Gharios
Encyclopedia
Gharios is the name of Saint Gurias the Ascetic of Edessa
(Today Rouha also known as Orfa
or Sanliourfa
in Turkey
), martyr of the 4th century; he died in 305 AD. It is also the name of one of the most socially and economically prominent families in Lebanon
rooting back their ancestries to the Sheiks Chemor
of Kfarhata (former christian inhabitants of Akoura and rulers of Zgharta). Their religion is maronite christian
and they are of direct legitimate descendance of the Christian
Ghassanids
. Their hometown is Chiyah, a predominantly Christian
town located in the southern suburbs of the capital Beirut
bordered by Haret-Hreik, Ghobeiry, Hadath and Furn-el-chebbak.
. This Habbaki family is issued from the prestigious “Chemor” family of Kfarhata-Zgharta.
The Chemors of Kfarhata have the title of Sheiks. They were the inhabitants of Akoura in the mountains of Byblos
between 1211 and 1633 and the rulers of Zgharta-Zawiya between 1641 and 1747. Their ancestors were the Ghassanids
, a Christian
tribe that dwelled in the Arabian Peninsula
. After being displaced from Yemen
because of a natural disaster, they settled in the Houran region of Syria
. They have allied themselves to the Byzantines
as protectors of the South. Past the Islamic conquest of the region, they sought refuge in Lebanon
. Their first stay was in Akoura (Byblos
district) then they moved to Kfarhata in 1641.
At the beginning of the 18th century, some troubles occurred between the Sheiks Chemor
and the Daher family. As a result a member of the Chemors was compelled to flee the village and take refuge in a small over sighted village in the uphill of Byblos
, Beit Habbak. He went there with his four sons and his unique daughter. The latter got married with the son of the concierge although her family did not accept it. Her brothers had killed her husband and were once again obliged to run away from the village.
The first one went to the mountainous village of Baskinta and because he was coming from Beit Habbak, he was called “Habbaki” which with time became “Hobeika”. The second one, Ferjane Chemor, had the courage to stay in Beit Habbak. Today, his offspring is known as the family “Ferjane”.
The last two brothers, Farhat and Gharios went to the suburbs of Beirut where water is available and citrus trees are abundant. Farhat Chemor is today survived by a large family in Hadath today known as the family “Farhat”. Gharios Chemor went to Chiyah in 1757. His son Antoun took the name of his father as his family name like his uncles. We don’t know if Antoun had brothers or sisters but we are sure that he had two sons: Fares (confirmed on the 19 April 1849) and Youssef (confirmed in 1852).
in front of today’s lead statue. This mansion was owned by the parish priest of the village Youssef Gharios who was born between 1830 and 1850 directed the church of Saint Michael of Chiyah since 1877.
He is now survived by his descendants that remained attached to their land and few of them immigrated to Colombia
, Chile
and the United States
. Today, the Gharios family play an important role at the forefront of the Lebanese society; their businesses are spread throughout the country and distributed in very different sectors.
Edmond Gharios
was the former head of the municipality of Chiyah for the last eleven years. He resigned in December 2008 to prepare his electoral campaign to enter the Lebanese Parliament in June 2009. After an unsuccessful run for parliamentary office, he went back to head the Chiyah municipality council in 2010.
Naji Gharios was elected to the Lebanese Parliament as a representative of the Baabda
district in June 2009 and is currently serving a four year term.
Edessa, Mesopotamia
Edessa is the Greek name of an Aramaic town in northern Mesopotamia, as refounded by Seleucus I Nicator. For the modern history of the city, see Şanlıurfa.-Names:...
(Today Rouha also known as Orfa
Sanliurfa
Şanlıurfa, , often simply known as Urfa in daily language , in ancient times Edessa, is a city with 482,323 inhabitants Şanlıurfa, , often simply known as Urfa in daily language (Syriac ܐܘܪܗܝ Urhoy,Armenian Ուռհա Owr'ha, Arabic الرها ar-Ruhā), in ancient times Edessa, is a city with 482,323...
or Sanliourfa
Sanliurfa
Şanlıurfa, , often simply known as Urfa in daily language , in ancient times Edessa, is a city with 482,323 inhabitants Şanlıurfa, , often simply known as Urfa in daily language (Syriac ܐܘܪܗܝ Urhoy,Armenian Ուռհա Owr'ha, Arabic الرها ar-Ruhā), in ancient times Edessa, is a city with 482,323...
in Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
), martyr of the 4th century; he died in 305 AD. It is also the name of one of the most socially and economically prominent families in 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...
rooting back their ancestries to the Sheiks Chemor
Sheiks Chemor
Chemor is an ancient well known family. Being from the Yamanis, the Chemors left Akoura in the 17th century after the victory of the Qaysi party headed by Hachem over the Yamani party headed by Malik Bin Abi Al Ghaith...
of Kfarhata (former christian inhabitants of Akoura and rulers of Zgharta). Their religion is maronite christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
and they are of direct legitimate descendance of the Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
Ghassanids
Ghassanids
The Ghassanids were a group of South Arabian Christian tribes that emigrated in the early 3rd century from Yemen to Syria, Jordan, Lebanon and the Holy Land....
. Their hometown is Chiyah, a predominantly Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
town located in the southern suburbs of 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...
bordered by Haret-Hreik, Ghobeiry, Hadath and Furn-el-chebbak.
History
According to a historical book named The Sheiks Chemors written by father Aghnatios Khoury around 1950, the family Gharios of Chiyah is formally called “Gharios Habbaki Chemor” due to the village of Beit Habbak in the region of ByblosByblos
Byblos is the Greek name of the Phoenician city Gebal . It is a Mediterranean city in the Mount Lebanon Governorate of present-day Lebanon under the current Arabic name of Jubayl and was also referred to as Gibelet during the Crusades...
. This Habbaki family is issued from the prestigious “Chemor” family of Kfarhata-Zgharta.
The Chemors of Kfarhata have the title of Sheiks. They were the inhabitants of Akoura in the mountains of Byblos
Byblos
Byblos is the Greek name of the Phoenician city Gebal . It is a Mediterranean city in the Mount Lebanon Governorate of present-day Lebanon under the current Arabic name of Jubayl and was also referred to as Gibelet during the Crusades...
between 1211 and 1633 and the rulers of Zgharta-Zawiya between 1641 and 1747. Their ancestors were the Ghassanids
Ghassanids
The Ghassanids were a group of South Arabian Christian tribes that emigrated in the early 3rd century from Yemen to Syria, Jordan, Lebanon and the Holy Land....
, a Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
tribe that dwelled in the Arabian Peninsula
Arabian Peninsula
The Arabian Peninsula is a land mass situated north-east of Africa. Also known as Arabia or the Arabian subcontinent, it is the world's largest peninsula and covers 3,237,500 km2...
. After being displaced from Yemen
Yemen
The Republic of Yemen , commonly known as Yemen , is a country located in the Middle East, occupying the southwestern to southern end of the Arabian Peninsula. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the north, the Red Sea to the west, and Oman to the east....
because of a natural disaster, they settled in the Houran region of Syria
Syria
Syria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest....
. They have allied themselves to the Byzantines
Byzantine Empire
The Byzantine Empire was the Eastern Roman Empire during the periods of Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages, centred on the capital of Constantinople. Known simply as the Roman Empire or Romania to its inhabitants and neighbours, the Empire was the direct continuation of the Ancient Roman State...
as protectors of the South. Past the Islamic conquest of the region, they sought refuge in 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...
. Their first stay was in Akoura (Byblos
Byblos
Byblos is the Greek name of the Phoenician city Gebal . It is a Mediterranean city in the Mount Lebanon Governorate of present-day Lebanon under the current Arabic name of Jubayl and was also referred to as Gibelet during the Crusades...
district) then they moved to Kfarhata in 1641.
At the beginning of the 18th century, some troubles occurred between the Sheiks Chemor
Sheiks Chemor
Chemor is an ancient well known family. Being from the Yamanis, the Chemors left Akoura in the 17th century after the victory of the Qaysi party headed by Hachem over the Yamani party headed by Malik Bin Abi Al Ghaith...
and the Daher family. As a result a member of the Chemors was compelled to flee the village and take refuge in a small over sighted village in the uphill of Byblos
Byblos
Byblos is the Greek name of the Phoenician city Gebal . It is a Mediterranean city in the Mount Lebanon Governorate of present-day Lebanon under the current Arabic name of Jubayl and was also referred to as Gibelet during the Crusades...
, Beit Habbak. He went there with his four sons and his unique daughter. The latter got married with the son of the concierge although her family did not accept it. Her brothers had killed her husband and were once again obliged to run away from the village.
The first one went to the mountainous village of Baskinta and because he was coming from Beit Habbak, he was called “Habbaki” which with time became “Hobeika”. The second one, Ferjane Chemor, had the courage to stay in Beit Habbak. Today, his offspring is known as the family “Ferjane”.
The last two brothers, Farhat and Gharios went to the suburbs of Beirut where water is available and citrus trees are abundant. Farhat Chemor is today survived by a large family in Hadath today known as the family “Farhat”. Gharios Chemor went to Chiyah in 1757. His son Antoun took the name of his father as his family name like his uncles. We don’t know if Antoun had brothers or sisters but we are sure that he had two sons: Fares (confirmed on the 19 April 1849) and Youssef (confirmed in 1852).
Today
A century ago, the land of Chiyah was mainly covered with citrus trees interspersed with manor houses owned by the finest and richest families of Chiyah. The manor house of the family Gharios was situated at the Boulevard Camille ChamounCamille Chamoun
Camille Nimr Chamoun was President of Lebanon from 1952 to 1958, and one of the country's main Christian leaders during most of the Lebanese Civil War ....
in front of today’s lead statue. This mansion was owned by the parish priest of the village Youssef Gharios who was born between 1830 and 1850 directed the church of Saint Michael of Chiyah since 1877.
He is now survived by his descendants that remained attached to their land and few of them immigrated to Colombia
Colombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
, Chile
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
and the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Today, the Gharios family play an important role at the forefront of the Lebanese society; their businesses are spread throughout the country and distributed in very different sectors.
Edmond Gharios
Edmond Gharios
Edmond Mikhaël Gharios born in Chiyah on February 18, 1958 was Head of the Municipality of Chiyah from May 1998 to December 2008....
was the former head of the municipality of Chiyah for the last eleven years. He resigned in December 2008 to prepare his electoral campaign to enter the Lebanese Parliament in June 2009. After an unsuccessful run for parliamentary office, he went back to head the Chiyah municipality council in 2010.
Naji Gharios was elected to the Lebanese Parliament as a representative of the Baabda
Baabda
Baabda is the capital city of Baabda District as well as the capital of Mount Lebanon Governorate, western Lebanon. Baabda was the capital city of the autonomous Ottoman Mount Lebanon....
district in June 2009 and is currently serving a four year term.