Zakrit (Arabic: زكريت, romanized: Zekrit, Classical Syriac: ܙܰܓܪܸܬܳ) is a town located in Matn, Mount-Lebanon, Lebanon.

Some historians attribute the origins of this name to a hermit ascetic monk that lived in one of Zakrit’s temples in the 15th century.

[5] Zakrit sits on the western slope of Mount-Lebanon, overlooking the Mediterranean Sea and the city of Jounieh and about 13.9 km from the capital Beirut and 269 meters above sea-level.

Most of its population stem from Zakriti families that occupied the western part of the town to cultivate lemons and oranges.

[8] Zakrit has a warm Mediterranean climate characterized by mild days and nights with an average yearly temperature of 19.2 °C (66.6 °F).

Father Yohanna Yammine the caretaker of Al-Wardieh church between the years 1873 and 1890 was the first immigrant of Zakrit to the United States where he established a group of believers in Kansas City in 1893.

[10] Deir Mar Yohanna Al-Maamadan (Arabic: دير مار يوحنا المعمدان) : translated to “saint John the Baptist”, is the oldest monastery in Zakrit and was destroyed the first time during the year 1305 during the Keserwani Nakba.

[11] Deir Mar Abda Al-Mshamar (Arabic: دير مار عبد المشمر) translated to “the sad guardian”, was built on the north-west hill of Zakrit overlooking the valley of Naher al-Kaleb.

While the exact date of its building is debated upon, Patriarch Estephan Al-Douaihy mentions in his book “the history of times” that the church was renovated in 1685 and the monastery was later built in 1716.

[14] Aside from its religious historical touristic attractions, Zakrit holds the biggest zoo in Lebanon “Animal City”.

Mar Yohanna covenant was partially transformed into a wedding and event venue names “Domaine de Zakrit”.

[16] Festivals are often held in Summer, and range from masses to theatre plays and entertainment shows, as well as art nights and rural dinners.