Cheikh Mohammad ( ar, الشيخ محمد) is a village situated in

Akkar Governorate french: Gouvernorat de l'Akkar , settlement_type = Governorate , image_skyline = Berkayl.jpg , image_caption = Berkayel, Akkar Governorate , image_flag = , image_seal = , image_shield ...

Lebanon Lebanon ( , ar, لُبْنَان, translit=lubnān, ), officially the Republic of Lebanon () or the Lebanese Republic, is a country in Western Asia. It is located between Syria to the north and east and Israel to the south, while Cyprus li ...

. Situated 400 metres above sea level, in between two mountains, it overlooks the Akkar plains and sea. It is made up of approximately 450 houses, with 99% of the population being

Christian Christians () are people who follow or adhere to Christianity, a monotheistic Abrahamic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. The words ''Christ'' and ''Christian'' derive from the Koine Greek title ''Christós'' (Χρι ...

, mostly

Greek Orthodox The term Greek Orthodox Church (Greek language, Greek: Ἑλληνορθόδοξη Ἐκκλησία, ''Ellinorthódoxi Ekklisía'', ) has two meanings. The broader meaning designates "the Eastern Orthodox Church, entire body of Orthodox (Chalced ...

, Melkite Catholics and

Maronites The Maronites ( ar, الموارنة; syr, ܡܖ̈ܘܢܝܐ) are a Christian ethnoreligious group native to the Eastern Mediterranean and Levant region of the Middle East, whose members traditionally belong to the Maronite Church, with the largest ...

. This small village contains two schools, a primary and secondary as well as two churches, one dating back hundreds of years. And the very first hospital in Akkar, "Akkar Rahal Hospital".

History

In 1838,

Eli Smith Eli Smith (born September 13, 1801, in Northford, Connecticut, to Eli and Polly (Whitney) Smith, and died January 11, 1857, in Beirut, Lebanon) was an American Protestant missionary and scholar. He graduated from Yale College in 1821 and from Andov ...

noted the village, whose inhabitants were

, located in the 'Akkar region. In 1856 it was named ''Sheikh ¨Muhammed'' on Kiepert's map of Palestine/Lebanon published that year.Kiepert, 1856
Map of Northern Palestine/Lebanon
/ref>

Village life

The Village is divided into two sections, the upper and the lower. The upper is predominantly made up of the Bitar and Khoury families. The lower is predominantly made up of the El-Cheikh, Rahal, Mahfoud, Boustani, Taoum, Helwe, and Yaacoub families, with the Halloun family being the most prominent and wealthy, making their wealth in the Australian Construction Industry. Although many of the families members have travelled abroad to escape the civil war of 1975–1990, many have returned in recent years. Many of them have also expanded and moved to many countries including Australia, United States of America, Canada, France, Brazil, Venezuela and Argentina. Cheikh Mohammad is a five-minute walk away from Halba, the capital city of Akkar Governorate, providing quick access to all household needs.

References

Bibliography

External links

Cheikh Mohammad
Localiban
"Lebanese struggle with broken economy,"
by Don Duncan. San Francisco Chronicle, March 23, 2008] Populated places in Akkar District Christian communities in Lebanon {{Lebanon-geo-stub