Deir Mar Jerjes (دير مار جرجس) is a large Greek Orthodox monastery named after Saint George. It is located in Wadi al-Nasara (وادي النصارى), or “Valley of the Christians”, an area that includes several dozen Christian villages in the western countryside of Homs (حمص). The region has been a center for Greek Orthodox Christianity since the Byzantine period. The monastery was originally founded in the …
The most impressive archaeological site in the countryside of Aleppo (حلب) is the remarkable Byzantine religious complex known today as Qalaat Samaan (قلعة سمعان). Constructed between 476 and 491, this monumental church was dedicated to Saint Simeon Stylites. It was on this hilltop that the ascetic spent nearly forty years living atop a stone pillar, devoting himself to religious observance and preaching to those who …
Deir Samaan (دير سمعان) is one of the most noteworthy Byzantine sites in the region, but is surprisingly overlooked by many visiting tourists. As neighboring Qalaat Samaan (قلعة سمعان) developed into a major center of pilgrimage, it was this town that provided services to those pilgrims, including accommodation. The village includes several inns, churches, monasteries and other buildings, many of which survive remarkably well preserved. …
al-Bara (البارة) is the site of an extensive Byzantine-era settlement, perhaps the largest in the limestone massif, and should be included on any itinerary to the region. In addition to numerous villas and churches in varying states of preservation, the site has two pyramid tombs (one of which is richly decorated with stone carvings), an interesting monastery complex, and a small fortress constructed centuries later. While …
Qasr al-Banat (قصر البنات) is a surprisingly well preserved Byzantine building to the north of al-Dana (الدانا). It is three floors, with the lower two levels on the south faced with a double portico in simple square columns. The style is unreservedly plain and severe. The plan resembles somewhat the monastery known as Deir Sobat in nearby al-Bara (البارة), but given the small scale of the …
The remains of al-Breij (البريج), formerly the Monastery of Saint Daniel, are located on the eastern end of Jebel Barisha (جبل باريشا). This Byzantine-era monastery is in a surprisingly good state of preservation. The main building is inserted into the cliff face, the first story being cut out of the rock and the stone used to build the upper two stories. The complex of three buildings …
Burj Aizarara (برج عيزارارا) is a small and largely ruined monastery complex from the Byzantine period, located southeast of the village of Kafr Darian (كفر دلريان) in Jebel Barisha (جبل باريشا). The structure dates from the second half of the sixth century. The design is rather austere, lacking in decoration, but its proximity to the more substantial ruins of Maaz (ماعز) make it worth a quick visit. Getting There: …
Deir Mar Elias (دير مار الياس) is a small monastery complex to the southeast of Tartus (طرطوس), located near the village of al-Safsafeh (الصفصافة). If visiting the nearby Crusader castle Qalaat al-Arimeh (قلعة العريمة), it is worth stopping by and visiting the old church located here. Getting There: Microbuses to the nearby village of al-Safsafeh (الصفصافة) depart from the main bus station in Tartus (طرطوس). Be aware that in the morning it …
The small scenic town of Maalula (معلولا) is one of the most picturesque in Syria, nestled on the slopes of a rocky mountain canyon. Best known for its Aramaic-speaking Christian community (one of few remaining in the Middle East), the town has become a center for the preservation and revitalization of the language. The Western dialect of Aramaic spoken here is considered to be the …
Seidnaya (صيدنايا), a small town located in the mountains north of Damascus (دمشق), has long been a significant place of pilgrimage for Christians in the region. While more notable as a place of religious pilgrimage than for any outstanding archaeological remains, the town has ancient origins and the monastery here, easily mistaken for a castle, is quite impressive. A visit to Seidnaya (صيدنايا) is definitely …
