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57-572: The people are primarily Greek Orthodox with a minority of Maronite Christians and Sunni Muslim . Remains from at least 3,000 years of human occupation lie tangled among the myrtle and brambles of this 400 meter long and 120m wide peninsula. It is partially separated from the land by two great trenches-dug into the bedrock during the Crusader period. While Anfeh has witnessed only minor excavation, Phoenician and Roman walls, wine presses, mosaic floors, and two seventh-century-A.D. chapels lie bare beneath

114-457: A Mediterranean climate characterized by four notably different seasons with a moderate nice weather during spring time. Summers are mainly hot, while winters are cold and rainy. The table below displays average monthly climate indicators in Anfeh based on 8 years of historical weather readings. In 1953, the town had a population of 1,447. Its population is estimated to be around 6,500, not including

171-587: A great moat, at sea level, all the way across the peninsula, for over 100 yards, through the living rock , leaving only a small spur in the center at the south end to support the castle's drawbridge. Saydet El-Rih in Arabic, the oldest church of Anfeh, was built in the Byzantine era. It is believed that sailors and fishermen from the village of Anfeh built the chapel so that the Virgin Mary would protect them as they sailed

228-531: A haven for hikers and swimmers who are drawn to its well-preserved view and always clear water. Many swimmers enjoy the wavy clear sea of Anfeh, others prefer the Olympic swimming pools that are available for practicing outdoor in summer and indoor in winter. During the war, Lebanese national swimming championships were mostly held in Las Salinas and marina del sol in Anfeh. Anfeh is known for its clear water, one of

285-525: 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

342-410: A rectangular vaulted nave with an apse at its east end. There are two main doors, one to the west and the other to the north. A small, vaulted chamber built in the southwest corner of the church can be accessed from the inside of the nave. Another room was built over this chamber and used to be accessed by a swinging ladder. On top of these rooms was the original bell tower. The new bell tower was built in

399-549: A similar type, but smaller in scale. Excellent examples are to be found near Dalyan , a town in Muğla Province, along the sheer cliffs that faces a river. Since these served as tombs rather than as religious sites, the interiors were usually small and unassuming. The ancient Etruscans of central Italy also left an important legacy of rock-cut architecture, mostly tombs, as those near the cities of Tarquinia and Vulci . The creation of rock-cut tombs in ancient Israel began in

456-599: A single piece of material. Monolithic architecture is often rock-cut, as in the Ellora Kailasanathar Temple , but monolithic structures may also be cast of artificial material, such as concrete . The largest monolithic statue in the world, the Gommateshwara statue of Bahubali at Shravanabelagola in the Indian state of Karnataka , was carved in 983 CE from a single block of granite. Some rock-cut architecture

513-460: A span of hundreds of years prior to the 5th century CE. Emphasis here was more on the interiors than the exteriors. Another extensive site of rock-cut architecture is in Lalibela , a town in northern Ethiopia . The area contains numerous Orthodox churches in three dimensions, as at Ellora, that were carved out of the rock. These structures, which date from the 12th and 13th centuries CE and which are

570-646: 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 the capital city of Beirut , the Metn hinterland,

627-498: Is an art in Anfeh, inherited by its ancestors. Fruits consist mainly of: Olive trees producing quality table olives and olive oil, and Grapes (seedless and non seedless). Anfeh attracts tourists, especially during summer time, for its landscape of small white houses, windmills and salines on its rocky beaches along the Mediterranean coast. Its historical monuments, old churches, and archaeological site of its peninsula make it one of

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684-511: Is excavated entirely in chambers under the surface of relatively level rock. This is especially common in rock-cut tombs . Excavations instead made into the side of a cliff or steep slope can feature an impressive facade, as in Lycian tombs, Petra , and the Ajanta Caves . The most laborious and imposing rock-cut architecture is the excavation of tall free-standing monolithic structures entirely below

741-506: The c.  3,000 B.C. Dwarfie Stane on the Orkney island of Hoy, were cut directly from the rock, rather than constructed from stone blocks. Alteration of naturally formed caverns, although distinct from completely carved structures in the strict sense, date back to the neolithic period on several Mediterranean islands e.g. Malta ( Hypogeum of Ħal-Saflieni ), Sardinia (Anghelu Ruju, built between 3,000 and 1,500 BCE) and others. During

798-614: The 19th Dynasty (ca. 1280 BCE), and consists of a monumentally scaled facade carved out of the cliff and a set of interior chambers that form its sanctuary. In the 8th century, the Phrygians started some of the earliest rock-cut monuments, such as the Midas monument (700 BCE), dedicated to the famous Phrygian king Midas . In the 5th century BCE, the Lycians , who inhabited southern Anatolia (now Turkey ) built hundreds of rock-cut tombs of

855-838: The Bronze Age , Nubian ancestors of the Kingdom of Kush built speos between 3700 and 3250 BCE. This greatly influenced the architecture of the New kingdom . Large-scale rock-cut structures were built in Ancient Egypt . Among these monuments was the Great Temple of Ramesses II , known as Abu Simbel , located along the Nile in Nubia , near the borders of Sudan about 300 kilometers from Aswan in Egypt . It dates from about

912-509: The Buddhist monks and consisted mostly of multi-storey buildings carved into the mountain face to contain living and sleeping quarters, kitchens, and monastic spaces. Some of these monastic caves had shrines in them to the Buddha, bodhisattvas and saints. As time progressed, the interiors became more elaborate and systematized; surfaces were often decorated with paintings, such as those at Ajanta . At

969-842: 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

1026-699: The Knights Templar rose up against the Count of Tripoli Bohemond VII , but they were brutally crushed. Bohemond VII punished the Genoese by blinding them, and he buried alive the Lord of Byblos and his family in the Fort of Anfeh. In 1289 Sultan Qalawun suddenly attacked, captured and destroyed Tripoli. The knights who escaped from the burning city to the two remaining coastal castles of Batroun and Nephin (Anfeh) were unable to withstand

1083-545: 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

1140-524: The Nabataean city of Petra , in modern Jordan , extended the Western Asian tradition, carving their temples and tombs into the yellowish-orange rock that defines the canyons and gullies of the region. These structures, dating from 1st century BCE to about 2nd century CE, are particularly important in the history of architecture given their experimental forms. Here too, because the structures served as tombs,

1197-1962: 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

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1254-669: The Tell-Amarna tablets of ancient Egypt ; (see letter no. 2 by Yapa-Hadda ). which were sent by the governors of the coastal Canaanite cities to the Pharaohs of Egypt asking for help in repelling Amorites intruders (nomad tribes originating from the middle Euphrates region in the North). Letters written by Rib Addi, the King of Byblos , specifically mention the Canaanite city of Anfeh (called “Ampi” in

1311-475: The 18th century can be observed in the structure, such as the jars embedded in the ceiling to reduce noise and echo inside the church. It is the biggest and main church of the town. Its dome adds a form to the skyline of Anfeh. Mar Youhanna al-Ma'madan in Arabic, is an ancient monastery surrounded by green landscapes and some curious rock cuttings. the site host the Saint John festivals every summer. Anfeh has

1368-567: The 8th-century BCE and continued through the Byzantine period. The Tomb of Absalom was constructed in the 1st century CE in the Kidron Valley of Jerusalem . Rock-cut architecture occupies a particularly important place in the history of Indian Architecture. The earliest instances of Indian rock-cut architecture , the Barabar caves , date from about the 3rd to the 2nd century BCE. They were built by

1425-455: 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

1482-545: The Chekka exit and heading north, or the Balamand exit and heading south. The roads are satisfactory and well maintained by the municipality. The road through town is the old main road that connects Beirut to Tripoli, now called the seaside road, parallel to the old train railway. The ancient archaeological site was put in danger by a proposed expansion to the adjacent port that would have compromised its historical integrity. Even after

1539-604: 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

1596-570: The Great Trench, was used by the Phoenicians as a dry dock; The Phoenicians used the place as a shipyard for the construction of their vessels, as it was a strategic point on the mediterranean coast. The Anfeh peninsula was once a mighty fortress area, including the Crusader castle of Nephin , and a fief of the Counts of Tripoli . The Crusader Lords of Nephin, who were protected behind the walls of Anfeh,

1653-523: The Medieval era, and most of the archaeological and historical monuments that can be seen today date from this period. Around the 13th century, Anfeh was a small, fortified village surrounded by fertile fields, and it was famous for its wine production. It was one of the lordships of the county of Tripoli, governed by French provincial nobles from the Renoir family. The French Lord was eventually chased out of Anfeh by

1710-507: The Mediterranean. It has a vaulted nave that ends with an apse oriented toward the east. On the west side, the nave is preceded by a square vaulted room that corresponds today to the entrance of the church. This room was once part of a rectangular hall, which was part of a nursing home that used to be connected to the church. Even though the roof of the chapel has long collapsed, it still retains traces of remaining frescos that are difficult to see. The old frescos depict Saints George and Demitrios,

1767-615: The Prince Bohemond IV of Antioch , the Lord of Beirut, and the Genoese , and he took refuge in Cyprus . Anfeh, as a cell or a hive sculptured out of the ground, is surrounded by walls and fortifications of enormous stones hauled from the nearby quarries. In 1282, Anfeh was part of one of the greatest plots that marked the end of the Crusades. The Lord of Byblos, Guy II Embriaco , the Genoese, and

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1824-688: 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

1881-798: The baptism of the Christ, and the Christ in His Glory with some of the evangelists. The frescos on the south wall represent the Virgin Mary calming a storm. The Monastery of the Watchman, dating from the Crusades period, is attached to Balamand, the monastery of the Greek Orthodox patriarchate. Deir el-Natour has an interior cloister and the church has been decorated with paintings and frescos executed in Byzantine style by artists from Odessa. Lebanese diva Fayrouz chose Deir el-Natour in 2010, to perform her yearly chants of

1938-515: The beginning of the 7th century Hindu rock-cut temples began to be constructed at Ellora. Unlike most previous examples of rock-cut architecture which consisted of a facade plus an interior, these temples were complete three-dimensional buildings created by carving away the hillside. They required several generations of planning and coordination to complete. Other major examples of rock-cut architecture in India are at Ajanta and Pataleshwar . Artisans in

1995-476: The cleanest waters on the Lebanese coast, home to a wide variety of fish. the archaeological peninsula hides many secrets in its bottoms below sea level, attracting curious divers. The waves of Anfeh's sea are not big enough for surfing, and its rocky shore does not help much. although its mostly windy weather during summer, makes it a top destination for wind surfing . equipment rental are available in town. Recently

2052-556: 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

2109-529: The diaspora, if one visits any major city or town specially in Brazil, Argentina, Qatar, Australia, Canada or the USA one will almost certainly find someone whose ancestors come from this village. During holidays specially summer many of the empty houses are joyfully cleaned and return to life with visiting families. Anfeh is primarily Antiochian Orthodox , and there are several historical churches and local shrines throughout

2166-559: The environment. Around 415 inhabitants practice fishing on a regular basis. The 80 full-time fishermen own their boats and maintain them. Fishing is the livelihood and main source of income for many families in Anfeh. Fishing boats have sought shelter in the natural harbor of Nhayreh in bad weather conditions. The large terraces on Anfeh's rocky coast shelter underwater species feeding on the seaweed and attract large numbers of fish. That place also attracts many anglers willing to fill their baskets with different types of fish. Fishing, by itself,

2223-452: The facade or interior of traditional architectural forms. Interiors were usually carved out by starting at the roof of the planned space and then working downward. This technique prevents stones falling on workers below. The three main uses of rock-cut architecture were temples (like those in India ), tombs , and cave dwellings (like those in Cappadocia ). A related term, monolithic architecture , refers to free-standing structures made of

2280-414: The full fury of the Mamluk army and beat a further retreat to the island kingdom of Cyprus. Sultan Qalawun destroyed both castles so thoroughly that even the site of Batroun's citadel is lost from history. With Nephin (Anfeh) it was a different story, for here the Crusaders had performed one of the great engineering feats of the Middle Ages. They had cut off the peninsular fortress from Anfeh proper by cutting

2337-412: The holy Friday, in the scenery of the monastery's chapel and surrounding landscape. Built during the Crusades, it is Lebanon's only remaining Romanesque church. The Church of Saint Catherine was originally dedicated to the Holy Sepulcher. The dedication was later changed to Saint Catherine during the 17th century, when the church was restored by local inhabitants. The church is built of sandstone. It has

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2394-416: The intense sun and wind. This lovely seaside fishing town is known for its ancient churches and caves. Today Anfeh is also known for its salt production. Close to Anfeh is the Crusader-era Abbey of Balamand , which sits on a promontory overlooking the sea Today's village of Anfeh is built around the ruins of several short-lived cities going back to the pre- Phoenician period. Natural dwelling caves abound on

2451-522: The interiors were rather perfunctory. In Petra one even finds a theater where the seats are cut out of the rock. The technological skills associated with making these complex structures moved into China along the trade routes. The Longmen Grottoes , the Mogao Caves , and the Yungang Grottoes consist of hundreds of caves many with statues of Buddha in them. Most were built between 460 and 525 CE. There are extensive rock-cut buildings, including houses and churches in Cappadocia , Turkey. They were built over

2508-504: The last significant examples of this architectural form, ranks as among the most magnificent examples of rock-cut architecture in the world, with both interior and exterior brought to fruition. Ancient rock cut tombs, temples and monasteries often have been adorned with frescoes and reliefs. The high resistance of natural cliff, skilled use of plaster and constant microclimate often have helped to preserve this art in better condition than in conventional buildings. Such exceptional examples are

2565-411: The letters) and state that Anfeh, after being occupied by the Amorites, fought with the Amorites against Byblos. Anfeh was conquered by the Assyrian army in the 7th century B.C., when it was known as "Anpa". The remains of subsequent settlements include dwelling caves, places of worship, cisterns, water tanks and wine presses, as well as steps and roads all carved in the rock. One ancient quarry, known as

2622-438: The mid-20th century in a different architectural style. There is also a funerary cave near the church of Saint Catherine, which was transformed into an oratory. It was decorated with a circle inscribed with two Greek letters (Alpha and Omega) representing the Christ. Built next to the Church of Saint Catherine, this 18th-century church was dedicated to both Saint Simeon and the Archangel Gabriel. Architectural elements typical of

2679-405: The nearby city of Tripoli . The three top universities of northern Lebanon, are around 5 to 10 minutes by car, like Balamand University, NDU in Barsa, and USJ in Al-Qalamoun. Lying between the natural harbor of Nhayreh and the archaeological peninsula, the Anfeh creek consists of an attractive rocky shore shaped as a perfect semi-circle at whose bottom lie many sandy underwater caves. It has become

2736-449: The project was sidelined, development pressures from nearby communities continue to threaten the long-term preservation of the site. 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 the Greek Orthodox Church of Antioch in Lebanon , which

2793-471: The surface level of the surrounding rock, in a large excavated hole around the structure. Ellora in India and the Zagwe -built Lalibela in Ethiopia provide some of the most famous examples of such structures. Many parts of the world feature rock reliefs , relief sculptures carved into rock faces, often outside caves. Ancient monuments of rock-cut architecture are widespread in several regions of world. A small number of Neolithic tombs in Europe, such as

2850-412: The surrounding hill of Al-Gheer ; the original city lies on a small near-island about half a kilometer into the sea. Its outstanding feature is that it is the only town throughout the eastern coast of the Mediterranean to be carved out of its rocky surroundings. Some of the carvings go all the way back to the Phoenician period, and possibly earlier, as witness to the fact that the name of Anfeh appears in

2907-494: The thousands of emigrant families and young individuals. One of the many Lebanese villages where the number of inhabitants is a speck compared to the number of villagers abroad. Global emigration occurred as far back as the mid 19th century with records showing young men and families migrating to the new world mainly Australia and the Americas (North and South). The emigration continues till the present day. Some families are extinct and others are greatly reduced in number. However, in

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2964-435: The top touristic destinations of the Lebanese northern coast. Anfeh is equipped to receive tourists, offering a choice of activities and touristic resorts such as Marina Del Sol and Las Salinas. Tourists can also eat fresh fish by the sea at local restaurants that offer fresh daily picks. Anfeh is equipped with one public school (Gebran Makari School). Private schools are available in the surrounding region of el-Koura, and in

3021-408: The vast rock-cut moat which severed the peninsula from the town, and the sea-swept battlements of their citadel, soon established a reputation as robber barons, the terror of travellers between Jerusalem and Tripoli. The town itself had a better reputation, for its wines were known and prized far and wide throughout the Latin kingdom in the 12th and 13th centuries. Anfeh entered its glory days during

3078-422: The village. Wide areas of Anfeh and its surrounding are covered by salines. Along the length of the bay, the salt marshes add a typically pretty note to the landscape, especially with the traditional wind wheel which pumps seawater. The production of sea salt is a staple of the local economy. "White gold", as it is called, provides for an inexhaustible natural resource which can thus be extracted without endangering

3135-417: The wind of Anfeh is attracting the new small kite surfing community of Lebanon. Anfeh's mediterranean landscape has attracted the cameras of various film directors. The town has been the set of several local movies. The town has the number one cinema theatres in the north, Grand cinemas las salinas. Easily accessible from the main Beirut-Tripoli highway, taking the Anfeh exit. It is also reachable by taking

3192-445: 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 . Rock-cut architecture Rock-cut architecture is the creation of structures, buildings, and sculptures by excavating solid rock where it naturally occurs. Intensely laborious when using ancient tools and methods, rock-cut architecture

3249-433: Was presumably combined with quarrying the rock for use elsewhere. In India and China, the terms cave and cavern are often applied to this form of man-made architecture, but caves and caverns that began in natural form are not considered to be rock-cut architecture even if extensively modified. Although rock-cut structures differ from traditionally built structures in many ways, many rock-cut structures are made to replicate

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