The name is of Greek-Syriac origin and may mean a
clown or a friend or even, and most probably, the
Water of Trial, a river, a lake, or a pool which had
to be crossed to prove one’s innocence. Failure meant
guilt. But the word mimas also refers to Saint Mema.
The village of Deir Mimas lies in the administrative
district of Marjayoun at an altitude of 1,700 feet
and at a distance of fifty-five miles from the capital
Beirut. It may be reached by passing by Sidon (Saida),
then turning left at Sarafand-Zahrani and going through
Nabatieh-Kfar Roman in the direction of Marjayoun.
It is a picturesque village overlooking the river
Litani; to the west of it stands Beaufort Castle,
built by the Crusaders, and to the east rise the snow-topped
summits of Mount Hermon.
There are more than forty-five springs bubbling up
among the habitations around, watering thousands of
olive trees, some of which are a thousand years old.
Several presses crush the olives to produce oil of
high quality, used for making soap. They are still
at work, not out-dated.
In fact the olive tree lies at the heart of the village
and local society. The oil is exported to Europe,
particularly Austria, and is given names according
to quality like the wines of Bordeaux.
All the women of the village work at the production
of food preserves. They make a whole range of jams,
sizes of crushed wheat known as bourghol, thyme, vine
leaves, vegetables, and dairy products, gathering
also wild plants of medical use.
There are five large churches in Deir Mimas, Protestant,
Greek Catholic, Orthodox and Latin, as well as some
venerable houses and some ruins, but also the monastery
of Saint Mimas built around the year 1404. This monastery
built with medieval stones provided six cells for
the monks and a church. It has been renovated several
times, for on one occasion it was bombarded by the
Israelis and destroyed. There are yearly celebrations
at Eastertide, with large crowds gathering around
the main church.
The monastery shelters a small museum of icons and
mosaics illustrating the life of Christ and other
religious events. Several varieties of olives from
around the world are treated at Mimas monastery, including
one called the “Soury” (after Sour, another name for
Tyre), which goes back more that five thousand years
before Christ.
There is an agricultural cooperative that does much
to maintain and increase production.
At Deir Mimas there are strong bonds between land
and cultivators, for as well as vines, fig trees,
plum trees and suchlike, there are many varieties
of plants growing wild which are of practical use,
especially for treating illnesses. There is an association
called Aghssan set up in the year 2012 with the aim
of returning to Nature and of preserving the environment,
and also carrying on associated activities of common
interest.
At Deir Mimas there are cultural and social activities
which bring people together and educational and sports
clubs which directly or indirectly encourage the improvement
of olive cultivation, saving the environment and making
Deir Mimas a village to serve as a model.
Visitors can admire the beautiful old olive trees,
the small lake, the gushing springs, the old grottos,
and the ruins dedicated to the “Khodr”, Saint George,
to whom vows are made.
Joseph MATAR
- Deir Mimas - The village square: >> View
Movie << (2015-05-01) - Deir Mimas -
The olive trees: >> View
Movie << (2015-05-01) - Deir Mimas -
The olive trees: >> View
Movie << (2015-05-01) - Deir Mimas -
The olive trees: >> View
Movie << (2015-05-01) - Deir Mimas -
The Monastery: >> View
Movie << (2015-05-01)
