Did the wind whisper tales of resilience to you as you approached Mar Sarkis w Bakhos? Here at Mar Sarkis w Bakhos, nestled in the breathtaking Qozhaya valley, the very stones echo with the courage of two Roman soldiers. Mar Sarkis and Bakhos, revered throughout the East, served in the Roman army during the tumultuous fourth century. They were respected soldiers. Yet, their unwavering faith made them outcasts. They refused to bow to pagan idols. For this defiance, they were dragged through the city in chains, their uniforms replaced with women’s clothing. Bakhos succumbed to the brutal beatings on October 1st. But even in death, his spirit remained, appearing to Sarkis, bolstering his resolve. Sarkis, though tortured, held firm in his faith until his beheading on October 7, 303. The first church dedicated to these steadfast saints was built here in the mid-8th century, rising from the remnants of a Canaanite temple. The location, perched high above Ehden, Kfarsghab, Bane, and Hadath El Jebbeh, gives Mar Sarkis w Bakhos its nickname: the Watchful Eye of Qadisha. Can you feel their protective gaze upon us even now?
Ministry of Education and Higher Learning
What if the walls of a building could whisper the stories of generations of learners? Here, before the Ministry of