The early families in Hakel El Azimeh ventured there for sanctuary, having fled their home towns for reasons of persecution. To them the village was a perfect refuge given their occupations as herdsmen. The context of the village provided shield against the cold wind in winter - for themselves and for their animals. Hakel El Azimeh is located approximately 25kms east of Tripoli, in the North Governorate of Lebanon. The village occupies 73Ha on a steep cliff face and has lands between 650m and 750m above sea level.
The name Hakel El Azime came as a proclamation from the ruler of Dannieh, when he looked from his viewing point over the western side of the river and marvelled at the beautiful orchards and exclaimed ‘what a beautiful orchard!’ or ‘Hakel el Azimeh’.
Originally, the people of Hakel el Azimeh relied on goat herding to survive and then on the land for wheat, grain and silk production. From there they ventured into charcoal (heating) and ice distribution (for cooling meats and beverages before refrigeration). Today the village relies on fruit and vegetable harvests in addition to an array of government employment for the youth including the army, police force and other services.
The first migrants left the village to the Americas before World War 1. Mass migration started in the late 1960s and continues today . We have a presence in North America (Detroit, Ottawa), Brazil, Belgium, Romania, Georgia, Argentina, Mexico, France, the Arab Gulf region, Melbourne (Australia), Perth (Australia) but the largest migration was to Sydney (Australia).
Hakel El Azimeh has expanded and formed a new presence in Bterram Al Koura, Dahr al Ein and other places in Lebanon.
The original church in the village (Saint Nicholas) was commissioned in 1955. This was preceded by our Mother Church, St Mary Aasoun. Recently, construction has commenced another church to serve our townsfolk in Al Koura (St Antonios).
Prior to the construction of the church, a teacher from outside the village would come in to teach children in a room or stable. After construction completion, two rooms underneath were occupied as classrooms (from 1955).
The people of Hakel el Azimeh are known for their hard work, rich spirituality and harmonious co-existence with people of different faiths in Lebanon and abroad.
