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(6 km from Bsharreh) - Valley
At the Qalamoun frontiers, into the rocky chains girdling the country roads, you can come across the
cavern of St. Marina. Its orange color set against a gray background makes it look embossed as if the
rays of the sun have been soaked in a clump of dark trees. This cave contains engravings enameled with
pigmented substances that date of the Creek and Byzantine eras. Recently though, nine paintings were
exhumed along with a Latin index drawn in thick Roman letters of the 8th
century BC. These paintings illustrate St. Marina's story, who disguised herself as
a monk in the Monks' convent in the Valley Qannoubin at the heart of the forest in Qadisha - so as to help
save miraculously many new-born whose mothers' milk was not sufficient enough to feed them.
Mothers came to St. Marina, then, seeking her grace and clemency. Deir
Qannoubin is the monastery that gave its name to this part of the valley.
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