In memory of those of the Parish of Ehden Zgharta or who had connections with it who passed away in 2006 we list their names on the Full Story Page in remembrance of them.

Should you wish to post a separate obituary notice you can do so in the The Forum.

The Parish of Ehden Zgharta has announced the death of:

Rashid Jamil Gitany, aged 75, on 1st January 2007.

Kattour Tannous Yaacoub Makary, wife of Tannous Boulos Yammine, on 3rd January 2007. She was 64 years old.

Hawchar Nehmeh Dahdah (Bou Chouour), aged 75, on 7th January 2007.

Josephine Elias Yammine, widow of Boutros Girgis Yammine, on 7th January 2007.

We shall record the passing of those of the Parish during the year.
Full Story

The Horsh Ehden Nature Reserve has joined the "community" of Zgharta/Ehden websites. Today their website came online at www.horshehden.org

We believe that it is only fitting that a national resource of such importance as the Reserve has its own dedicated and independent web site.

Through its own website the Reserve will be able to reach out to the world and speak for itself, beholden to none. In particular it will act as a beacon for eco- tourism, which is of such importance to the well being of Zgharta Zawie.

We will let the website speak for itself as to its many features.

We thank the many people who actively support our site throughout the world. Their contribution, often behind the scenes, whether to feed us with some latest news, an idea, or agreeing to be interviewed, is vital to ensure that the site remains up-to-date, fresh and relevant. Also we say a thank you to those who share their photographs with us, which bring great joy to those who are unable to come to Zgharta Zawie.

To those who have made financial contributions through donations, online shopping and advertising, we say a big thank you. With such contributions we have been able to remain a non-subscription site and also continue to be the independent and neutral voice of the Zgharta Zawie world wide community.

Looking ahead we have many ideas how to develop the site, and remember, we are always open to your own ideas, as we believe strongly that the site is yours.

So as the magical time of Christmas Eve is almost upon us and beloved Ehden is clothed in white we wish you all wherever you are a very Happy Christmas & Prosperous New Year.

Antoine, Rodrigue & Graham
Rome - Zgharta - London

zgharta.com 
sends warmest greetings and best wishes 
to our 
American friends and readers on 
Thanksgiving 
Thursday, 24th November 2005.

Happy Thanksgiving.

zgharta.com

In recent weeks we have mention many instances where Zgharta Zawie collectively or its villages individually, receive overseas aid and grants. The main benefactors are, the World Bank, USAID and the European Union.

We have sought to find out more about what aid and grants are received by Zgharta Zawie from such organisations.

Read our report by clicking on the Full Story tab.
Full Story

On the occasion of
Eid al-Fitr
we send to the Muslim community of
Zgharta Zawie
our greetings and best wishes
zgharta.com

The photo is of the "Masgid Al Taqwa" Mosque at Iaal

The Al Midan Society Environmental Team has published its programme for 2006.

The Team was formed in February 2005 with a view to " protecting the remaining forest cover in the area, developing rural and ecotourism activities and improving the agricultural sector". The Team is part of the Al Midan NGO which was formed in 2004 and whose President is Mrs Rima Sleiman Frangieh.

To read about the programme and who are the executive members of the Team, click on the Full Story tab.
Full Story

We are please to report that Sarkis Khawaja, former member of the Horsh Ehden Committee, is a guest speaker in America for the world renown conservation foundation, Quebec-Labrador Foundation/Atlantic Center for the Environment(QLF).

The QLF will be holding a Fellowship Presentation at 7.30pm on Tuesday, 25th October at the Lions Club of Ipswich, 1640 Hart House Restaurant, 51 Linebrook Road, Ipswich Massachusetts, USA.

To learn more, click on the Full Story tab.
Full Story

The new Lebanse law relating to public holidays was signed by the President of Lebanon and gazetted on 6th October 2005. In September of this year the Government approved a draft decree that aimed at reducing the number of public holidays celebrated in Lebanon.

To read about the new Law, click on the Full Story tab.
Full Story

The René Moawad Foundation is holding two benefit galas in the USA during November. The galas are being held in Washington, DC on Saturday, 5th November and Miami, Florida on Saturday, 12th November.

Both Galas are in aid of the Foundation's Working Children Education Program, which provides after work classes to working children.

To read about the Galas click on the Full Story tab.
Full Story

The Saydat Zgharta Hospital in collaboration with L’Union des Francais de l’Etranger (UFE), will provide free Influenza vaccinations in Zgharta on Sunday, 2nd of October 2005, starting at 3pm at the Hospital.

The Medical Director of the Saydat Zgharta Hospital, Dr Fadi Fenianos, who is an infectious disease specialist, says that the influenza vaccination reduces significantly the rate of incidence of the disease and mortality of those most at risk, especially in the elderly population.

Dr Fenianos says that those in the following groups should generally have the vaccination, subject to medical advice:
*Those over 65 years
*Adults and children with chromic cardio-respiratory diseases including children with asthma.
*Residents of nursing homes or long term facilities with chronic conditions.
*Physicians, nurses and health care personnel.
*Those in households where they are in contact with people of high risk.
*Women who will be pregnant during the peak season for influenza and children with special conditions.

The UFE, rough English translation being the Union of French Expatriates, was founded in 1927 .The Union has branches throughout the world including Lebanon, where it organises different events and programmes. The present influenza campaign is from 27th September to 6th October and vaccinations will be carried out all over Lebanon.

Two of the most popular saints in the Maronite Church as well in the Eastern Orthodox Church, from Lebanon to Greece and Russia, are Saints Sarkis and Bakhous. The two saints are known in various forms such as Sergius and Bacchus.

The Parish of Ehden and Zgharta has announced the special services for the Tisaawie of the two Saints ( the nine days leading to the Saint's Feast day on Friday, 7th October 2005) at the Churches named after them in Ehden and Zgharta.

In Ehden the special services will start from Wednesday, 28th September ,with daily masses said at 7am and 5pm each day, to Wednesday, 5th October. On the Eve of the Feast, Thursday 6th October, masses will be said at 5pm, 6pm, 7pm and 8pm. On the Saints Feast day masses will be said at 7am, 9am, 11am and 6pm.

In Zgharta the special services will start from Wednesday, 28th September,with daily masses said at 6pm each day to Wednesday, 5th October. On the Eve of the Feast,Thursday 6th October, masses will be said at 6pm and 7pm. On the Saint Feast day masses will be said at 7am and 9am.

We send our greetings to all those named after the Saints on their Feast Day. To read about the Saints click on the Full Story tab
Full Story

The Parish of Ehden Zgharta has given advance notice that on Epiphany (al Ghtass) next year (Friday,6th January 2006) there will be two communal baptism services for children of the Parish. The services will be held at Saydat Zgharta, commencing 3pm and the other at Saint John's Catherdal at 5pm. For further information families should contact Mr Elie Zakhia at the Priest's house, Zgharta. We will seek to obtain a phone number for him.

The painting opposite is "Epiphany" by Fernando Gallego,C1480.

We send our best wishes to our sister site and to all our Brazilian friends and readers on Brazil's Independence Day, 7th September.

Parabenizamos nossos leitores e amigos Brasileiros, pelo dia 7 de Setembro, dia da Independência da República Federativa do Brasil.

We are delighted to announce that our co-founder, Antoine Dahdah, received on Tuesday his doctorate in architecture," Composizione Architettonica”, from the University of Rome, “La Sapienza”. The university is the most ancient, being created in 1303, of the three universities in Rome. In Italian “Sapienza” means “wisdom”. His thesis was called the identity of the urban space of Beirut after the war.

Antoine was born in Zgharta, 1971 to Assaad and Nazha Dahdah and his brother, Rodrigue, was a co- founder of the site. He has two sisters, Susanne and Marie-Rose. Tragically in 1983 his elder brother, Paul, was killed, as part of what has become known as the "Bahsas murder". The family has had a presence in the Al Midan for many generations, latterly since 1981 with the landmark restaurant , the Drop In .

He is married to Italian architect, Emanuela, and they live in Rome. Antoine has his own architectural practice, Dahdah Architects Associates (DAA for short) in Rome and Lebanon.

Antoine and Emanuela will be coming to Ehden next week to celebrate with his family and friends.

The photograph is of Antoine when he was a young man.

In Lebanon on Wednedsay, 25th May, is Resistance and Liberation day, which is a public holiday.

The day records the departure on 24th May 2000 of the Israeli army from Southern Lebanon. It was officially announced on the following day, that the 25th May would thereafter become a public holiday and would be called "Resistance and Liberation day".

Lebanon has twenty public holidays which commemorate either religious festivals or secular events, some of which coincide on the same day or fall during the weekend.For 2005 there are public holidays during each month of the year except for June, July and October. On a public holiday all Government and public buildings are closed. Some buinesses remain open depending on the public holiday being celebrated and its location. The only two compulsory public holidays which employers are required to give employees with pay are - Labour Day (1st May) and Independence Day (22nd November).

Today, 8th May, zgharta.com celebrates being online for 7 years.

Thanks to everyone who have supported us over these years.

Remember, Zgharta Zawie is only a click away.

Best wishes from the zgharta.com team

We are pleased to report that zgharta.com web mail is now back online as of today,9th May(4.30 pm Zgharta time).

We are sorry for it being offline for the last couple of days but we encountered technical problems which have now been resolved.

The Maronite community in the USA are being asked to take part in a nationwide census at the request of the Maronite Patriarch and Synod.

Bishops Gregory J. Mansour of the Eparchy of St. Maron of Brooklyn and Robert J. Shaheen of the Eparchy of Our Lady of Lebanon of Los Angeles are quoted as saying that “….. this census is to make us aware of Maronites in areas where we have no presence…….” further explaining that “……the data base will help the local Maronite parish/mission with better outreach and communication with Maronites within their area who are not yet involved with parish life and who would like to be.”

Those organising the census have confirmed that the information gathered in the census will not be sold or traded to commercial organizations and will be used strictly for pastoral reasons only.

To register with the Maronite Census online, go to http://www.maronitecensus.net/ or phone 00- 1-718-237-9913 or 00- 1-314-231-1021 to receive a census form by mail. For more information, email the census office at usa@maronitecensus.net

The Ehden Lebanese American Club[ELAC] are holding their Winter Hafli on Saturday,19th February at the Aqua-Turf Club, Mulberry Street, Southington, Connecticut. Doors open at 7pm, Dinner at 8pm and music at 9pm.

To read more about the Hafli and the Club click on the Full Story tab.
Full Story

In view of the interest for many of our members in the provisions of the new law as to military service we made enquiries with the Lebanese Armed Services.

They have answered as follows,

“ About the new law of flag service, we are pleased to inform you that detailed regulation are being prepared and referred to the government to issue it as soon as possible, more likely within two weeks. It will contain answers about all questions and it will be online as well in three languages Arabic/French and English”.

As soon as the new regulations are published we will post them on our site for you.

The Lebanese Armed Services have released an announcement concerning the recent law in relation to compulsory military service, which has appeared on the Lebanese Government Information web site today.

Click here for the PDF [Arabic] link.

 

It has been reported this weekend that the law passed by the Lebanese Parliament last month, whereby compulsory military service in Lebanon will be abolished within two years, was published in the Official Gazette on Saturday. The law comes into force as of 5th May 2005.

Under the new law, compulsory military service remains until 2007 or earlier if so decided ,with the current term of one year shorten to six months.

Editors Note:Please refer to the Lebanese Armed Services for details of the provisions as they apply to your particular personal circumstances.

Today in Lebanon, Khamis Al Sakara is celebrated .It is the day when traditionally in Zgharta Zawie families meet to have food and drink together.

The day is also referred to as the "Thursday of the drunkards" as it is considered the start of the feasting period before the Lenten fast. In times past a lamb was slaughtered which gave the family enough food through the weekend. Meat was thereafter completely absent from the menu until Easter.

The photo is of the painting by Pieter Brugel. 1559, called "The Fight Between Carnival and Lent", owned by the Kunsthistorisches Museum Wien, Vienna.Click on the Full Story tab to see an enlarge view of the painting.
Full Story

The Lebanese media have reported that a Parliamentary committee has recommended that the present compulsory military service should be abolished within two years. In the interim it suggests that the present one year service be reduced to six months and that where families have two sons, one of which has served, the other son is exempted from service. Parliament is expected to vote on the recommendations this week.