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40-492: As most of the villages, Broummana has an Aramaic name which most probably means "house of Rammana, the God of Air, Storm and Thunder". In the location where Broummana was built it was thought that the god Rammanu lived there, which gave the name "House of Rammanu", and it is known that the letter B at the beginning of the name of villages refers to "beit" in Syriac, meaning "house". Summer

80-450: A bullet wound to Djemal's jaw and Dray received permission to open a small soup kitchen. The kitchen started in the summer of 1916. It employed one cook and fed 15 people. At the same time Mariam Cortas (née Asswad) and her two sisters Labibi (Mrs Amin Rizk) and Selma (Mrs Selim Rizk) were managing funds to help nursing mothers and were distributing milk and food. Mrs Cortas took over the running of

120-610: A controversial plan to boost tourism by making local police women wear short shorts and red berets. An engraving of William Henry Bartlett 's painting of the Villages of Brumhanna, in Mount Lebanon is accompanied by a posthumous poetical illustration [REDACTED] Scene in Lebanon . by Letitia Elizabeth Landon in Fisher's Drawing Room Scrap Book, 1840. Broummana has many hotels, including

160-525: A major part of the commercial and professional class of Beirut and other cities. Many are found in the Southeast ( Nabatieh / Beqaa ) and North , near Tripoli . They are highly educated and well-versed in finance. The Greek Orthodox church has become known in the Arab world, possibly because it exists in various parts of the region. The Greek Orthodox church has often served as a bridge between Lebanese Christians and

200-616: A ridge that overlooked the key East Beirut districts of Baabda and Yarze , where were located the Presidential Palace and the Lebanese Ministry of Defense complex, respectively. From that ridge, Druze PLA artillery units had a point-blank light of sight to those areas. The Lebanese Army Commander-in-Chief, Lieutenant general Ibrahim Tannous , tried to get the Americans involved, reasoning with them that they should do so, since

240-512: Is Raˁmā , Syriac : ܪܥܡܐ ). During classical antiquity , it was believed that Hadad lived in the area that is now Broummana, and thus the area became known as "the House of Rammanu", later corrupted to Broummana . Broummana is one of Lebanon's main summer resorts due to its relatively cool climate. Sitting on top of a pine-forested hill, the town has views over Beirut, the Mediterranean coast, and

280-532: Is usually dry in Broummana; it begins in early May and ends in mid-October. Summer temperature rarely exceeds 30 °C, with a lower limit of around 20 °C (68 °F). Its relative humidity in summer runs at 68%. Winter is wet and mild with temperatures ranging between 5 °C and 18 °C, with the occasional snowfall. Broummana is home to a number of religious groups, with Christians, mostly Greek Orthodox making up 40%, Maronite Catholic making up 40% of

320-659: The 1915 Ottoman Syria locust infestation across food-producing areas. In the resulting famine, which lasted two years, it is estimated that 100,000 of Mount Lebanon Mutasarrifate 's 450,000 inhabitants died. The Turkish military governor, Djemal Pasha , was a frequent resident of Broummana. Another resident was Arthur Dray, who was one of the founders of the School of Dentistry at the Syrian Protestant College in Beirut. The two men were on good terms following Dray's treatment of

360-558: The American Mission and a number of wealthy Syrians in Beirut. At its busiest the kitchen employed between 200 and 300 people. A visitor in October 1917 reported 1,200 people being fed, of whom 1080 were children. Despite the kitchen's success people were turned away, and the body of a woman and her child were found a few hundred yards away. Other then-major kitchens in the country were at Souk El Gharb , 'Abay , Sidon and Tripoli . After

400-668: The Greek Orthodox Church of Antioch in Lebanon , which is an autocephalous Greek Orthodox Church within the wider communion of Eastern Orthodox Christianity , and is the second-largest Christian denomination in Lebanon after the Maronite Christians . Lebanese Greek Orthodox Christians are believed to constitute about 8% of the total population of Lebanon. Most of the Greek Orthodox Christians live either in

440-729: The Lebanese Army units defending Souk El Gharb. Eventually, the Lebanese Army's Eighth Brigade bore the brunt of the attacks, but succeeded in retaining control of the town after three days of heavy fighting. However, it remains an open question whether they would have held it without the American naval support. Much of the town was left in ruins during these hostilities. The PLA seized Souk El Gharb three times over, but failed at each occasion to keep it for long: firstly in September 1983, because of

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480-535: The Lebanese Civil War (1975–1990), this mountain town surrounded by pine woods was a prosperous mountain resort nestled in the mountains of the Aley District of Mount Lebanon , overlooking Saint George Bay and Beirut . Being located only a few kilometers away from the district capital of Aley , it is now considered one of Aley's suburbs. The villages that lie between Aley and Souk El Gharb are Bmakine and

520-545: The Maronite Church , but it does have strong connections to Russia and Greece. The Lebanese Greek Orthodox Christians are believed to constitute about 8% of the total population of Lebanon, including the Palestinian Greek Orthodox community, many of whom have been given Lebanese citizenship . Greek Orthodox Christians support a variety of political parties and factions, including non-sectarian parties such as

560-583: The Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) guerrilla factions. Between September 1983 and October 1990, General Michel Aoun 's Eighth Brigade managed to repulse the Druze Progressive Socialist Party 's People's Liberation Army (PLA) militia and their allies' attempts to wrestle control of the town. Unfortunately for the local civilian population, it also led to the destruction of much of their town. On 10 August 1989

600-1962: The Syrian Social Nationalist Party , the Lebanese Communist Party , and the Democratic Left Movement ; and Christian parties such as the Free Patriotic Movement , the Marada Movement , the Lebanese Forces , and the Kataeb . In Lebanon, the Greek Orthodox Christians are found in Beirut , the Southeast ( Nabatieh / Beqaa ) and North , near Tripoli , Koura , and also in Akkar , Batroun , Matn , Aley , Zahlé , Miniyeh-Danniyeh , Hasbaya , Baabda , Marjeyoun , Tripoli , Rashaya , Byblos , and Zgharta . Abou Mizan, Chrine, Achrafieh , rait , Amioun , Rahbeh , Kousba , Anfeh , Deddeh , Kfaraakka , Aaba , Afsdik , Bdebba , Batroumine , Bishmizzine , Btourram , Bkeftine , Bsarma , Btaaboura , Barsa , Charbila , Darchmezzine , Fih , Kaftoun , Kelhat , Kfarhata , Kfarhazir , Kfarsaroun , Ras Maska , Miniara , Cheikh Mohammad , Zawarib , Hamat , Douma , Dhour El Choueir , Bteghrine , Mansourieh , Broummana , Kafarakab , Bhamdoun , Souk El Gharb , Marjayoun , Deir Mimas , Deir Dalloum, Hmairah, Tal Abbas, Cheikh Taba, Rachaya Al Foukhar , Aita al-Foukhar , Jeddayel , Gharzouz , Gebrayel, Mhaidthe (Bikfaya) and others. Ras Beirut , Tripoli , El Mina , Chekka , Bourj Hammoud , Zahleh , Halba , Batroun , Bikfaya , Baskinta , Antelias , Ras el Matn , Aley , Bechamoun , Machgara , Hasbaya , Kfeir , Niha Bekaa , Riit, and others. Beirut

640-788: The American naval bombardments; secondly in March 1984, after U.S. troops left Lebanon and because of internal political pressure brought to bear on the PSP/PLA to withdraw from Souk El Gharb; and thirdly in 1987, after the PLA temporarily took control of the area, a quarrel between Druze troops allowed the Lebanese Army's Fifth Brigade to retake the town, which they held until October 13, 1990, when it fell to an alliance of Druze PSP/PLA, Christian Lebanese Forces – Executive Command (LFEC) and Syrian Social Nationalist Party (SSNP) militias and Syrian Army troops. Some authors, including Thomas Friedman , have argued that

680-455: The Arab countries. Lebanese Greek Orthodox Christians have a long and continuous association with Eastern Orthodox Churches in European countries like Greece , Cyprus , Russia , Ukraine , Bulgaria , Serbia , and Romania . The church exists in many parts of the Arab world and Greek Orthodox Christians have often been noted; historically, it has had fewer dealings with Western countries than

720-606: The British Syrian Mission founded in 1860. He re-embarked on a second career of good works. Among the fruits of that career are two of Lebanon's most vigorous institutions - Broummana High School, and Asfuriya Mental Hospital, founded in 1894. Waldmeier moved his half-Ethiopian wife and his four children by horseback up the steep mountain path from Beirut to Broummana where he started the Friends' Syrian Mission in 1873. In 1874, he traveled to Europe to seek financial backing from

760-606: The Chouf. In later stages of the battle, the Lebanese Army loyal to President Amin Gemayel 's government relieved the LF and took over the positions that they had held onto in Chouf. Baabda lay downhill on the Beirut -Aley- Damascus highway, and any militia forces advancing from the south had to pass through Souk El Gharb in order to get into the Beirut-Aley road. Moreover, Souk El Gharb controlled

800-655: The Eastern Orthodox Church, which is composed of several autocephalous jurisdictions united by common doctrine and by their use of the Byzantine rite . They are the second largest Christian denomination within Christianity in Lebanon. Historically, these churches grew out of the four Eastern Patriarchates ( Jerusalem , Antioch , Alexandria , and Constantinople ) of the original five major episcopal sees (the Pentarchy ) of

840-587: The Grand Hills Hotel, Broummana Hotel, Kanaan Hotel, Le Crillion, Printania Hotel, Jawhara Palace, and Garden Hotel. It also has a number of restaurants and cafés - as well as a number of pubs and roasteries. Greek Orthodox Christianity in Lebanon Lebanese diaspora : Europe Overseas Middle East Lebanese Greek Orthodox Christians ( Arabic : المسيحية الأرثوذكسية الرومية في لبنان ) refers to Lebanese people who are adherents of

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880-688: The Roman Empire, which included Rome. The final split between Rome and the Eastern Churches, who came to oppose the views and claims of the Popes of Rome, took place in 1054. From that time, with the exception of a brief period of reunion in the fifteenth century, the Eastern Churches have continued to reject the claims of the Patriarchate of Rome (the Catholic Church) to universal supremacy and have rejected

920-865: The Society of Friends. After listening to his impassioned plea for aid, some British and American Quakers formed a committee which, from that time until today, has provided support for the Broummana School. In the summer of 1915, as the First World War gathered pace, the British imposed an economic blockage against the Ottoman territories along the eastern coast of the Mediterranean sea. The Young Turk government introduced military rule across its Arab territories and began stockpiling food for their armies. This coincided with

960-798: The Souk El Gharb College of Lebanon, the Souk El Gharb Technical Institute and College, the Souk el Gharb School for English Instruction, and the Souk El Gharb Boarding School for Boys. In addition to these schools, Souk El Gharb also houses the Balamand university. Souk El Gharb has been inhabited since ancient times, as attested by the Roman vestiges found in the town area. Most of its historical buildings date back at least from

1000-598: The Syrians launched a massive and sustained artillery barrage on the positions held by Lebanese Army units loyal to General Michel Aoun , followed three days later by a PSP/PLA ground offensive against their positions in Souk El Gharb overlooking the presidential palace at Baabda and the Ministry of Defence at Yarze . The assault was repulsed with 20–30 PSP/PLA men being killed. In June 2005, parliamentary elections were held in

1040-422: The Syrians were backing the anti-government militias. At first, the Americans refused but eventually agreed when they were told that Souk El Gharb was in danger of being overrun. The nuclear-powered missile cruiser USS Virginia , and the destroyer USS John Rodgers , the frigate USS Bowen , and the destroyer USS Arthur W. Radford fired 338 rounds from their five-inch (127 mm) naval guns in support of

1080-941: The capital city of Beirut , the Metn hinterland, the Hasbayya and Rashayya districts in the southeast, and the North Governorate , in the Koura region (south of Tripoli ) and Akkar . Under the consensus of the unwritten agreement known as the National Pact among the different political leaders of Lebanon, the Deputy Speaker of the Parliament of Lebanon and the Deputy Prime Minister of Lebanon are assumed to be Greek Orthodox Christians. The Greek Orthodox Church of Antioch adheres to

1120-556: The concept of papal infallibility. Doctrinally, the main point at issue between the Eastern and Western Churches is that of the procession of the Holy Spirit, and there are also divergences in ritual and discipline. The Greek Orthodox include many free-holders, and the community is less dominated by large landowners than other Christian denominations. In present-day Lebanon, Eastern Orthodox Christians have become increasingly urbanized, and form

1160-438: The era of Ottoman rule in the 16th century. The town itself was the scene of several notable fierce battles during the Lebanese Civil War , its notability arising from being actually held for a long time by the Lebanese Army rather than a particular Lebanese militia. This was sometimes achieved against great odds, by facing strong pressure from Lebanese Muslim militias backed both by Syrian Army forces stationed at Lebanon and

1200-521: The kitchen, increasing the number of daily meals to 50 in the first week and 100 in the second. The kitchen was then moved into an empty hotel that had been used by the Turkish army. By the end of 1916 the Broummana Soup Kitchen was feeding at least 1500 people a day. The project received military approval on the understanding that no males between the age of 12 and 60 were being fed. Funding came from

1240-543: The population, and Greek Catholic making up 10% of the population, with Druze making a substantial minority of 10%. The town is also the summer home of tourists from the Middle East . Broummana High School was founded by the Quaker Theophilus Waldmeier in 1873. The school influenced the inhabitants of Broummana and gave the town some English traditions, such as five o’clock tea . Theophilus Waldmeier

Brummana - Misplaced Pages Continue

1280-507: The surrounding mountainous area. It attracts Lebanese visitors for day and weekend trips. Broummana also attracts thousands of Arab tourists from the Persian Gulf every summer, eager to escape from the hot and arid climate of the Persian Gulf. The population of Broummana rises to about 60,000 during the summer months, from a low of about 15,000 in winter, when the weather is cold and sometimes snowy. In July 2018, Mayor Pierre Achkar, introduced

1320-584: The town for the first time since the withdrawal of Syrian Army troops from Lebanon. One resident put it in this way: "For me, ballot box battles are for sure much better than gunbattles..." Souk El-Gharb figured prominently in the Civil War years, but during this particular timeframe the town attracted worldwide attention due to the involvement of the United States Navy in the Mountain War , whose backdrop

1360-463: The two Ains (the modern spelling in Lebanese Arabic is a'ayn ): Ain el-Sayydé ("Our Lady's spring"), and Ain el-Rimmané ("The spring of the pomegranate"). South of Souk El Gharb is located the village of Kaifun . The inhabitants of Souk El Garb are predominantly Greek-Catholics and Greek-Orthodox Christians. Prior to the outbreak of the Civil War in 1975, the town, along with neighboring Aley,

1400-509: The use of the naval bombardments was the turning point in which the U.S. military forces of the Multinational Force in Lebanon (MNF) contingent began to be perceived as active participants in the ongoing civil war rather than neutral peacekeepers, which made them vulnerable to retaliation. Much use was made of landmines in the vicinity of the town and demining is an ongoing concern. One strategic position known as Hill 888, overlooking

1440-568: The war their work was taken over by the Syria and Palestine Relief Fund. As things returned to normal it was found that there were over 400 orphans being cared for in Broummana. The name of the town, Broummana, stems from the Aramaic language . The name most probably means "House of Rammanu ", which was an Akkadian name meaning "Thunder" used for the weather god more commonly known as Hadad in ancient Canaanite religion . (The Aramaic version of this name

1480-421: Was a popular tourist destination for wealthy Arab outsiders from the Arab countries of the Persian Gulf , who used to own luxurious villas there where they spent the summers, escaping the heat and humidity in their own countries. Souk El Gharb was famous for housing several important schools and teaching institutions in Lebanon, including: the Souk El Gharb Presbyterian School (alumni include Abraham Rihbany ),

1520-421: Was born in 1832 in Basle, Switzerland. He attended the missionary college of St Crischona, near Basle, and went to Abyssinia as a missionary in 1858. After being among a motley assortment of Europeans held prisoner by the mad Ethiopian King Theodore and rescued in the nick of time by General Napier and his British troops at the siege of Magdala, he left in 1868 and went to Syria, settling at Beirut in connection with

1560-437: Was once ruled by seven prominent Greek Orthodox Christian families that formed Beirut's High Society for centuries: Trad, Geday, Fernaine , Araman, Bustros , Sursock , Fayyad, and Tueini . Souk El Gharb Souk El Gharb ( Arabic : سوق الغرب ), also spelled Suk, Sug al, ul, Suq), is a town located in the Aley District , Mount Lebanon Governorate , in Lebanon and its name translates to "Western Market". Before

1600-451: Was the Israeli invasion of Lebanon in June 1982 . On August 31, 1983, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) unilaterally withdrew from the Chouf District located southeast of Beirut, thus removing the buffer between the Druze PLA and the Christian Maronite Lebanese Forces (LF) militias and triggered another round of brutal fighting. By September, the Druze PSP/PLA had defeated the LF in a series of engagements and gained control over most of

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