Bourj Hammoud
Encyclopedia
Bourj Hammoud is a suburb in North-East Beirut
, Lebanon
in the Metn district
. The suburb is heavily populated by Armenians
as it is where most survivors of the Armenian Genocide
settled. Bourj Hammoud is an industrious area and is one of the most densely-populated districts in the Middle East
.
Bourj Hammoud was founded by survivors of the Armenian Genocide
of 1915 and expanded mostly during the 1930s. When the sick and exhausted Armenians who had survived the death march
es in Deir ez-Zor (Syria) arrived in Beirut
after the collapse of the Ottoman Empire
, they were given the right to construct shacks on the eastern banks of the Beirut River
that was at the time swamps and marshy lands. They were then allowed to erect houses and buildings which stand to this day. In 1952, Bourj Hammoud became an independent municipality and is currently a member of the Metn-North group of municipalities.
The founding father of Bourj Hammoud and its municipality was the Armenian Catholic Father Paul Ariss (in Arabic
الأب بول عريس; in Armenian
Հայր Պօղոս Արիս) who was instrumental in laying the foundations of a bustling city and center for the Lebanese Armenian community and served a long time as its mayor. The municipality named a main street in Bourj Hammoud in his name in acknowledgement of his big contributions to the establishment and development of the city.
During its founding and early settlement, Bourj Hammoud was also the focus of a rivalry between two Armenian political parties, the Armenian Revolutionary Federation
and the Social Democrat Hunchakian Party
, who struggled to control the newly established shanty-town. This led to various altercations and assassinations that gripped the Armenian community of Lebanon. This was climaxed during the Lebanon crisis of 1958
, around the time where the two parties and their supporters became polarized due to a religious dispute over which catholicos
would be the leader of the Armenian Apostolic Church
. However, in the midst of increasing sectarian strife in the late 1960s and early 1970s, Lebanon's Armenian community began to close ranks, and in 1972, the Hunchakian Party ran a joint ticket with the Dashnaks.
threatened the existence of Beirut's Armenian community. Armenians felt the need to stick close to each other during those turbulent times, thus, they assembled in Bourj Hammoud. Armenian presence was already evident in Bourj Hammoud, by its multiple Armenian community centers and churches.
During the Lebanese Civil War
, many young Armenians took arms to defend it from the opposing forces. However, the Armenian Revolutionary Federation
, the Armenian political party representing most Armenians in the diaspora, tried its best to remain neutral. Because of the Armenian policy of neutrality, Maronite militia groups kept the inhabitants of Bourj Hammoud under strong pressure, even attacking the quarter of Bourj Hammoud.
Bourj Hammoud is located at 33°53′37"N 35°32′25"E (33.893611, 35.540278) just off of the Autostradde, and surrounded by the communities of Dora
, Karantina
, Sin el Fil
and Achrafieh
.
Most residential buildings and houses in Bourj Hammoud were built from the 1930s to the 1970s. They are usually from two to four stories high. The housing structure looks Balkan, with wooden balconies hanging over the mostly narrow streets of the suburb. Most commercial activity is done at street level. The city is dynamic and industrious although it faces some environmental issues due to its location at the edge of Beirut. It is crisscrossed by motorways and turns its back to the sea, from which it has reclaimed a few hectares of land. Bourj Hammoud has a large number of churches, schools, cultural centers and institutions located in its vicinity.
Administrative regions
Bourj Hamoud is divided into seven major regions (Transliterated name, and in parenthesis the Arabic name):
Dora is a major commercial and residential suburb administered by Bourj Hammoud
municipality and has a large industrial sector in its geographic area. Dora is a mainly Christian
suburb of Beirut but Lebanese of other faiths also call the suburb home. Foreign laborers, especially Egyptians
, Iraqis
and Sri Lanka
ns also live in Dora due to the lower-cost rents available.
Naba'a or just Nabaa is a suburb that has both commercial and residential zones and is one of the most densely populated areas of the Middle East. Naba'a is administered by Bourj Hammoud
municipality and borders Sin el Fil
area. It is the main Muslim
sector in the Bourj Hammoud municipality inhabited predominantly by Shia Muslims, but also by Christian Armenians
. However demographic changes due to the Lebanese Civil War have resulted in residency by Lebanese of other faiths as well as foreign laborers, especially from Syria, Egypt, Iraq and Asian and African migrant workers due to the lower rents and job opportunities available in the area.
Nahr is the area closest to Beirut
and borders the Beirut River that also serves as an administrative division between Bourj Hammoud and the capital Beirut
. A heavy hub of traffic, it serves to traverse to the Lebanese capital through two main bridge called "Jisr Beirut" (in Arabic
جسر بيروت) crossing over the river)
Armenian presence
Most streets in Bourj Hammoud are named after various Armenian cities such as Yerevan
, and rivers such as Arax. A lot of streets are also named after cities in modern-day Armenia and Armenian cities now located in Turkey, such as Marash, Sis
, Adana
, Aragats, Cilicia
, Armenia
, Yerevan
, etc. Many of these city names remind the inhabitants of Historic Armenia in general, and Cilicia
in particular, where most Lebanese Armenians
hail from.
and Lebanese Christian populations and Palestinians. It is also home to a number of guest workers from Asia and Africa as well as refugees from Iraq and Syria belonging to various denominations.
The Armenians of Lebanon speak Western Armenian, like most Levantine Armenians of the Middle East. Bourj Hammoud has many Armenian schools and is center of Aztag, one of the biggest Armenian dailies in the Armenian diaspora
. Bourj Hammoud also has a 24-hour licensed Armenian radio station, "Voice of Van" (in Armenian
"Vana Tsayn").
There are three major Armenian political parties in Bourj Hammoud; the Dashnaktsutyun
to which most Armenians of Bourj Hammoud adhere to, the Ramgavars and the Hunchakian
s.
The Armenian Christian denominations present are Apostolic
which constitutes the great majority, the Armenian Catholics and the Armenian Evangelical
.
The political parties and religious denominations mentioned have their own institutions, clubs, churches and schools within the district of Bourj Hammoud. The present mayor of Bourj Hammoud is Mr. Antranik Meserlian.
Colleges
Bourj Hammoud has two technical and vocational colleges: L.A.T.C. Technical School (Armenian Orthodox) and Mesrobian Technical College (Armenian Catholic) Official Website
Bourj Hammoud also has an Armenian school for the deaf and the blind known as KAHL.
Non-Armenian denominations also have churches in Bourj Hammoud including the Maronites (Mar Yousef (St. Joseph) Maronite Church), the Greek Orthodox and the Greek Catholics as well as the Seventh Day Adventists.
Beirut
Beirut is the capital and largest city of Lebanon, with a population ranging from 1 million to more than 2 million . Located on a peninsula at the midpoint of Lebanon's Mediterranean coastline, it serves as the country's largest and main seaport, and also forms the Beirut Metropolitan...
, Lebanon
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
in the Metn district
Matn District
Matn , sometimes spelled Metn, is a district in the Mount Lebanon Governorate of Lebanon, east of the Lebanon's capital Beirut...
. The suburb is heavily populated by Armenians
Armenians
Armenian people or Armenians are a nation and ethnic group native to the Armenian Highland.The largest concentration is in Armenia having a nearly-homogeneous population with 97.9% or 3,145,354 being ethnic Armenian....
as it is where most survivors of the Armenian Genocide
Armenian Genocide
The Armenian Genocide—also known as the Armenian Holocaust, the Armenian Massacres and, by Armenians, as the Great Crime—refers to the deliberate and systematic destruction of the Armenian population of the Ottoman Empire during and just after World War I...
settled. Bourj Hammoud is an industrious area and is one of the most densely-populated districts in the Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
.
History
Armenian Genocide
The Armenian Genocide—also known as the Armenian Holocaust, the Armenian Massacres and, by Armenians, as the Great Crime—refers to the deliberate and systematic destruction of the Armenian population of the Ottoman Empire during and just after World War I...
of 1915 and expanded mostly during the 1930s. When the sick and exhausted Armenians who had survived the death march
Death march
A death march is a forced march of prisoners of war or other captives or deportees. Those marching must walk over long distances for an extremely long period of time and are not supplied with food or water...
es in Deir ez-Zor (Syria) arrived in Beirut
Beirut
Beirut is the capital and largest city of Lebanon, with a population ranging from 1 million to more than 2 million . Located on a peninsula at the midpoint of Lebanon's Mediterranean coastline, it serves as the country's largest and main seaport, and also forms the Beirut Metropolitan...
after the collapse of the Ottoman Empire
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
, they were given the right to construct shacks on the eastern banks of the Beirut River
Beirut River
Beirut River is a river in Lebanon. The river runs east to west, then curves north, separating the city of Beirut from its eastern suburbs, primarily Bourj Hammoud and Sin el Fil. According to popular legend, St...
that was at the time swamps and marshy lands. They were then allowed to erect houses and buildings which stand to this day. In 1952, Bourj Hammoud became an independent municipality and is currently a member of the Metn-North group of municipalities.
The founding father of Bourj Hammoud and its municipality was the Armenian Catholic Father Paul Ariss (in Arabic
Arabic language
Arabic is a name applied to the descendants of the Classical Arabic language of the 6th century AD, used most prominently in the Quran, the Islamic Holy Book...
الأب بول عريس; in Armenian
Armenian language
The Armenian language is an Indo-European language spoken by the Armenian people. It is the official language of the Republic of Armenia as well as in the region of Nagorno-Karabakh. The language is also widely spoken by Armenian communities in the Armenian diaspora...
Հայր Պօղոս Արիս) who was instrumental in laying the foundations of a bustling city and center for the Lebanese Armenian community and served a long time as its mayor. The municipality named a main street in Bourj Hammoud in his name in acknowledgement of his big contributions to the establishment and development of the city.
During its founding and early settlement, Bourj Hammoud was also the focus of a rivalry between two Armenian political parties, the Armenian Revolutionary Federation
Armenian Revolutionary Federation
The Armenian Revolutionary Federation is an Armenian political party founded in Tiflis in 1890 by Christapor Mikaelian, Stepan Zorian, and Simon Zavarian...
and the Social Democrat Hunchakian Party
Social Democrat Hunchakian Party
The Social Democrat Hunchakian Party , is the oldest of the Armenian political parties and was the first Socialist party in the Ottoman Empire and in Persia...
, who struggled to control the newly established shanty-town. This led to various altercations and assassinations that gripped the Armenian community of Lebanon. This was climaxed during the Lebanon crisis of 1958
Lebanon crisis of 1958
The 1958 Lebanon crisis was a Lebanese political crisis caused by political and religious tensions in the country. It included a U.S. military intervention.-Background:...
, around the time where the two parties and their supporters became polarized due to a religious dispute over which catholicos
Catholicos
Catholicos, plural Catholicoi, is a title used for the head of certain churches in some Eastern Christian traditions. The title implies autocephaly and in some cases is borne by the designated head of an autonomous church, in which case the holder might have other titles such as Patriarch...
would be the leader of the Armenian Apostolic Church
Armenian Apostolic Church
The Armenian Apostolic Church is the world's oldest National Church, is part of Oriental Orthodoxy, and is one of the most ancient Christian communities. Armenia was the first country to adopt Christianity as its official religion in 301 AD, in establishing this church...
. However, in the midst of increasing sectarian strife in the late 1960s and early 1970s, Lebanon's Armenian community began to close ranks, and in 1972, the Hunchakian Party ran a joint ticket with the Dashnaks.
Civil War
The Lebanese Civil WarLebanese Civil War
The Lebanese Civil War was a multifaceted civil war in Lebanon. The war lasted from 1975 to 1990 and resulted in an estimated 150,000 to 230,000 civilian fatalities. Another one million people were wounded, and today approximately 350,000 people remain displaced. There was also a mass exodus of...
threatened the existence of Beirut's Armenian community. Armenians felt the need to stick close to each other during those turbulent times, thus, they assembled in Bourj Hammoud. Armenian presence was already evident in Bourj Hammoud, by its multiple Armenian community centers and churches.
During the Lebanese Civil War
Lebanese Civil War
The Lebanese Civil War was a multifaceted civil war in Lebanon. The war lasted from 1975 to 1990 and resulted in an estimated 150,000 to 230,000 civilian fatalities. Another one million people were wounded, and today approximately 350,000 people remain displaced. There was also a mass exodus of...
, many young Armenians took arms to defend it from the opposing forces. However, the Armenian Revolutionary Federation
Armenian Revolutionary Federation
The Armenian Revolutionary Federation is an Armenian political party founded in Tiflis in 1890 by Christapor Mikaelian, Stepan Zorian, and Simon Zavarian...
, the Armenian political party representing most Armenians in the diaspora, tried its best to remain neutral. Because of the Armenian policy of neutrality, Maronite militia groups kept the inhabitants of Bourj Hammoud under strong pressure, even attacking the quarter of Bourj Hammoud.
2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict
During the 2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict, refugees were welcomed into Bourj Hammoud's churches, schools and other complexes where they were fed and given shelters. After the conflict, Turkey proposed to send some of its troops to Lebanon as a part of UNIFIL. Most Armenians strongly opposed Turkish involvement. They held demonstrations against the Turkish force in Bourj Hammoud.Geography
Dora, Lebanon
Dora is a suburb north of Beirut in the Matn District of Mount Lebanon Governorate. The suburb has commercial and residential zones.Dora is administered by Bourj Hammoud municipality.-Demographic:...
, Karantina
Karantina
La Quarantaine, which is colloquially referred to as Karantina and sometimes spelled Quarantina, is a predominately low-income, mixed-use residential, commercial, and semi-industrial neighborhood in northeastern Beirut...
, Sin el Fil
Sin el Fil
-Etymology:The name literally translates "tooth" of "the elephant" . Being geographically closer to the ancient city of Antioch and far remote from natural elephant habitat, it is believed that the town name may have been a derogation of Saint Theophilus of Antioch.-Geography:With a rich red soil...
and Achrafieh
Achrafieh
Achrafieh, , is one of the oldest Christian districts of East Beirut, Lebanon.-Overview:It is located on a hill in the eastern part of Beirut alongside the shore. Achrafieh is both a residential and commercial district characterized by narrow winding streets and prestigious large apartment and...
.
Most residential buildings and houses in Bourj Hammoud were built from the 1930s to the 1970s. They are usually from two to four stories high. The housing structure looks Balkan, with wooden balconies hanging over the mostly narrow streets of the suburb. Most commercial activity is done at street level. The city is dynamic and industrious although it faces some environmental issues due to its location at the edge of Beirut. It is crisscrossed by motorways and turns its back to the sea, from which it has reclaimed a few hectares of land. Bourj Hammoud has a large number of churches, schools, cultural centers and institutions located in its vicinity.
Administrative regions
Bourj Hamoud is divided into seven major regions (Transliterated name, and in parenthesis the Arabic name):
- DoraDora, LebanonDora is a suburb north of Beirut in the Matn District of Mount Lebanon Governorate. The suburb has commercial and residential zones.Dora is administered by Bourj Hammoud municipality.-Demographic:...
(الدورة)
Dora is a major commercial and residential suburb administered by Bourj Hammoud
Bourj Hammoud
Bourj Hammoud is a suburb in North-East Beirut, Lebanon in the Metn district. The suburb is heavily populated by Armenians as it is where most survivors of the Armenian Genocide settled...
municipality and has a large industrial sector in its geographic area. Dora is a mainly Christian
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
suburb of Beirut but Lebanese of other faiths also call the suburb home. Foreign laborers, especially Egyptians
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
, Iraqis
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
and Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
ns also live in Dora due to the lower-cost rents available.
- Naba'a - (النبعة)
Naba'a or just Nabaa is a suburb that has both commercial and residential zones and is one of the most densely populated areas of the Middle East. Naba'a is administered by Bourj Hammoud
Bourj Hammoud
Bourj Hammoud is a suburb in North-East Beirut, Lebanon in the Metn district. The suburb is heavily populated by Armenians as it is where most survivors of the Armenian Genocide settled...
municipality and borders Sin el Fil
Sin el Fil
-Etymology:The name literally translates "tooth" of "the elephant" . Being geographically closer to the ancient city of Antioch and far remote from natural elephant habitat, it is believed that the town name may have been a derogation of Saint Theophilus of Antioch.-Geography:With a rich red soil...
area. It is the main Muslim
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
sector in the Bourj Hammoud municipality inhabited predominantly by Shia Muslims, but also by Christian Armenians
Armenians
Armenian people or Armenians are a nation and ethnic group native to the Armenian Highland.The largest concentration is in Armenia having a nearly-homogeneous population with 97.9% or 3,145,354 being ethnic Armenian....
. However demographic changes due to the Lebanese Civil War have resulted in residency by Lebanese of other faiths as well as foreign laborers, especially from Syria, Egypt, Iraq and Asian and African migrant workers due to the lower rents and job opportunities available in the area.
- Nahr (River) - (النهر)
Nahr is the area closest to Beirut
Beirut
Beirut is the capital and largest city of Lebanon, with a population ranging from 1 million to more than 2 million . Located on a peninsula at the midpoint of Lebanon's Mediterranean coastline, it serves as the country's largest and main seaport, and also forms the Beirut Metropolitan...
and borders the Beirut River that also serves as an administrative division between Bourj Hammoud and the capital Beirut
Beirut
Beirut is the capital and largest city of Lebanon, with a population ranging from 1 million to more than 2 million . Located on a peninsula at the midpoint of Lebanon's Mediterranean coastline, it serves as the country's largest and main seaport, and also forms the Beirut Metropolitan...
. A heavy hub of traffic, it serves to traverse to the Lebanese capital through two main bridge called "Jisr Beirut" (in Arabic
Arabic language
Arabic is a name applied to the descendants of the Classical Arabic language of the 6th century AD, used most prominently in the Quran, the Islamic Holy Book...
جسر بيروت) crossing over the river)
- Sader - (صادر)
- Anbari - (أنباري)
- Mar Doumet - (مار ضومط)
- Gheilan - (غيلان)
Armenian presence
Most streets in Bourj Hammoud are named after various Armenian cities such as Yerevan
Yerevan
Yerevan is the capital and largest city of Armenia and one of the world's oldest continuously-inhabited cities. Situated along the Hrazdan River, Yerevan is the administrative, cultural, and industrial center of the country...
, and rivers such as Arax. A lot of streets are also named after cities in modern-day Armenia and Armenian cities now located in Turkey, such as Marash, Sis
Sis
- Places :* Sis * Sis, Armenia, a town* Sis, Azerbaijan, a village* Sis, Iran, a city* Kozan, Adana, Sis in Armenian* Mountains of Sis, a range of the Pre-Pyrenees- Other :...
, Adana
Adana
Adana is a city in southern Turkey and a major agricultural and commercial center. The city is situated on the Seyhan River, 30 kilometres inland from the Mediterranean, in south-central Anatolia...
, Aragats, Cilicia
Cilicia
In antiquity, Cilicia was the south coastal region of Asia Minor, south of the central Anatolian plateau. It existed as a political entity from Hittite times into the Byzantine empire...
, Armenia
Armenia
Armenia , officially the Republic of Armenia , is a landlocked mountainous country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia...
, Yerevan
Yerevan
Yerevan is the capital and largest city of Armenia and one of the world's oldest continuously-inhabited cities. Situated along the Hrazdan River, Yerevan is the administrative, cultural, and industrial center of the country...
, etc. Many of these city names remind the inhabitants of Historic Armenia in general, and Cilicia
Cilicia
In antiquity, Cilicia was the south coastal region of Asia Minor, south of the central Anatolian plateau. It existed as a political entity from Hittite times into the Byzantine empire...
in particular, where most Lebanese Armenians
Armenians of Lebanon
The Armenians in Lebanon are Lebanese citizens of Armenian descent. There has been an Armenian presence in Lebanon for centuries. While there has not been a census for a few decades, because the balance between Christians and Muslims is considered to be a volatile subject, it is estimated that...
hail from.
Demographics
Bourj Hammoud has a population of 150,000 over an area of 2.5 km², making it one of the densely-populated cities in the Middle East. It has a majority Armenian population but also has a notable Lebanese Shi'a MuslimMuslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
and Lebanese Christian populations and Palestinians. It is also home to a number of guest workers from Asia and Africa as well as refugees from Iraq and Syria belonging to various denominations.
The Armenians of Lebanon speak Western Armenian, like most Levantine Armenians of the Middle East. Bourj Hammoud has many Armenian schools and is center of Aztag, one of the biggest Armenian dailies in the Armenian diaspora
Armenian diaspora
The Armenian diaspora refers to the Armenian communities outside the Republic of Armenia and self proclaimed de facto independent Nagorno-Karabakh Republic...
. Bourj Hammoud also has a 24-hour licensed Armenian radio station, "Voice of Van" (in Armenian
Armenian language
The Armenian language is an Indo-European language spoken by the Armenian people. It is the official language of the Republic of Armenia as well as in the region of Nagorno-Karabakh. The language is also widely spoken by Armenian communities in the Armenian diaspora...
"Vana Tsayn").
There are three major Armenian political parties in Bourj Hammoud; the Dashnaktsutyun
Armenian Revolutionary Federation
The Armenian Revolutionary Federation is an Armenian political party founded in Tiflis in 1890 by Christapor Mikaelian, Stepan Zorian, and Simon Zavarian...
to which most Armenians of Bourj Hammoud adhere to, the Ramgavars and the Hunchakian
Social Democrat Hunchakian Party
The Social Democrat Hunchakian Party , is the oldest of the Armenian political parties and was the first Socialist party in the Ottoman Empire and in Persia...
s.
The Armenian Christian denominations present are Apostolic
Armenian Apostolic Church
The Armenian Apostolic Church is the world's oldest National Church, is part of Oriental Orthodoxy, and is one of the most ancient Christian communities. Armenia was the first country to adopt Christianity as its official religion in 301 AD, in establishing this church...
which constitutes the great majority, the Armenian Catholics and the Armenian Evangelical
Armenian Evangelical Church
The Armenian Evangelical Church was established on July 1, 1846 by thirty-seven men and three women in Constantinople.-History:In the 19th century there was intellectual and spiritual awakening in Constantinople. This awakening and enlightenment pushed the reformists to study the Bible...
.
The political parties and religious denominations mentioned have their own institutions, clubs, churches and schools within the district of Bourj Hammoud. The present mayor of Bourj Hammoud is Mr. Antranik Meserlian.
Economy
Bourj Hammoud is a center of the crafts and hand made industry such as jewelry, the leather made industry and garments. It is viewed as an important shopping area of Lebanon.Education
Schools- Armenian Orthodox: Aksor Kassardjian Armenian National School, Apkarian Armenian National School, Forty Martyrs Armenian National School and Levon & Sophia Hagopian Armenian College Official website
- Armenian Catholic: Ecole Mesrobian and Ecole Sainte Agnes
- Armenian Evangelical: Armenian Evangelical Shamlian Tatigian Secondary SchoolArmenian Evangelical Shamlian Tatigian Secondary SchoolThe Armenian Evangelical Shamlian Tatigian Secondary School is located in Bourj-Hammoud, a suburb to the north east of Beirut, Lebanon. It began in 1934 with kindergarten and primary classes only. Now it has 300 pupils and kindergarten, primary and secondary classes.The present principal is Rev...
, Armenian Evangelical School of TradArmenian Evangelical School of TradThe Armenian Evangelical School of Trad was built in 1936, in a poor area in East Beirut named Trad District. It has kindergarten, and six primary classes.The present principal is Mrs. Vera Sevadjian.-History:...
and Torossian School - Non-denominational: Vahan Tekeyan Intermediate School
- Non-Armenian: Bourj Hammoud also has non-Armenian denominational as well as official government schools including Al Inaya School, Al Salam School, Al Ahliya School, Al Sanabel School, Saint Joseph School and Lycée National Libanais.
Colleges
Bourj Hammoud has two technical and vocational colleges: L.A.T.C. Technical School (Armenian Orthodox) and Mesrobian Technical College (Armenian Catholic) Official Website
Bourj Hammoud also has an Armenian school for the deaf and the blind known as KAHL.
Religion
- Armenian Apostolic churches: St. Vartan Church, Forty Martyrs (Karasoun Manoug) Church and Asdvadzadzin Church
- Armenian Catholic churches: St. Savior (Sourp Pergitch) Church
- Armenian Evangelical churches: Armenian Evangelical Church of Nor Marash, Armenian Evangelical Church of Amanos and Evangelic Church of God
Non-Armenian denominations also have churches in Bourj Hammoud including the Maronites (Mar Yousef (St. Joseph) Maronite Church), the Greek Orthodox and the Greek Catholics as well as the Seventh Day Adventists.
Institutions
- Armenian Relief SocietyArmenian Relief SocietyThe Armenian Relief Society, A.R.S or H.O.M , is an independent, non-governmental and non-sectarian organization and NGO, serving the social and educational needs of Armenian communities everywhere, seeking to preserve the cultural identity of the Armenian nation, and, whenever and wherever the...
- Aztag (daily)
- HamazkayinHamazkayinHamazkayin , short for Hamazkayin Armenian Educational and Cultural Society, is a major cultural organization of the Armenian Diaspora, with a presence in every significant Armenian community worldwide...
- "Voice of Van" (Vana Tsayn) Armenian radio station
Notable people from Bourj Hammoud
- Hassan NasrallahHassan NasrallahHasan Nasrallah, became the third Secretary General of the Lebanese political and paramilitary organization Hezbollah after Israel assassinated the previous leader, Abbas al-Musawi, in 1992. Hezbollah in its entirety is considered a terrorist organization by The United States, the Netherlands,...
– Leader of Hezbollah - Pierre ChammassianPierre ChammassianPierre Chammassian is a stand up comic famous in Lebanon for Arabs and Armenians alike, and is also popular in the Armenian Diaspora. He is known especially for his performance as Batale.-career:...
– Comedian
See also
- Armenians in Lebanon
- Hinkerort Zorasune, aka as The Fifth Column, a 2010 film set up in the Bourj Hammoud