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MOUNT QALAMOUN |
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The attraction of Maalula is infinite; the magnificent steep rocky nature, the legend of Saint Taqla whom God helped her to escape from her miscreant father by fissuring the rocky mountain, and the Aramaic tongue (spoken language of Jesus) of its residents |
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Attractions |
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Built in the fourth centaury overlook the ancient town A.D. and has valuable icons from the 17th and 18th centauries in addition to portraits of local Saints |
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One of the oldest in the world, Dedicated to Santa Taqla she was one of the first saints in Christianity |
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This ancient village holds ancient convents and monasteries dates back since the first Christianity |
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Attractions |
| It's library comprises many precious manuscripts which indicate that it was built in about 547 A.D.. The most important section is a small dark room, illuminated always by candles and oil where the icon of our Virgin Lady is kept. It is one of the four original copies drawn by the hand of Luke, the Preaching Apostle. It is called in Syriac "Shaghoura", means the renown, artistic icons and others date back to the 15th, 16th, and 17th Centuries A.D. Old books narrated episodes about this miraculous icon as cured many sick people |
| AJIA SOFIA |
| One of the most beautiful in the town, combines a collection of valuable icons |
| ST ELIAS |
| Famous for its grotto penetrating the mountain from the pick to its summit, with 99 steps, combines very ancient icons |
| CHERUBIM |
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Aramaic word means "angels", lies on the top Mount Qalamoun at 2000 meter high above sea level built in the 3rd Century as a result to the persecution of the Christians by the pagans |
| ST GEORGES |
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Consists basically of the main grotto and a small church which dates back to the Byzantine period built on the debris of a pagan temple. The rest of its current building dates back to the 17th century and its present church dates back to 1860 A.D. |
| ST TOMAS |
| Dates back to the Byzantine era in the 4th centaury A.D. known for the caves nearby |
| ST CHRISTOPHER |
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located at the road to Seydnaya, mentioned in the Syriac manuscripts kept at the Vatican cupboard |
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Attractions |
| ST JACOB CONVENT |
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| ST MOSES |
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The monastery grew around an abandoned Byzantine watchtower dating back to the AD 5th or 6th centuries. According to legend, the King of Ethiopia's son arrived to Syria after he rejected royalty to seek out a spiritual existence. After travelling though Egypt and Palestine, attaining his priesthood along the way, he became a monk and settled in the Qalamun Mountains of Syria, living in the caves and the nearby abandoned watchtower and leading a devout life. He was martyred at the hands of Chalcedonian Byzantine soldiers in the early AD 7th century and the monastery was thus named after him |
