Deir el Ahmar دير الأحمر
Deir el Ahmar Location in Lebanon
Coordinates: 34°08′N 36°08′E / 34.133°N 36.133°E / 34.133; 36.133
Country	Lebanon
Governorate	Beqaa Governorate
District	Baalbek District
Elevation	3,773 ft (1,150 m)
Time zone	EET (UTC+2)
- Summer (DST)	+3 (UTC)

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.

Contents 1 Demography and religion 2 Geography 3 Economy 4 History 5 Famous people 6 Holidays 7 References

[edit] Demography and religion

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, and 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]

[edit] Geography

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.

[edit] Economy

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.^[2]

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 .^[3]

[edit] History

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 there for generations claim that someone was visiting the monastery and they sore red blood spilled across the floors from the monks there, hence giving the name "The monastery of the red blood".

Deir el Ahmar, like the rest of Lebanon, 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. 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.^[4]

Two earthquakes hit the village, one in 1158 and the other in 1202.

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]

[edit] Famous people

• Elissa, Lebanese singer.
• Danny Thomas, Lebanese-American actor.
• Marie Keyrouz, Lebanese Christian nun and singer, she founded "L'Ensemble de la Paix" at Lebanon, and The International Institute of the Sacred Chant, in France.
• Elias Najjar, Traditional poet and Aataba singer.
• Yara, Lebanese singer.
• Peter Khoury - Producer, Producer.

[edit] Holidays

• Saint Joseph Day (March 19), religious ceremony in Saint Joseph Church
• Saint Elie Day (July 20), religious ceremony in Saint Elias Church
• The Assumption of Mary (August 15) religious ceremony at the shrine of Our Lady of Bechouat
• Feast of the Blessed Sacrement (September 14), religious ceremony in all Deil el Ahmar churches
• Saint Nohra, religious ceremony in Mar Nohra Church

[edit] References

Coordinates: 34°08′N 36°08′E / 34.133°N 36.133°E / 34.133; 36.133

http://www.deirelahmar.com