Maghdouché

Maghduscha ( مغدوشة Maghdūscha, DMG Maġdūša, also Maghdouche, Maghdoucheh or Maghdousheh ) is a city in the province of South Lebanon.

Geography

Maghduscha located about 50 kilometers south of the capital Beirut, eight kilometers east of Sidon. The village lies on a hill, about three kilometers from the Mediterranean coast, 200-229 meters above sea level.

The town has about 8,000 inhabitants, most of whom are Melkites. The population increases during the summer months too, when emigrants spend their holidays in their homeland.

The town lives mainly from agriculture. It is grown primarily grapes and citrus fruits, especially oranges. In addition Duftessienzen be made ​​, partly from orange blossom, partly from rose petals.

History

The town's name comes from the Syriac language meaning fruit collector. Legend has it that Mary, Jesus accompanied when he preached in Sidon, waiting for him at the summit of the hill and spent the night in a cave. By the Emperor Constantine the Great, the cave was converted into a shrine to the Virgin Mary and to the point, a tower was built. This collapsed during an earthquake in 550. The cave was rediscovered by a shepherd accidentally in 1726 and the icon was still near the altar. Since that time, the cave to a destination of pilgrims existing denominations in Lebanon was. In 1860, the Melkite Greek Catholic Church owns the site was.

At the beginning of 1960 was built by Bishop Basile Khoury of Sidon a hexagonal chapel, whose 28 -meter-high spire decorated with a statue depicting the Virgin Mary holding the infant Jesus in her arms. The Virgin of Mantara is the patron saint of children and so many baptisms are celebrated here.

During the Lebanese civil war came in 1986, the conflict between the Shiite Amal militia and supporters of the PLO to the Lebanese Christians for the strategically important city Maghduscha to the fierce battles were held. Ultimately, the Christians were forced to leave the place. They returned only after four years in 1990 and began rebuilding.

Personalities

• Jean Bassoul (1920-1977) Archbishop of Homs (1961-1971) and Zahle and Furzol (1971-1977)
• Antoine Hayek (1928-2010), Archbishop of archeparchy Banyas and Marjayoun the Greco - Melkites
• John Adel Elya ( born 1929 ), Bishop of the Eparchy of Newton of the Melkite Church

• Location in Lebanon
• Government of South Lebanon