Its ruins are across the al-Estwan River, 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) away on a hilltop surrounded by pine and oak trees.

The church, which may have dated to the fifth or sixth century, was surrounded by Maronite (Christian) villages on both sides of the Al-Estwan River.

Sunni (Muslim) villages have been built near the ruins of the church over the past 200 years, replacing the Christians in the area after the invasion by the Ottoman Empire.

[citation needed] The families in El Hedd date back to the fourth century.

They, their descendants and those connected to the village are: The Isaac family, the first settlers in the village, came from Syria, just across the river dividing Lebanon from current Syria, after the massacre of the Maronites on the Alasi River ( Al Asi because it flows up north).