Bikfaya

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Bikfaya بكفيا
Administration
Country	Lebanon
Governorate	Mount Lebanon Governorate
District	Matn District
Geography
Bikfaya Location of Bikfaya, Lebanon
Elevation	900–1,000 m  (2,953–3,281 ft)

Bikfaya (also spelled Bickfaya, Beckfayya, or Bekfaya) is a town in the Matn District region of Mount Lebanon. Its stone houses with red-tiled roofs resting amidst pine and oak forests make Bikfaya one of the most sought-after suburbs of Beirut and one of Lebanon's most popular summer resorts.

Contents 1 Culture 2 Demography 3 Etymology 4 Geography 5 History 6 Monuments 7 Religious Structures 8 Tourism 9 References

[edit] Culture

La Fête des Fleurs à Beckfayya or the Festival of Flowers has attrated tourists since 1934 when Maurice Gemayel started the festival to attract attention to the mountainous town. Each year, a variety of vehicles decorated with thousands of colorful flowers and fruits parade through Bikfaya's tree-lined main street. Live music bands, bazaars, and the election of three beauty queens: the Queen of Flowers, the Queen of Fruits and the Queen of Sports, are held in the public squares and gardens.^[1]

[edit] Demography

Bikfaya is home to 20,000 Lebanese who are followers of the Baptist, Maronite Catholic, Armenian Orthodox, Greek Orthodox, and other Christian churches.^[2]

[edit] Etymology

It is believed that the name Bikfaya is a corruption of the Aramaic (Syriac) words for "Beit Kefaya, "meaning the "house made of stone" or "the rock house."^[3]

[edit] Geography

Bikfaya is nestled in the mountains overlooking the Mediterranean with an elevation ranging from 900 to 1000 meters above sea level. It lies 25 km from Beirut and only a short drive to the Faraya-Mzaar ski resort.^[4] Summers in Bikfaya are cool and characterized by periods of fog in the afternoon.^[5]

[edit] History

Historians believe that Bikfaya was the consecrated shrine of the Phoenician Baal.^[6]

[edit] Monuments

• Armenian Genocide Monument

Bikfaya is home to a commemorative plaque and monumental sculpture, honoring the victims of the 1915 Armenian Genocide. Designed by Zaven Khedeshian and renovated by Hovsep Khacherian in 1993, the outdoor, freestanding sculpture rests on top of a hill that is located on the grounds of the summer retreat of the Catholicate of Cilicia. The sculpture is a bronze abstract figure of a woman standing with hands open toward the sky. A plaque with Arabic and Armenian inscriptions reads, "This monument, commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Armenian genocide, was erected with the cooperation of the whole Armenian Community in Lebanon, to celebrate the rebirth of the Armenian nation and to express gratitude to our country, Lebanon - April 24 1969." The Armenian community of Lebanon visit the monument on April 24 every other year. The pilgrimages are alternated with the Catholicate of Cilicia in Antelias.^[7]

• Pierre Gemayel Memorial Square

The memorial honors Pierre Gemayel, the founder of the Phalange party of Lebanon.

[edit] Religious Structures

• Mar Abda Church, built in 1587^[8]
• Jesuit Convent, built in 1833^[9]
• Saint Elias Chwayya Monastery, a Maronite and Greek Orthodox complex with a church, built in 1590^[10]
• Armenian Monastery, the summer retreat of the Catholicate of Cilicia^[11]
• Our Lady of Deliverance
• Mar Mkheyel (Saint Michael) Church

[edit] Tourism

Many restaurants, especially ones specializing in Lebanese Cuisine, can be found in Bikfaya. Bikfaya offers tourists rest and leisure in its numerous hotels, amusement centers, and public gardens, such as the Grand Hotel Naas.^[12] The Naas is a natural spring and one of Bikfaya's most popular destinations.^[13] The Naas has been known for its curative powers attracting hundreds of health-seeking tourists each year.^[14]

[edit] References

Coordinates: 33°55′N, 35°41′E