The Ottawa Citizen from Ottawa, Ontario, Canada • 44

D12 The Ottawa Citizen, Sunday, July 3, 1994 The Ottawa Citizen, Sunday, July 3, 1994 D13 St. Elias Church has long history in Ottawa Lebanese in Ottawa-Hull estimated at more than 25,000 of Ottawa. (The Druses massa By Martha Tanner By Louise Rachlis Citizen advertising features writer They helped each other to find work, to open businesses. t. Elias Antiochian Orthodox Church has been a focal point for the Lebanese community of Ottawa since 1930.

Professor Adbdallah Obeid, Arabic Studies, University of Ottawa anniversary, then-president of the Parish Council, Eli G. Elias praised the contribution of the various church committees: "We would not be celebrating our 50th anniversary if it weren't for the endless contributions, both current and past, of the Ladies Society, Choir, Chanters, Teen and Senior SOYO, the Altar Boys and Sunday School teachers." The St. Elijah centre, now St. Elias, was started in 1984, and finished in 1985. The church remained at the old location, until the fall of 1989, when the founda tion was poured for the new church, and it was completed in 1993, with beautification continuing.

"During the festival our special iconographer, Father Gregory, a monk from Colorado, will be working on the icons of the Resurrection and the Nativity of the Lord inside the church building," says Pastor Hajal. "There will be tours of the church building during the festival, and special cultural exhibitions on the lower level. Tours will be held every day between 4 p.m. and 9 p.m." My grandchildren will be there, and my great grandchildren and my children. Edward J.

Saikaley Founding member of Church Citien advertising features correspondent The history of the Lebanese community in Ottawa can be traced to a single immigrant, who settled in Montreal in 1882. Abraham Bounadere was a Christian who escaped with his family from Zehleh, in Lebanon, after the Ottomans occupied the country. "The Lebanese didn't have a lot of freedom, especially after 1860, when there was a civil war between the Christians and the Druses in the mountains," explains Professor Adbdallah Obeid, head of the Arabic studies program at the University Ottawa-Hull at more than 25,000. They keep their language and culture alive at one of three Lebanese churches (Antiochian Orthodox, Greek Catholic and Maronite), at the mosque, and at schools such as the Saturday-morning Arabic language and culture school for children, the Ars school for secondary students, the school run by the Parti populaire syrien and a Muslim school. In 1982, the University of Ottawa opened its Arabic studies department to respond to the needs of a growing number Arabic students.

cred the Maronite Christians.) "Following this period, many Christians didn't feel safe under the Ottomans. Some tried to escape, many to Egypt." Others, like Abraham Bounadere, took the arduous two or three-month trip by boat to the United States and Canada. "After their arrival, the first immigrants wrote (to their families in Lebanon) that life in Canada was good, that there were a lot of opportunities." Understandably, many seized this chance to come to the New World. They were adventurers, but above all, they were hard workers, Obeid stressed. Bounadere embraced those members of his family who followed him to Canada.

"They helped each other to find work, to open businesses," said Obeid. "The majority of the Lebanese people in Ottawa own their own businesses." Obeid said that many Lebanese own little grocery shops, and small restaurants and shops. The new generation of Lebanese immigrants, the second or third generation, counts among its members doctors, lawyers, accountants, dentists, university professors and teachers. Although there are no firm statistics, Obeid estimates the number of Lebanese families in fr tSPSli flit compliments of: Joe Saab PRESIDENT Compliments of Jlynwood CMedical Supply Jiomecare Colleen 'Thompson 82.8-9005 and Lynwood Pharmacy Lid. 70 Wortfiside "Rd.

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Broker (613) 233-2300 Avenue Locksmith JS'ales Service Installations Locks Safes i DoorClorcr 1 Master Key System' Combinations Change 1 Car Keys Cut By Code All Type 738 Bank Ottawa, Ontario K1S 3V4 (613) 236-2888 INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL AGENCY AIR-LAND-SEA OPEN 6 DAYS A WEEK SPECIAL FARES TO MIDDLE EAST 1 795 Kilborn Ave. 1 430 Prince of Wales Dr. 521-6111 224-0865 tow mimmmn rmtmwr 1670 Haron Road 523-5797 iijf.W 0.XW Too TfiNNIS TRADING INC. Management Group inc. Professional Property Management iu One of the founders of the church was Edward J.

Saikaley, then a young man of 17. Still an active member, he's looking forward to the Lebanese Fun Festival. "My grandchildren will be there, and my great grandchildren and my children," says Saikaley, now 85. "The whole Lebanese community and everyone from around Ottawa is invited to the Fun Festival," says Rev. Fr.

Ghattas Hajal. "There are now over 1,000 families who attend St. Elias," says Pastor Hajal, who has been pastor of St. Elias for the past two years. Just over a year and a half ago, the church corrected the naming of the church from St.

Elijah to St. Elias, to conform with the Christian form of the word. There are also two other Lebanese churches in the city St. Peter and Paul, and St. Charbel.

According to a history of the church written on its 50th anniversary in 1980, it was the visit to Ottawa of Archbishop Victor Aboussaly of New York and North America in October, 1929, which inspired the drive towards a permanent building. The Lebanese Orthodox community numbered at that time just 75 men and women. The sum of 7,500 was paid to buy an empty, burned-out church, on the corner of Maclaren and Lyon streets, which opened with a celebration of the first St. Elijah Feast in August, 1931. Men and women worked very hard, repairing, cleaning, painting and doing a hundred other jobs to keep the Church going.

In 1933, the Church burned down, but it was possible to repair it. However, in 1947, upon completion of the new Church Hall, fire struck again; this time completely destroying the building. "We had an explosion in the heating system, and we didn't have money to rebuild," Saikaley recalls. "The Ottawa Citizen was very helpful at that time. They put in the paper at no charge a big ad with a picture of the church we wanted to build.

We collected $16,000 from the business community, which was very good in those days. In 1948 we built a new church in the same location." He's also grateful to the Citzen for another reason. "When I came to Ottawa, I didn't have time to go to school," he says. "I tried to read as much as I could, and I taught myself by reading the Citizen." In July, 1980, as St. Elijah Orthodox Church celebrated its 50th Wk Wishing great success to the 4th Annual Lebanese Fun Festival! David D.

Boushey President Head Office: 352 Elgin Street, Ottawa, Ontario K2P 1M8 Tel: (613) 238-7149 Travel to Lebanon By Martha Tanner Citizen advertising features correspondent It is one of the smallest countries in the world, and yet one of the richest in things to do and see. A slice of land hemmed in by the Mediterranean Sea to the east and mountains to the west, Lebanon is filled with contrasts, from Roman ruins to night clubs where, as the tourist guide says, "you will discover the secret of an enjoyable evening until bustling souks or marketplaces, untouched by time, to the haute couture boutiques of Beirut, the "Paris of the Within 20 km of the coastal beaches are the slopes of Mount Lebanon; sports enthusiasts can ski in the morning and swim in the afternoon, or windsurf, or wa-terski, or golf, go horseback riding, underwater fishing or exploring caves and grottoes. The capital city of Beirut, situated about halfway down the coast, is a good starting point for excursions along the coast or up into the mountains. Some of the most famous ar-cheological sites include the sea castle at Saida and the Arc of Triumph at Tyr, south of Beirut, the citadel at Byblos and the castle at Tripoli, both to the north. Popular destinations inland include the Jupiter temple at Baal-beck, and the palace at Beit-ed-dine.

Joe Saab, president and chief executive officer of International Travel Agency in Ottawa, says that most of his customers who travel to Lebanon are Lebanese, returning home for a visit. Many are building summer homes there. Although the climate is moderate year-round, the busiest time for travel to Lebanon is from the end of June to mid-July. Business peaks again at the end of August and during the first week of September, when the travellers board their planes for Canada. Saab said that all of the airlines fly into Beirut, some offering twice daily flights during the peak summer season.

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