Zgharta Zawie Online Magazine

Religious Caza - Zgharta

The Online Magazine of Zgharta - Zawie

Mount Lebanon remained the last refuge of paganism in the eastern side of the Mediterranean until the 5th century. The inhabitants of the Lebanese coast, Syria and Palestine embraced Christianity at the time of the Byzantine emperor Theadosius the Great (379 - 395), who made Christianity the official religion of the Byzantine State. As for the inhabitants of the Mount Lebanon, it did not take them long to convert to Christianity. This happened around the year 450.

Many of the stones used in building the houses and the churches of Ehden, such as St. Mema's Church, are those of old temples found in archeological sites.

Since the arrival of Christianity, the Virgin Mary has always occupied a special place in the life of its inhabitants who have honored her in their daily life.

Our Lady of the Fortress

"Our Lady of the Fortress" guarded the entrance of the town. It was destroyed in 1283 by the Mamluks then rebuilt in 1705 and in 1836. The French poet Lamartine mentioned in his visit to Ehden in 1833 that he found that church in ruins. In 1989 a Cathedral with a high statue for the Virgin Mary was built by Fayez Mawad.

Our Lady of the Hara

"Our Lady of the Hara" watched over the dead. This church was built in 1512 and renovated in 1920. The painting of the Virgin Mary in the church, was brought from Rome in 1655 by Patriarch Stephan Douaihy.

St. (Mar) Mema

The ancient Church of St. Mema is the oldest church in Lebanon built in 749.

The Cathedral of St. George

The Cathedral of St. George in the center of Ehden (Al-Koutla) was inaugurated in the year 1880.

Other Churches in Ehden:

- the Church of Mar Aabda, an old cell of the 10th century transformed into a church

- the Church of St. Peter and Paul, first built in the 13th century, then rebuilt in the 17th century

- the church of St. Simon, built in 1803

- the church of St. Anthony of Padua, built in 1980

- the church of St. Elias, built in 1993

There are churches also in the monasteries of Ehden and several ruined churches (St. Abhay the Syriac, St. John, St. Ghaleb, St. Stephan...) mostly built in the 13th century.