Kaftoun is a small Lebanese village located along the north bank of the Nahr el Jaouz (Walnut River), in the District of Koura , North Lebanon [Kaftoun satellite map]. The houses of Kaftoun number seventy, and its inhabitants number about three hundred. They are mostly Greek Orthodox Christians, who are peaceful, respectful of others, and generally well educated. The name "Kaftoun" in the ancient Aramaic language means "dug from" or "sculpted from" a cliff. In the ancient Syriac language (Kftuna) it means "the domed". Both roots of the word lead us to believe that the village was named after the domed Theotokos Monastery which is carved in the red rock cliffs by the banks of the Jaouz River.

Kaftoun and its surroundings are steeped in history. This can be evidenced from the names of some of its families: Kanaan (canaan), after the Canaanites who dwelt in the region during the earlier Bronze Age (3000-1200 H.C.) and from which the Phoenicians of the Iron Age (first millennium B.C.) descended. Semaan (Samaan), after Saint-Simon (Sam'an), a shepherd from northern Syria, who became a monk after a revelation in a dream, and who lived on top of a pillar for forty-two years. He died in the year 459 A.D. The historic Maronite Church in the neighboring village of Boukssmayya, just across the Jaouz River from Kaftoun, is dedicated to his memory.

The Sarkis Family, takes its name from Saint Sergius (Mar Sarkis). Sergius an officer in the Roman army and Bacchus, an officer under him, were both friends of Emperor Maximian (284-305). They were scourged to death when they refused his orders to offer sacrifice to the pagan god Jupiter. For nearly a thousand years they were the official patrons of the Byzantine armies. Many Eastern Christians still continue to revere them as their special patron saints. Their feast day is October 7th. The old Mar Sarkis Church by the banks of the Jaouz River, which is presently being excavated, was erected in their honor (600-700 A.D.).

Kaftoun's Son Makes the World a Little Bit Safer!

He was born the year 1932 in his father's typical stone village house with mud roof in Kaftoun. His house consisted of two large rooms for sleeping and living, a cooking and baking area, an outhouse, and most essentially a well to collect rain water for the family summer drinking and washing needs. His father Jurjus was a farmer and landowner of independent means. Jurjus and his brother Elias had orchards of Olives, and Tobaco Fields, and they used to harvest hard Grains which they processed on their own Baydar located then between Mekhael Fares' House and the Old Kaftoun School by the present Kaftoun main thruway.