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Monastery of Mar Mousa al-Habashi

Mar Mousa Monastery
The remarkable frescoes of Mar Mousa Monastery, Syria (photo © Hovic).

The Monastery of Mar Mousa al-Habashi is an active monastery in the Syrian mountains that dates from the 6th century. It was founded by St. Moses the Ethiopian and is known for its beautiful ancient frescoes and peaceful atmosphere.

Mar Mousa is an active monastery, housing a few resident monks who grow their own food, keep livestock, and sell various products to locals to pay for the upkeep of the monastery. It is currently headed up by Paolo, an Italian Syriac monk.

The monastery of Mar Mousa is designed to be isolated and can only be reached by a steep climb on a winding footpath, which is reached from a winding road that begins at the town of al-Nabek.

Visitors are welcomed by the monks and can overnight at the monastery. There is no usually charge for lodging except that you help with the work of the monastery during your stay.

Sources

  1. "Christmas among monks" - travel journal by HobWahid at iExplore (dated 11/2/05)

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