Saint Tarokhos (Mar Edna)

The historical site of Saint Tarokhos (Mar Edna) is located in the area called Harabta, which in syriac means « the ruins ». The oral tradition, cited by the Priest Youssef al-Dahdah, mentions that the monastery was built during the byzantine period (509 A.D). It was then transformed into the residence of several of the Akoura bishops. The site covers nowadays a squarish surface of about 12 x 12 m. Its largely ruined state, where dozens of scattered blocks litter the ground, makes it quite difficult to understand its original layout. Only a small chapel (3 x 10 m), clearly a late reconstruction, occupies the northern area of the site. This chapel reuses several antique blocks, notably a pillar and its base. Other stones bear motifs from the Byzantine tradition, such as a floral cross carved on one of the white limestone blocks. Most of the other ashlars are cut from brown limestone.

• Route : Romano-Byzantine archaeology - Maronite major spiritual
• Village : Aqoura