Ras Baalbek

Ras Baalbek
رأس بعلبك
Village
Ras Baalbek
Location in Lebanon
Coordinates: 34°15′35″N 36°25′25″E / 34.25972°N 36.42361°E / 34.25972; 36.42361Coordinates: 34°15′35″N 36°25′25″E / 34.25972°N 36.42361°E / 34.25972; 36.42361
Country  Lebanon
Governorate Baalbek-Hermel
District Baalbek
Elevation 3,000 ft (1,000 m)
Population (1999)
 • Total 2,000

Ras Baalbek (Arabic: رأس بعلبك‎) is a village in the northern Beqaa Valley in Lebanon.

Notable features include the monastery of "Our Lady of Ras Baalbek" (Deir Saidat ar-Ras) and two Byzantine churches. One church is in the centre of the village and the other lies to the east where some other ruins can be found that are alleged to be the remains of a Roman aqueduct. Inhabitants of the village have confirmed it was once called "Connaya," suggesting a link to the ancient settlement of Conna, mentioned in the work of Antonius.[1] It is also 500 metres west of a Neolithic rock shelter called Ras Baalbek I.

In the early 20th century, Ras Baalbek was described by a group of Protestants who went there as being an "uncouth, bigoted Catholic town."[2]

In 2014, the war with ISIS in the nearby village of Arsal resulted in the residents of Ras Baalbek forming a militia led by Rifaat Mtanos Nasrallah, to protect the city and its majority Christian population. The militias are supported by the Lebanese Forces.[3] In September 2016 the Lebanese Army attacked Islamic State positions near Ras Baalbek. [4]

Demographics

Around 15,000 people live in Ras Baalbek. The population is entirely Christian, mainly Greek Catholic,[5][6] having switched from Orthodox Christianity in 1721.[7]

The village is fashion designer Zuhair Murad's hometown.

References

  1. ↑ Michel M. Alouf (July 1999). History of Baalbek. Book Tree. pp. 45–. ISBN 978-1-58509-063-1. Retrieved 25 March 2011.
  2. ↑ The Assembly Herald. Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. Office of the General Assembly. 1902. p. 475.
  3. ↑ ANNE BARNARD (1 Nov 2014). "Clashes on Syrian Border Split Lebanese Town". The New York Times. Retrieved 25 January 2015.
  4. ↑ News Desk. "Lebanese Army attacks ISIS near Syrian border". Al-Masdar News. Retrieved 2017-03-02.
  5. ↑ Robert Boulanger (1966). The Middle East: Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Iraq, Iran. Hachette. p. 212.
  6. ↑ Justin Salhani (24 Sep 2014). "Ras Baalbek's Christians take up arms". The Daily Star. Retrieved 25 January 2015.
  7. ↑ "Our Lady of Ras Baalbek". Retrieved 25 January 2015.
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