Kousba
Encyclopedia
Kousba is a Greek Orthodox village
in Koura District
, in the Northern Governorate
of Lebanon
.
and 12km east of Chekka
, and well placed on the main Highway towards the village Becharry. One main highway that runs through Kousba and many other villages is called The autostrade.
began his ascetic life. Later, when the monastery was destroyed by the
Mamelukes
, he reestablished monasticism along the perimeter of the ruined
monastery. In time, he rebuilt the monastery, regenerating and giving
renewed vigor to monastic life in the area.
His spiritual briskness, vivacity, and popularity among believers drew the
attention of the Mamelukes who set their minds to stop his verve and
determination and force him to convert to Islam. He stubbornly refused their
relentless pressures.
When the Mamelukes' horrible coercive attempts failed, they dragged Saint
Jacob, along with a number of monks and laymen, from Saint Georges
Monastery, situated atop Mount Hamatoura, to Tripoli City (the capital of
Northern Lebanon) and handed him to the wali (ruler).
For almost a year, he endured tremendous tortures. Nevertheless, he did not
give in or renounce his faith despite receiving both adulations and threats
from the Mamelukes.
Although intimidated by Saint Jacob's stubbornness and persistence, finally,
as was their custom in punishing their enemies, on October 13th, Saint Jacob
was beheaded. In addition, the Mamelukes burned his body to ensure the
Church will not give him an honorable burial as a martyr, a burial befitting a
saint.
Not long after his death, seeing his sufferings and steadfast faith, our Lord
bestowed on him everlasting crowns and graces and today he shines as a
martyr as much as he was a beacon during his earthly life; at this time the
Church announced Saint Jacob's holiness and added him to her list of
honored Martyr Saints and prayed for his intercession.
Our Saint was almost forgotten in the course of history. This was due to the
severe sufferings of the Church under various Moslem sultanates that both
weakened Christian spiritual life and resulted in a noticeable drop of Christian
literacy. Additionally, all manuscripts and data that could have been sent and
translated abroad were either forgotten, lost, or destroyed.
However, recorded encounters by the Monastery's pilgrims, upon seeing
visions of Saint Jacob, and many others, who sensed his presence, affirmed
and authenticated his sainthood. Glorifying the name of Lord, Saint Jacob
also healed many.
We have recently discovered a clear mention of Saint Jacob in a manuscript
preserved at the Balamand Monastery in a Gerontikon, a hagiography or
compilation of biographical short stories of the lives of holy saints. In a
Balamand archival manuscript, numbered 149, it clearly indicates that the
Church commemorates his memory on October 13th.
The Monastery of the Dormition of the Theotokos - Kousba, Hamatoura, in
Lebanon, commemorated his memory, for the first time, on October 13th,
2002, in an all-night prayer vigil (agrypnia). A number of priests, deacons,
and believers participated in that memorable day, as the attendees chanted
Saint Jacob's troparion and Akolouthia, prepared and edited by the
monastery's monks.
Today, believers and pilgrims are constantly reporting his apparitions,
miraculous healings and other Grace-filled deeds. All of this kindled the
spiritual fervorness to celebrate the memory of this Saint and give Praise to
the Lord, while honoring Saint Jacob of Hamatoura who is still living among
us in his monastery performing miraculous deeds, calls, and visitations to
believers.
Village
A village is a clustered human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet with the population ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand , Though often located in rural areas, the term urban village is also applied to certain urban neighbourhoods, such as the West Village in Manhattan, New...
in Koura District
Koura District
Koura or El Koura is a district in the North Governorate, Lebanon.Koura is one of the 36 districts of Lebanon, which is very popular for the olive tree cultivation. It is known by its dark green color....
, in the Northern Governorate
Northern Governorate
The Northern Governorate is one of the five governorates of Bahrain. It includes parts of the former municipalities of Al Mintaqah al Gharbiyah, Al Mintaqah al Wusta, Al Mintaqah al Shamaliyah, Jidd Haffs and Madinat Hamad....
of 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...
.
History
The Name Kousba comes from the word hidden because how the village is hidden in between all the trees and mountains. Kousba is one of the most inhabited villages in the koura district, its is 18km south from tripoliTripoli
Tripoli is the capital and largest city in Libya. It is also known as Western Tripoli , to distinguish it from Tripoli, Lebanon. It is affectionately called The Mermaid of the Mediterranean , describing its turquoise waters and its whitewashed buildings. Tripoli is a Greek name that means "Three...
and 12km east of Chekka
Chekka
Chekka is coastal town located in the South of North Lebanon. It is located north of Râs ach-Chaq’a’ and Herri beaches, or Theoprosopon of classical times and south of the ancient Phoenician port of Enfeh and the city of Tripoli. The origin of the word is believed to be Canaanite from the word...
, and well placed on the main Highway towards the village Becharry. One main highway that runs through Kousba and many other villages is called The autostrade.
Basics
Kousba El-Koura has a population of 5 000 residents, has two schools which are both public and have over 311 students enroled into each of them. In the last municipal elections in 2004, had Kousba 7 193 registered voters with 4 940 voting. Kousba has 23 companies with more than 5 employees. Kousba has no hospitals but has a medical center. Kousba consists of 601 Hectare of lands, including lots of historical monuments, touristic attractions and religious sites such as many churches and monasteries, sports clubs, teaching institutions and social clubs.Hamatoura Monastery
Late in the 13th century, at Our Lady Monastery in Hamatoura, Saint Jacobbegan his ascetic life. Later, when the monastery was destroyed by the
Mamelukes
Bahri dynasty
The Bahri dynasty or Bahriyya Mamluks was a Mamluk dynasty of mostly Kipchak Turkic origin that ruled Egypt from 1250 to 1382 when they were succeeded by the Burji dynasty, another group of Mamluks...
, he reestablished monasticism along the perimeter of the ruined
monastery. In time, he rebuilt the monastery, regenerating and giving
renewed vigor to monastic life in the area.
His spiritual briskness, vivacity, and popularity among believers drew the
attention of the Mamelukes who set their minds to stop his verve and
determination and force him to convert to Islam. He stubbornly refused their
relentless pressures.
When the Mamelukes' horrible coercive attempts failed, they dragged Saint
Jacob, along with a number of monks and laymen, from Saint Georges
Monastery, situated atop Mount Hamatoura, to Tripoli City (the capital of
Northern Lebanon) and handed him to the wali (ruler).
For almost a year, he endured tremendous tortures. Nevertheless, he did not
give in or renounce his faith despite receiving both adulations and threats
from the Mamelukes.
Although intimidated by Saint Jacob's stubbornness and persistence, finally,
as was their custom in punishing their enemies, on October 13th, Saint Jacob
was beheaded. In addition, the Mamelukes burned his body to ensure the
Church will not give him an honorable burial as a martyr, a burial befitting a
saint.
Not long after his death, seeing his sufferings and steadfast faith, our Lord
bestowed on him everlasting crowns and graces and today he shines as a
martyr as much as he was a beacon during his earthly life; at this time the
Church announced Saint Jacob's holiness and added him to her list of
honored Martyr Saints and prayed for his intercession.
Our Saint was almost forgotten in the course of history. This was due to the
severe sufferings of the Church under various Moslem sultanates that both
weakened Christian spiritual life and resulted in a noticeable drop of Christian
literacy. Additionally, all manuscripts and data that could have been sent and
translated abroad were either forgotten, lost, or destroyed.
However, recorded encounters by the Monastery's pilgrims, upon seeing
visions of Saint Jacob, and many others, who sensed his presence, affirmed
and authenticated his sainthood. Glorifying the name of Lord, Saint Jacob
also healed many.
We have recently discovered a clear mention of Saint Jacob in a manuscript
preserved at the Balamand Monastery in a Gerontikon, a hagiography or
compilation of biographical short stories of the lives of holy saints. In a
Balamand archival manuscript, numbered 149, it clearly indicates that the
Church commemorates his memory on October 13th.
The Monastery of the Dormition of the Theotokos - Kousba, Hamatoura, in
Lebanon, commemorated his memory, for the first time, on October 13th,
2002, in an all-night prayer vigil (agrypnia). A number of priests, deacons,
and believers participated in that memorable day, as the attendees chanted
Saint Jacob's troparion and Akolouthia, prepared and edited by the
monastery's monks.
Today, believers and pilgrims are constantly reporting his apparitions,
miraculous healings and other Grace-filled deeds. All of this kindled the
spiritual fervorness to celebrate the memory of this Saint and give Praise to
the Lord, while honoring Saint Jacob of Hamatoura who is still living among
us in his monastery performing miraculous deeds, calls, and visitations to
believers.
Businesses in Kousba
Banks,Computer shop, Computer Services (IT), Supermarkets, Jewelries, Car Mechanics, Olive Oils, Perfumeries, Wheels repairs, Lingeries, Clothing, Flowers, Photographing, Silver ware, Ice Creams and Sweets, Car Spare Parts, Buchers, Shoe Shops, Blinds and Curtains Shops, Gas Stations, Eye Glasses, Mobile Phone Shops, Construction Materials, Hair Dressers, Bookshops, Beauty shops and Pharmacies.External links
- http://www.kousba.org
- http://www.kousba.gov.lb
- http://www.localiban.org/spip.php?article2363&var_recherche=kousba
- http://www.hamatoura.com/