Culture
Links
Father Michael Mouawad
Sun Dec 09 2007
We are very pleased to be able to put online the biography of Ehden born, Father Michael Mouawad (1918-1986) by kind permission of its author, Dr. Sleiman Mouawad.
The biography has taken many years of research and covers extensively the life and achievements of Father Mouawad. He was a member of the Antonine Order of Monks, a founder of the Antelias Cultural Centre, Director of the Catholic Media Centre, he also established the Federation of the Ehden Zgharta Priests and wrote many books.
The biography can be read from this link.Of the author himself, Dr. Mouawad, was born in 1947, Zgharta. His parents are Chahid (dec'd) and Katour and he is the oldest of three brothers and one sister. He is married to Giselle (née Mesnil) and they have three children. He holds both a Masters Degree and Doctorate in Arabic Literature and teaches at the Lebanese University. His paternal uncle is Fr. Mouawad.
The main photograph is of Fr. Mouawad and Dr. Sleiman Mouawad. Other photographs of Fr. Mouawad can be seen in the Galleria
Australian book launch for Patriarch - FULL REPORT
Fri Nov 30 2007
To read about the book launch and the letter sent by Bishop Samir Mazloum on behalf of the Patriarch Estefan Douaihy Foundation go to the Full Story page.
On things Australian, the Ehden Zgharta Parish has announced that Fr. Joseph Mouawad is organising a Parish trip to the 11th World Youth Day in Sydney, to be attended by Pope Benedict XVI in July. The estimated cost is $2000, for further details contact the Father at the Priest's House, Zgharta. The event was first started by Pope John Paul II two decades ago, and has become an important event for the Church to rally young Catholics. Pope Benedict will attend the week-long event of prayer, celebration and religious instruction to be held at Sydney's Olympic Park, from 15th to 20th July 2008. The event has its own website at www.wyd2008.org
Photographs of the church service and book launch can be seen from the Galleria
Full Story
Zgharta author on France 24
Thu Nov 29 2007
The report can be read and seen from from this link
The full interview with Rachid can be be seen from here, ten minutes into the video.
Heritage at risk: “Old memories make great peoples”
Mon Nov 26 2007
Many in Zgharta Zawie fear that what is happening in Beirut, is or will be repeated in its towns and villages, in particular in the old parts of Zgharta and Ehden. There are many fine examples of late 19th and early 20th Century buildings which are abandon to the elements.
The article appears on the Full Story page.
Full Story
Brazilian Immigration
Mon Nov 19 2007
Full Story
Searching the Arabic Web
Fri Nov 16 2007
All you do is to type the phonetic equivalent of the Arab word or words you are searching for and the search engine does the rest. There is also a facility to translate English into Arabic for email or document text.
Rashid al-Daif
Wed Nov 07 2007
Full Story
Rachid al Daif in France
Sun Nov 04 2007
Of Rachid, they say, "
Rachid El-Daïf est né en 1945, à Zgharta, ville de la montagne libanaise où il passe son enfance. Dans son roman Learning english, il revient sur les rudes mœurs tribales des maronites de cette région. Étudiant à l’Université de Beyrouth, il s’engage dans les rangs du Parti Communiste libanais qui s’était rangé du côté des Palestiniens dans leur combat contre les phalanges chrétiennes. En avril 1975, il espérait que la guerre allait se terminer par la victoire des « progressistes » et « abolir à jamais le système confessionnel ». Mais il déchante très vite. Ses premiers livres, notamment Passage au Crépuscule et Lettre à Monsieur Kawabata, sont un véritable réquisitoire contre la culture de la haine qui s’est développée au Liban. À partir de Qu’elle aille au Diable Meryl Streep, Rachid El-Daïf s’attaque avec une virulence humoristique rare aux hypocrisies de la société libanaise dont la modernité cache, selon lui, des archaïsmes insoupçonnés. Sous couvert d’autofiction, ses romans jettent un éclairage cru et drôle sur le lieu même de tous les conflits et malentendus entre l’homme et la femme, à savoir le lit. L’oeuvre de Rachid El-Daïf, très populaire dans le monde arabe et traduite dans plusieurs langues, se caractérise par l’incroyable économie de moyens qu’il a réussi à imprimer à la langue arabe, si complexe et si avide de rhétorique, ce qui le place résolument à la pointe de la modernité littéraire."
He will be visiting Dunkirk (13th); Paris (14th - 15th); Ajaccio (16th); Corte (17th); La Rochelle (19th); Marennes (20th); Carcassonne (22nd & 23rd); Caunes Minervois (22nd); Villeneuve Minervois (23rd)
An anthology has been produced, "Les Belles Etrangéres - Douze écrivains libanais", which contains excerpts of the featured author's work, accompanied by a DVD, including an interview with Rachid. The interview with Rachid appears 10 minutes through the recording, with scenes of Ehden and of photographs of himself as a young man and of his books. To learn more about the event and to see the DVD click the link of www.belles-etrangeres.culture.fr here
"Zgharta House" Library
Thu Nov 01 2007
Should wish to donate a book(s) to the Library please send us a email to contact@zgharta.com and we will pass the message on.
An interview with a saint
Sun Oct 28 2007
The interview can be read in three parts : Part One : Part Two : Part Three
The Saint was born in 1828, taking his monastic vows in 1853, In 1875 he was was granted permission to live as a hermit nearby the monastery at St. Peter and Paul hermitage. He died on Christmas Eve, age 70, 1898. He was declared blessed in 1965 and canonised in 1977.
Tannous Mouawad
Mon Oct 22 2007
Among the book stands will be Lebanese publishers, Dar Annahar, who will be displaying Zgharta author, Tannous Mouawad, book, Deux et Les Editeurs ( Gods and Editors). The book has been short listed in this year's Association Des Ecrivains De Langue Francaise (ADELF) competition, the ADELF Cultural Prize, for the best Franco-Lebanese book. The winner will be announced in Paris on 20th November 2007.
He says of the book that it is a mixture of fiction and non-fiction; exploring the world of publishing in the USA, where he says publishers are so powerful, hence the title of the book, comparing them to gods.
Tannous was born in Zgharta (1951) and deciding on a military career he joined the Lebanese Army in September 1969. He was the Head of the Lebanese Telecommunications Signal Service from February 1978 to September 1988. On the election of President René Mouawad he was appointed Principal Advisor to the President. This appointment formed the background of his first book “18 days of Lebanon’s Age”, recounting the eighteen days of the President’s term of office.
In January 1990 he was appointed Defence, Military, Naval & Air Attaché to the Lebanese Embassy in Washington, which he continued until January 1994. On his return to Lebanon he was appointed Military Advisor to the Military Council of the Lebanese Army. He remained in that post until September 1998 when he retired from the Army, with the rank of Brigadier General.
As well as a distinguished public life he also writes both non-fiction and fiction books. He is a well-known figure both in Zgharta and also in the Lebanese media who often call upon him for his comments on military and security issues.
George Farshakh
Mon Oct 22 2007
He is particularly well known for his 2002 biography on President Sleiman Frangieh, "Suleiman Franjieh: Testimonies and Memories". Among his other published books are Khayt rafi‘ min ad-damm; Iqtira‘ al-mughtaribin; Al-fadel shalaq: tajribati ma‘al-hariri; Hamid franjiyyah wa jumhuriyat al-istiqlal.
Zgharta author online
Fri Oct 19 2007
Antoine Online is the e-commerce website of Librairie Antoine (Antoine Bookstores), where readers can now purchase online in Lebanon and the rest of the world, a wide range of books in English, French and Arabic language books. Librairie Antoine is a Lebanese company founded in 1933 by Antoine Naufal. To place an order click here
The book records her day-to-day life with her son Anthony, who was a “post mature baby”, due to his late delivery. He was born with disabilities and the book recounts Nada’s acceptance of her son’s condition and her struggle to gain the wider world's acceptance of her son and for him to have a normal life as possible. She talks about the tolerance of difference and that humanity is made of all kinds of people.
Rule Britannia !
Tue Oct 09 2007
Go to the Full Story page to read the article in English.
Carrying on the theme of language and talking, we are happy to say that we have resolved the technical problems preventing the community to chat through zgharta chat which is now back online.
Full Story
Father Youssef Yammine
Tue Oct 02 2007
He was born in 1933 and was ordained into the priesthood in 1947. Fr. Yammine studied in Rome at the University of St Ansalim; Paris at the Sorbonne; Gazir at the Maronite Patriarchal Ecclesiastic College and Beirut at the Sagesse Institute. He holds degrees in Theological Philosophy, Theology and Philosophy and a doctorate in Atomic Sciences. He is member of the International Scientific Society of the friends of Theillard de Chardin.
The book is the first of two volumes and is printed by Kareh Printing Press.The book has an introduction by Mr. Mohsen Edmond Yammine, his nephew.
UPDATE: We thank Fr. Yammine for dedicating a copy of his book to us and for his kind words of thanks to our site for its work in the community.
Patriarch Estefan Doueihi: A Biography
Thu Sep 27 2007
The book encompasses the life and work of the Patriarch, recounting his lifetime undertaking to record the history of the Maronites; his contribution to both the Maronite Church and national politics; with a résumé of his writings and miracles. The book is written for the general reader who has little or no knowledge of the Patriarch and Lebanon. It also shows the struggle for survival of the early Maronites, which will have resonance with many today.
The book is written in English and consists of 36 pages, with a double-page map of Kadisha and Ehden, notated with the Holy sites and colour photographs, and measures 23 cm x 15 cm .
To download the book online for US$8 (LL 12,000) click on the image of the bookcover on the homepage advertisement section and follow the links.
The An Nahar article can be read from this link.
Zgharta author gets the Church's blessing
Wed Sep 26 2007
The Ehden Zgharta Parish
magazine, Yanabii, has published in its Sunday's edition, "al nashra", a review
by Fr. Estefan Frangieh, on Antonio Mouawad's new novel, "Tazawwaj walaw Benit
Chare3".
The review can be read from this link
The novel is influenced by Antonio's life, family and friends and his romantic
encounters. The title roughly translated, jokingly means - please get married,
even with a girl from the street, (someone unknown), referring to his family
wish that he gets married. He has published the novel himself which can be
purchased for 10,000 LL by contacting him direct - 03 22 28 43 during Lebanese
daytime or at bookshops in Zgharta.
ZTv: Warda at Ehden
Wed Sep 19 2007
In 1993 the international Arabic
singer, Warda al Jazairia - The Rose of Algeria, gave a concert in Ehden which
was recorded for the Lebanese television channel, LBC. We bring you that
recording on
ZTv.
Since its creation we have added to ZTv a selection of videos all
with a Zgharta Zawie theme which can be seen from the Galleria. Should
you have your own videos of public occasions let us know.
As someone said, who attended the Warda concert, it now seems a distance time
with much happening in Lebanon since
Sayed Abou Mehrez
Sat Sep 15 2007
The book, some 200 pages, covers his life recounting his childhood when his father was a stone builder and his mother was a sajj woman (maker of bread); his work in art and sculpture and the interaction with nature; and his philosophy. It is published by Joseph Al-Raidy Press.
In recent years Sayed has exhibited his work in Ehden, in 2003 at the Ehden Symposium and a one man show at the Al Koubra in 2004.
Fawzi Yammine in the national press
Thu Sep 06 2007
The Lebanese
newspaper, Al Akhbar, features today, 6th September 2007, the Zgharta
born poet, Fawzi Yammine.
Readers will recall that last month he signed copies of his new collection of
poems, Kilab al Ouzla, at Saint Mema's Church, Ehden. The collection is
published by Dar Nahda al Arabia. He was born in 1967 and lives with his wife,
Maria (née Doueihi) and children, Jad, Ounsi and Bouchra, in the village of Kfarhata.
Both he and his wife have been involved in the theatre, writing, directing and
acting. Fawzi has been publishing poems since 1989 and combines writing with
teaching at the Frere de la Salle. As an young man he played for Salam Zgharta
and was a member of the team who won the Lebanese Cup in 1987.
The article talks about his unique style and the deep meanings of his work.
Together with his use of local phraseology and words.
Click here to
read the article in PDF (Arabic)
Saied Yammine
Tue Aug 28 2007
This summer has seen once again, the painter, Saied Yammine, exhibit in Ehden
a collection of his paintings. He was born in Zgharta, 1949 and studied painting
at the l'Academie Libanaise des Beaux-Arts à Beyrouth (1972-1974) and then in
Rome, where he studied painting and scenography at the l'Academie des Beaux-Arts
de Rome( 1974-1980). Since 1982 he has lived in Geneva.
This year he exhibited at the Belmont Hotel and Mar Mama Church. To see his work
go to his website at
www.s-yammine.com. The photograph was taken at his exhibition at Mar Mama
Church in 2004
Antonio Mouawad: First Novel
Fri Aug 24 2007
The novelist was born in 1969 and his parents are Mouawad Mouawad and Mariette Matar. He played for Salam Zgharta between 1986 - 2000 and was in the team who won the Lebanese Cup in 1986. He played in the Lebanese national team in 1991 and 1992. From 2000 to 2005 he was the assistant coach with Salam Zgharta.
Having written poetry for many years, even when he was playing football, he has recently concentrated on exploring the novel form, resulting in this his first novel. He has published the novel himself which can be purchased for 10,000 LL at the book launch or alternatively by contacting him direct - 03222843 during Lebanese daytime. The novel is influenced by his life, family and friends and his romantic encounters.The title roughly translated, jokingly means - please get married, even with a girl from the street, (someone unknown), referring to his family wish that he gets married.
News Update: The book launch was a great success, with many people attending, and the author selling over 250 copies.
As others see us
Wed Aug 22 2007
UPDATE The article has also appeared the website of Middle East Online under the headline "Culinary and Killing Arts: A food festival celebrates the good life Lebanese-style, in the shadow of the Ehden stronghold - scene of the latest political tension and violence.Rami Khouri experiences epiphany in the Lebanese delicacy kibbeh niyyeh"
The winners of the Ehden Kibbeh Festival were Susanne Doueihi for Kibbeh Nayyeh (raw kibbeh) and Mariette Geitani Azizi for Kibbeh Krass (grilled kibbeh balls).
Full Story
Ehden at the cutting edge: Slow food
Thu Aug 16 2007
As the co-operative is holding a Ehden Kebbeh Festival on Sunday it is appropriate that we reproduce the article on the Full Story page. We had mention the market in our own article in October 2006 when we reported that Ehden's apples and apple based confections were on sale there. He was also a speaker at a conference held by the René Moawad Foundation's press conference in 2005, " 'Sentinelles du Gout': Protecting the Darfyieh cheese", as part of its programme to protect and sustain the locally produced goat cheese.
We hope that the event will have national media coverage in Lebanon and get reported in the pages of the international press where the "slow food" movement is increasingly gaining ground over fast-food. Click on the Full Story tab to read the article.
Full Story
Zgharta artist online
Mon Aug 13 2007
Zgharta born artist, Vera Farah, has created her own website -
www.verafarah.com - where
her work - paintings, sculpture and mosaics - can be seen.
She was born at Zgharta in 1968. After attending the Nazaret and Soeurs des
Charité schools she went to the Holy Spirit University Kaslik where she
graduated in 1992 with a Diploma in Interior Design and Advertising. She then
attended the World Institute of Fashion in Jounieh to study fashion design
followed. In 1997 Vera went to the Lebanese University to study art, where she
attained a Diploma.
Vera combines being a professional artist with running her own Interior Design
and Fashion business; desiging her own clothes. She and her husband, the well
known Lebanese sculptor, Toni Farah, and four children, live in Sebeel.
The photograph was taken during her 2005 summer exhibition at the Al Koubra,
Ehden.
The artist will hold an exhibition at the Ehden Country Club from Friday, 24th August to Sunday, 26th August 2007.