Written by Amina Tueni
Translated by Rana Hajj
NNA - In the heart of the fertile Bekaa Valley, in the shadow of the majestic Mount Lebanon, in the south of Baalbek "The City of the Sun", lies Rchadi Nabi -- a Lebanese village that has preserved its traditional and authentic character with its old houses, rich crops, vines, fig and fruit trees.
The name of this peaceful village comes after Rchadi the prophet, the founder of this alluring village, and who's said to be a descendant of Prophet Adam's children.
In the old days, people would subsequently inhabit this region to enjoy the blessings of its founder. However, and according to the dictionary of names of the towns and villages of Lebanon, the name "Nabi Rchadi" originates from the word "Rishide" which means "the place of worship".
The Shrine of Nabi Rchadi is not only treasured by surrounding communities of believers, but also by different Lebanese regions. Some of the village inhabitants watch over the mosque and places of worship, which are surrounded by lush green spaces.
Nabi Rchadi is surrounded by several villages bordering the Bekaa Valley to the east, the town of Kfardane to the north, Klayleh Taraya to the south and Hadath Baalbek and Beit Mchik villages to the west. It peaks out at about 1150 meters, 80 km away from the capital Beirut, 20 Km away from Baalbek, and 30 Km away from Zahle.
This village is rich with vines and various fruit trees - almond, cherry, apricot, peach and olive. Vegetables, and recently tobacco, are also grown in this area.
Pine, cypress, poplar and willow trees are also planted in front of houses, giving an extra touch of greenery to this village which is famous for its traditions and customs, and for the principles of its villagers - respect for the elderly.
The population of the village - inhibited mainly by the families of Younes Salim Mohammad, Fouhani, Zeayter, Harfouche, Berro, Zeineddine, Dayfeh, Mchik, Masri, Hamadeh, Mhanna, Omar, Ouze, Husseini and Ghandoura - is estimated at approximately 2,500 people, including 1,300 voters.
At the administrative level, Nabi Rchadi is under the authority of the municipality of Chamstar, like many neighbouring villages, each represented by a member of the municipal council.
As for the village's economy, it is mainly based on agriculture. Many people assume administrative and military positions or work in the medical and commercial sector. However, the difficult living conditions have led some villagers to migrate to Beirut and other cities, also to the Gulf, Africa, Europe and America in search of a better living.
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