in April, 2010. We were kindly hosted by the Maronite Fathers and Sisters at the Monastery of St. Elias, near the upper (east) end of the valley

Click photo to expand