Batroun Villages

A village in mid-Batroun region, 18 km distant from the City. its altitude is 650 m. one can get to it from Batroun via Ijdabra, Bejdarfel, Kour valley, Sourat and Rachkedde.
This village is the birthplace of the Patriarch Elias El-Hoayek (1843-1899-1931), who is one of the most eminent religious and Lebanese personalities. He contributed to the creation of the state of Greater Lebanon. Among his other achievements is the foundation of the Order know as "Maronite Nuns of the Holy Family" in  1895, the construction of the church of the "Lady of Harissa" topped by the statue of the "Lady of Lebanon" in 1904, and the construction of the summer Patriarchal edifice in Diman from 1899 to 1904.
Helta is also the birthplace of the sculptor Youssef Sa'adallah El-Hoayek (1883-1962) who is considered the first Middle-Eastern Sculptor in the modern generation.
At Helta one can find teh Lady's Church (As-Saydet) considered by some people one of the oldest churches in Batroun District. It was restored in 1880. As for "Mar Abda's" Church, it was built upon a pagan temple. One can also find St-Joseph's church (Mar Youssef, 1904).