Name
Origin:
Yahchouh name derives from the Aramaic work “Hochocho”, meaning
the wounded god (literary the tormented god); in reference to the
Phoenician myth regarding the death of their God Adonis on the
borders of the Adonis River.
The village witnessed the torment of god Adonis, it is told that
Adonis who had been overpowered by the boar, stopped in this village
and fought his pain. Thus is the name Yahshoush which means agony
and pain in Syriac.
Geography:
Yahshoush is a village that extends from the base of the mountain
to its top becoming a coastal and a high mountain to its top
becoming a coastal and a high mountain village. It starts at an
altitude of 200 m and continues till 1100 m. Its houses are
dispersed on adjacent hills overlooking the Valley of Ibrahim River;
the highest inhabited house stands at about 900m above sea level.
Kesrouan Constituency - Ftouh Keserwan Area: 6358000 m2
Altitude: 200 – 1100m
Distance from Capital: 42 km from Beirut
Distance from the Casa’s Capital (Jounieh): 25 Km
Leading Roads:
1- Jounieh,
Ibrahim River- Okaybeh, Bazhel-Yahshoush
2-
Jounieh, Ghazir, Kfour, Mradiyeh to Yahchouch
3-
Mayrouba, Wata el Jawz, Yahchouch
The following villages neighbours
Yahchouch:
From the West : Mradiyeh and Bazhel
From the South:
Gbeleh And Jouret Bidran
From the East:
Jabal Moussa (Moussa Mountain) and Nahr el Dahab (River of Gold)
From the North:
Michan, Adonis, Ain Jreim and Sannour.
Demographics:
The total population of Yahchouch is around 4000, 60% are
permanent residents; the rest live on the coast in winter and in
Yahchouch in the summer. The permanent residents are generally blue
and while collar workers, labourers and tradesmen; those living on
the coast are in general more educated and work in more executive
jobs.
25% of the Adult population are holders of diplomas and
graduate/post graduate qualifications. The first sealed road to
Yahchouch was built in 1928, the first car reached Yahchouch on the
same year, driven and owned by Philippe Zouein.
There is only one School in Yahchouch, however a plan is
already underway to build a multi-purpose school funded by the
inhabitants and the International monetary fund. Yahchouch has
around 450 inhabited houses and 175 deserted or inhabited houses.
There is also around 33 shops and industrial
places. Yahchouch is famous for the wells and water
streams that run through the village into the Adonis river; the 55
wells provide the village with the purest and healthiest of waters
that anyone could ever dream of. Some of the major wells and Streams
are:Ain El Sheer
Yahchouch River, a feeder to the Adonis
River, and the main provider of water for agriculture.
The main well in the
village:
1- Ain Bou Elias
2- Ain el Hanout el Fawka
3- Ain el Hanout el Tahta
4- Our Lady’s stream
5- Nabeh el Maghara
6- Ain El Barriyeh
7- Nabeh el Jawzeh (The walnut)
Religion in Yahchouch
As is the case with almost all the villages in Keserwan,
Yahchouch is another Maronite village with a rich history of
religious zest and dedication.
The patron saint of Yahchouch is Saint Simon "the Stylite", the
most famous of the stylites or saints who spent their days seated on
high platforms or pillars, the festivities all around the village go
for days before and after the Saint's name day on September 1st each
year.
Churches of Yahchouch:
Yahchouch is the home to 8 maronite Churches:
1- St Simon the Stylite – The main village
Church. (Big name day on September,1 every year).
2- Our Lady of Ghochraya (Name day
celebration on September, 8 every year)
3- St
Takla (the first of the Martyrs, name day of September,
23).
4- Our Lady of Wardieh – (Owned by the
Barakat Family)
5- St Michael (Owned by the
Assaf Family)
6- St John (Owed by the Family
of Father Giryis Saiid)
7- Our Lady of
Bechara (Owned by the Nagig Yaacoub Zouein Family)
8- The convent of St George in the Moussa
Mountain (Owned by the Zouein Family)
Major Families in Yahchouch, 22 :
Zouein, Atallah, Assaf, Barakat, Bidran, Kayrouz, Saiid,
Mouawad, Daou, Yahchouchi, Al Turk, Ghanem, Karam, Ziadeh, Chams,
Khalil, Trad, Chidiac, Fahd, Bdaywi, Makhlouf, Al Jurr
Village representatives.
The first council was formed in 1916 (29th of June), under
the ottoman rule. President: Semaan Afendi Fares Zouein
In 1961 a new council was elected, President: Fares Semaan
Zouein (Replaced by Youssef Naamtallah El Turk in 1994)
In 1998 a new council was elected, President :
Charbel Nawfal Zouein (Replaced by Joseph Maurice Zouein in 2001).
In 2004 a new council was elected, President : President:
Ibrahim Tanios Barakat
Thank
you