St. George's Monastery, Wadi Nasara
St. George's Monastery (in Arabic دير مار جرجس, Deir Mar Jirjis) is a Greek Orthodox monastery located in northwestern Syria's "Valley of the Christians" (Wadi Nasara) just a few km north of the famous castle Krak des Chevaliers.
Wadi Nasara has been a center of Greek Orthodox Christianity since the 6th century. Of its 32 villages, 27 are Christian, four are mainly poulated by Alawi Muslims and one, Al Qalaa just under the Krak des Chevaliers, is Sunni Muslim.
History
St. George's Monastery was built in the late 5th or early 6th century, but most of its buildings are modern. The new church was built in 1857.
What to See
The entrance to the modern church features a triple arch and two central supporting columns of Byzantine origin. Inside the church is a carved wooden iconostasis. Its gold painted icons depict various scenes from the life of Christ.
Beneath the monastery's main courtyard is a 13th century chapel with a smaller iconostasis, depicting scenes from the life of St. George. At this lower level there is also an entrance to what is believed to be the original 6th century monastery and several large amphoras.
The monastery also contains a shrine of St. George, built in the 5th century, as well as a document written by Caliph Omar Ibn Al Khattab in 635 AD.
Festivals and Events
The monastery is busiest during pilgrimages at the feast of St. George (May 6) and the feast of the elevation of the Holy Cross (September 14).
Sources
- "St. George's Monastery" - Wikipedia (2006)
- "St. George's Convent (Deir Mar Jurjus)" - Syria Gate (2006)
