Lebanon's Zokhraya Press... 1st Arabic printing machine in Mideast since 1733

Photo feature by: Fawaz Al-Otaibi BEIRUT, Nov 11 (KUNA) -- The Zokhraya Printing Press, located at the Monastery of Saint John in the town of Khenshara, Mount Lebanon, stands as a witness to the printing press of the first Arabic letters in the Middle East in 1733.
It was established by scholar Abdullah Al-Zakhir Al-Hamawi, who built the press using handcrafted printing machines, turning it into an intellectual beacon that contributed to spreading knowledge and Arabic literature.
The founding of the press followed Al-Zakhir's relocation from Aleppo, Syria, to Lebanon in 1722, where he settled in Khenshara and began manufacturing printing tools with the help of local craftsmen. He later achieved his dream by printing his first works, assisted by renowned calligrapher Gabriel Labad Al-Hamawi, celebrated for his elegant handwriting style known as the "Labad Script." In 1962, Lebanon's Directorate General of Antiquities listed the Zokhraya Printing Press among the country's historic heritage buildings, preserving its legacy as a landmark in the history of Arabic printing and cultural renaissance. (end) fz.aa