| Deir el Ahmar دير الأحمر |
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Deir el Ahmar
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| Coordinates: | |
| Country | Lebanon |
| Governorate | Beqaa Governorate |
| District | Baalbek District |
| Elevation | 3,773 ft (1,150 m) |
| Time zone | EET (UTC+2) |
| • Summer (DST) | +3 (UTC) |
| Website | www.deirelahmar.com |
Deir El Ahmar (Arabic: دير الأحمر) is a Lebanese town, located at 100 km from Beirut and 12 km northeast of Baalbeck in the Bekaa Valley in Lebanon.
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The population of Deir el Ahmar is around 23,000 people. The people of Deir el Ahmar are Lebanese and followers of the Maronite church. With eight historical churches, including Saint Joseph Church which was completed on September 15, 1914, Our Lady of the Tower Church which was built the ruins of the temple of Jupiter, Saint Georges, Saint Nohra, Saint Michel (old + New), Saint Elie, Our Lady of Cultivation and two musk temple one of them for man and the other for ladies. The town serves as the center of the archbishopric of Baalbek–Deir El-Ahmar.[1]
Deir el Ahmar's climate is mild during spring and autumn, dry and warm in summer, and cold during winter. With an altitude that ranges between 950 m and 1,150 m above sea level, the town receives heavy snow during the winter, and some roads leading to the town may be temporarily closed during this period. Deir el Ahmar area is about 42 hectar (42.000 000 m2)
Deir el Ahmar, like the rest of Lebanese land, was part of the Roman Empire, and during the third century A.D., the Roman emperor Caracalla built a temple for Jupiter in the vicinity of the village. The Temple of Jupiter would later become the center of the Jacobite Christians.
Roman period:
During the third century A.D., roman emperor Caracalla built the temple of Jupiter.
Byzantine period:
7th-16th century:
16th-19th century period:
19th century period:
Deir el Ahmar has eight historic churches. The courtyard of Our Lady of the Tower has Greek inscriptions on its stone walls. Ruins of a cellar that reportedly dates to the Roman era are nearby the church.[1] Our Lady of the Tower Church (Saydet el Borj) was built on the ruins of the temple of Jupiter during the Byzantine era. The Castle of the King's Daughter (Qasr el Benet) near Chlifa was also built during this period. Maronite Catholic shepherds from, Niha [being the most], Bsharri and Aakoura moved and settled in the region of Deir el Ahmar where better grazing was available. In the 19th century, other Maronite families from Byblos and Batroun settled in the village of Deir el Ahmar.[2]
Departing from the capital Beirut ,through Daher al Baidar main road to Zahleh and Baalbeck, the passenger, then heads North to Deir el Ahmar, crossing about 100 km.
Many roads lead from Lebanon's major coastal cities to Deir El Ahmar:
Some of these roads are closed by snow a few months or weeks during winter (January, February, March). The road via Dahr el Baydar is the main one and the most accessible during the 4 seasons .
Historians believe that the name of the village originated from the Aramaic, "Deir Ohmor’" which means "Monastery of the Brother." Since the word deir means monastery and the Arabic word for the color red is ahmar, some historians believe that the origin of Deir el Ahmar's name can be attributed to the large monastery in the area that was built with red stones, thus the name of the town can be literary translated to "Red Monastery.".[1]
While the people who have lived in that period tell a different story which state that after the baptism of the pagan tribes living in the village the monks built a monastery on Jupiter's Temple(a present historical ruin in the village) which the pagans used for the workship of their gods, so villagers used to came every morning to the Mass before going to their work. The villagers got surprised one morning because they did not hear the Church bell toll and hurried to the monastery.They found the monks slaughtered like sheep, by the pagan tribes that fled away and came back to avenge their gods. The people were terrified to see blood all around the place ,so they run back shouting: "The monastery is red...." in Arabic: " Al Deir Ahmar " the "Al" was cancelled and the village as called "Deir El Ahmar".
The people of Deir el Ahmar are well known for their dynamism and for keeping the rural Lebanese traditions: Hospitality Traditional gastronomy: Mezzeh, Tabbouleh, Kebbeh, etc. Traditional wedding ceremonies: traditional songs, dances & poems (zaffeh), traditional religious ceremonies, etc. Traditional clothes for folkloric occasions: men wear traditional "sherwal", the "Ghombaz" and "tarboush" or "Kafiat and Ighal" on the head women wear "abbaya"
Ecotourism Visiting the region of Deir el Ahmar is an authentic rural tourism experience to discover: Many unknown historical sites A wild and unspoiled nature
Best periods to visit the region You can visit Deir el Ahmar almost anytime of the year. The region may be inaccessible a few days or weeks every year because of snow, usually during January and February The best periods are Spring and the beginning of summer, when the temperature is mild, the rivers are at their highest levels, the wild flowers are flourishing and the mountains are covered with snow Autumn, for the mild climate and to discover and participate in some farming activities
What to do?
Cultural tours
Hiking
Visit some organic farms and participate to some farming activities
Lunch in organic farms
Buy traditional products from the WADA center or the organic farms
The W.A.D.A. organization The Women's Association of Deir El Ahmar, WADA, is a Lebanese non-profit, Non-Governmental Organization established in 1994 The mission Promote women's role in rural development and welfare of society in the region around Deir el Ahmar (Bekaa, Lebanon). The team WADA was founded by active volunteer women from Deir el Ahmar, among them Mrs. Dunia Baroud El Khoury, Mrs. Yvonne El Khoury Lichaa, Mrs. René Chouah Mhanna, ...
Current President: Mrs Dunia Baroud El Khoury
Geographical focus WADA's geographical focus is a wide area of 157 km2, including 33 municipalities around Deir el Ahmar, Baalbeck and Hermel, in the north of the Bekaa valley in Lebanon. WADA have won many Awards, among them the Dubai International Award WADA's partners include major and prestigious local and international institutions: ministries, municipalities, NGOs, etc. These partners helped WADA achieve many projects To contact WADA,Programs Areas:
-Training sessions for rural women in handicrafts,natural Agrofood Production and Agriculture.
-Supporting Marketing and Promotion of the Products through fairs and Exhibitions.
-Awareness Programs for Local Communities which seek to:
Protect Environment
Care for Human Health
Support Education and Cultural Fields
Promote Rural Eco-Tourism
-Executing a sustainable Development Project.
The Rural Development Center - RDC -
Deir el Ahmar's location in the fertile Beqaa Valley makes agriculture its main economical activity. The town produces jam, jelly, marmalade, and dairy products as well as handcrafts, such as pottery, crochet, and lace.[3]
Deir el Ahmar, like the rest of the Beqaa Valley, has good potential for tourism due to the mild climate, pristine nature, and the variety of historical and archeological sites. Ecotourism, especially natural excursions and hiking trips are becoming more popular in the region of Deir el Ahmar. Tourists also visit the local organic farms and participate in farming activities. However, the tourism sector remains mostly underdeveloped in Deir el Ahmar, To note that Hotels or Motels are abandoned because of the hospitability idea that say: visitors are well coming and they may choose any house to come in and stay .[4] An economical and demographic study conducted in Deir el Ahmar by Dr Gaby Saliba in 2001 highlights the following problems:
High emigration of youth [62% of population] and still increasing mainly caused by the lack of high education institutions, and the nearest university is 40 minutes away Deficient role of the women in development High rates of Unemployment
The municipality have an elected municipal council for 6 years. Its has administrative and financial independence but remains under the control and supervision of the central government.
1671: Established as Diocese of Baalbek / Helipolitan(us) Maronitarum (Latin) 1977.08.04: Renamed as Diocese of Baalbek e Zahlé / Helipolitan(us) et Mariammen(sis) Maronitarum (Latin) 1990.06.09: Renamed as Diocese of Baalbek–Deir Al-Ahmar / Heliopolitan(us)–Rubrimonasterien(sis) Maronitarum (Latin) (lost territory to establish Diocese of Zahlé)
Bishop: SIMON ATTALLAH Latin Name: Helipolitanus Maronitarum Erected: 1671 Type of Jurisdiction: Eparchy Split: 9 June 1990 Rite: Maronite Country: Lebanon Mailing Address: Eveche Maronite, Deir El-Ahmar, Liban Telephone: +961-(08)32.04.32 Fax: +961-(08)32.04.31
Bishop Simon Atallah, O.A.M. (73) (2005.12.28 – ...) Born: 1937.01.10 (Lebanon) Ordained Priest: 1963.12.08 Consecrated Bishop: 2006.02.11
Bishop Paul-Mounged El-Hachem (75) (later Archbishop) (1995.06.10 – 2005.08.27)
Bishop Philippe Boutros Chebaya (1990.06.09 – 1995.06.10)
Bishop Georges Scandar (83) (1977.11.12 – 1990.06.09) Bishop of Baalbek e Zahlé of the Maronites (Lebanon) (1977.11.12 – 1990.06.09)
Bishop Chucrallah Harb (87) (1967.03.15 – 1977.08.04) Bishop of Baalbek of the Maronites (Lebanon) (1967.03.15 – 1977.08.04
Bishop Abdallah Nujaim (1954.04.04 – 1966.11.12) Auxiliary Bishop of Baalbek of the Maronites (Lebanon) (1950.07.25 – 1954.04.04)
Bishop Abdallah Nujaim (Apostolic Administrator 1953–1954.04.04)
Bishop Elias Richa (1937.10.10 – 1953.08.24) Bishop of Baalbek of the Maronites (Lebanon) (1937.10.10 – 1953.08.24)
Bishop Giovanni Murad (1892.06.12 – 1937.05.01) Bishop of Baalbek of the Maronites (Lebanon) (1892.06.12 – 1937.05.01)
Bishop Jean Pierre Hadj [Al-Haj] (Jean [Yuhanna] Hadj [Al-Haj]) (later Patriarch) (1861–1890.04.28) Bishop of Baalbek of the Maronites (Lebanon) (1861–1890.04.28)
Deir El Ahmar account 4 schools, 2 public schools and 2 private schools. Thus, 687 students are schooled in the public institution, and 2485 student are schooled in the private.
Families in Deir El Ahmar in Alphabetical order:
-Al-Litani -Abou Samra -Abi younes -Akoury -Atallah -Awad -Bethani (Bethoney, Bithoney) -Berkachi -Bou Raffoul -Choueiri -Chit Dirani -Chwah -Dib -El Gemayel (Keyrouz) -El khoury -El Litani -Farha -Fakhry -Gaegea -Habchi -Habka -Imad -Ishac -Joumha -Jreish -Karam -Khadra -Khechen -Keyrouz -Kozah -Lichaa el Khoury -Moubarak -Mouawad -Moussallem -Makhlouf -Mhana -Nakhleh (Fakhry) -Rahmeh -Saadé -Sadka -Saleh -Satiteh (Saadé) -Succar -Tarabay (Torbey) -Tabet -Yaghi -Litani -Yammouni