Kaftoun (Arabic: كَفْتُون) is a small Lebanese village located along the north bank of the Walnut River, in the Koura District, North Lebanon. The population of the village is approximately three-hundred, spread around seventy-four houses. They are mostly of Greek Orthodox ancestry.[1] The name "Kaftoun" in the ancient Aramaic language means "dug from" or "sculpted from" a cliff and also (Kftuna) could means "the domed".

Kaftoun
كَفْتُون
City
Map showing the location of Kaftoun within Lebanon
Map showing the location of Kaftoun within Lebanon
Kaftoun
Location within Lebanon
Coordinates: 34°16′N 35°46′E / 34.267°N 35.767°E / 34.267; 35.767
Country Lebanon
GovernorateNorth Governorate
DistrictKoura District
Time zoneUTC+2 (EET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+3 (EEST)
Dialing code+961
Websitehttp://www.kaftoun.com/


Both roots of the word lead us to believe that the village of Kaftoun was named after the domed Theotokos Monastery[2] which is carved in the red rock cliffs by the banks of the Jaouz River.

Churches

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Kaftoun has three historic churches:[3] Saint Phocas Church (Mar Foka's[4]), the Church of Saint Sergius and Bacchus (Mar Sarkis[5]) 6th century, and the most famed Theotokos Monastery,[6] which houses a two-sided Byzantine icon[7] from the 11th century.

References

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  1. ^ "Municipal and ikhtiyariah elections in Northern Lebanon" (PDF). The Monthly. March 2010. p. 23. Archived from the original on 3 June 2016. Retrieved 1 November 2016.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  2. ^ Photo Gallery Archived 2012-08-15 at the Wayback Machine. Kaftoun. Retrieved on October 12, 2011.
  3. ^ Kaftoun Churchs Archived 2012-04-19 at the Wayback Machine. Kaftoun.com (6 November 2004). Retrieved on October 12, 2011.
  4. ^ Photo Gallery Archived 2012-09-15 at the Wayback Machine. Kaftoun. Retrieved on October 12, 2011.
  5. ^ Photo Gallery Archived 2012-09-15 at the Wayback Machine. Kaftoun. Retrieved on October 12, 2011.
  6. ^ The Kaftoun Theotokos Monastery - a jewel of spirituality! Archived 2012-06-07 at the Wayback Machine. Kaftoun.com (30 March 2005). Retrieved on October 12, 2011.
  7. ^ Kaftoun's Theotokos Archived 2006-04-24 at the Wayback Machine. Ortmtlb.org.lb. Retrieved on October 12, 2011.
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