Anjar, Lebanon
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Anjar (Arabic: ), also known as Haoush Mousa (Arabic: ), is a town of Lebanon located in the Bekaa Valley. The population is about 2,400, consisting almost entirely of Armenians. The total area of its territory is about twenty square kilometers (7.7 square miles). In the summer, the population swells to 3,500 as members of the Armenian Diaspora return to visit there.
Formerly known as Gerrha, a stronghold built by Umayyad Caliph Al-Walid ibn Abdel Malek in the 8th century, the site was later abandoned, leaving a number of well-preserved ruins. (The present-day name derives from Arabic Ayn Gerrha, or "source of Gerrha".)
The area adjacent to the ruins was resettled in 1939 with 5,000 Armenian refugees from the Musa Dagh area of Turkey. Its six neighborhoods are named after the six villages of Musa Dagh.
Today, Anjar is a popular tourist attraction. On September 14, Christians from all over Lebanon converge on Anjar where prayers, parades and festivities are held to celebrate Holy Cross Day.
External links
- [Official Website of Anjar]
- [Website about Anjar]
- [Ya Libnan | Lebanon News | Spotlight on Anjar]
- [Photos of Anjar ruins]
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