I would gladly climb the hundreds of stone steps again to visit deir mar musa. Aug 31, 20 be that as it may, all of the stories recount a black musa as as the founder of the monastery which sits precariously on the eastern slope of the antilebanon mountain range. Deir mar musa alhabashi wa wasf alrusumat aljidariyya fi kanisatihi the history of the. Chapters four and five treat the phenomenon of militarization as revealed in images and miracle accounts. The syrian desert monasterydeir mar musa, north of. Never can i think of damascus without thinking of gabe huck and theresa kubasak and of the stories they tell in this book. Moses and the smoking mountain adam blitz the blogs. Musa has 550 books on goodreads, and recently added hold my hand by a.
May 01, 2006 the monastery of deir mar musa was first built by greek monks in the sixth century as a remote retreat from the material and political world. By the end of each week, i was ready to escape to the desert. He sought out a discreet corner of the chapel, turned towards mecca, and began to pray. Jul 20, 2012 the spiraling violence in syria has affected all areas of life, including religious life. Deir mar musa began life as a byzantine watchtower, served as a medieval hermitage and modern monastery, fell into disrepair and neglect, and was then brought back to life a few years ago as a brave and venturesome monastic community and place. Syria monastery season 15 episode 07192012 religion.
May, 2011 il monastero di deir mar musa, vecchio di oltre 1. Mar musa is a well preserved ruin approximately 50 miles north of damascus. Canadian scholar erica dodd was a part of that team, and undertook a study of the mediaeval frescoes in the chapel. Today, the film evenings are better described as our ladys film evening at st john fisher church bexley as they have developed beyond a parish apostolate. The artstor digital library features a wide range of multidisciplinary content from some of the worlds top museums, artists, libraries, scholars, and photo archives, including rare collections not. Catherine at sinai and the wall paintings at deir mar musa in syria. In 1982, he explored the ruins of the old syriac monastery of saint moses the abyssinian deir mar musa that can be traced back to the 6th century and had been abandoned since the 19th century. Deir mar musa st moses the abyssinian monastery with christian art frescoes from c. Won over by the history and the aspect of the monastery, paolo dalloglio set about restoring it. Deir mar musa monastery of saint moses the abyssinian, mar mousa rif dimashq. Oct 11, 20 deir mar musa began life as a byzantine watchtower, served as a medieval hermitage and modern monastery, fell into disrepair and neglect, and was then brought back to life a few years ago as a brave and venturesome monastic community and place for christian and muslim syrians to meet in mutual respect. My place of work in the 2004 season, the small museum at deir mar musa, where the pottery and other finds were kept.
I feel the voice of god echoing from the mountains all over this place, says a syrian christian pilgrim visiting deir mar musa, an ancient desert monastery in syria reestablished by jesuit. This ancient mountain monastery welcomes all manner of faith in an effort to keep christians in syria. By the time i arrived, some eighteen years later, deir mar musa was up and running. Mason conducts work at the deir mar musa alhabashi monastery, out in the syrian desert. Sep 09, 2019 magical stay at this monastery atop a mountain overlooking the valley. Syrias civil war a flower in the desert middle east and. Designed for scholars, students, pastors, and religious educators, all of the images may be used for noncommercial purposes, with attribution.
Deir mar musa alhabashi discover islamic art museum with no. The monastery of deir mar musa was first built by greek monks in the sixth century as a remote retreat from the material and political world. A novice monk faces two different loves the new york times. During its 3,000year history, aramaic has served variously as a language of administration of empires and as a language of divine worship. Nov, 2015 deir mar musa or the monastery of moses the abyssinian, is a remote place.
Syriac orthodox monastery from the middle of the 6th century, located in impressive setting. Moses, can be found about 90 km north of damascus in the desert qalamoun mountains, isolated between the road from damascus to homshamaaleppo and the road from damascus to palmyratadmor. The interview was taken on august 2011 at deir mar musa, syria he was exiled from syria in 2012 for criticizing the actions of the alassad regime during the syrian civil war. If you are interested in african history or world history in general to be honest, you need to get this book. The little boy on his way to school, the girls braiding each others hair, the young mother breastfeeding her newborn, the father working in the fields, the grandmother who looks after her grandchildren, the grandfather who passes tales from his family history to his grandsons. The monastery is one of community, practicing the unity of religions, and with the war settling, has many visiting religious priests, sisters, etc. Syrias civil war a flower in the desert middle east. However, these were subsequently ripped out by shepherds and used for fuel. Its colours, fragrances, people, landscape, history and from books and also experience, its story telling. Deir mar musa home to monastic community faithful to ideals of sixthcentury founder by national catholic reporter. Robert mason, an archaeologist with the royal ontario museum, it all began with a walk last summer. Deir mar moussa saint moussa monastery syria ancient ruins. Research revealed that deir mar musa alhabashi the monastery of saint moses the abyssinian had been founded at the site in the 6th century and. Mason conducts work at the deir mar musa alhabashi monastery, out in.
Monastery of saint moses the abyssinian news newspapers books scholar jstor november. Mysterious structures found in syrian desert seeker. Their preservation for centuries are most likely due to the remote and hidden location in the mountains. Syrias civil war a flower in the desert middle east and africa the. Religion and spirituality ketan gajria just a small party for my neighbors before i eat them. It is unclear how burton came to hear of deir mar musa but he may have been told of. The story of father paolo dalloglio and the picturesque craggy deir mar mousa of the lovely frescoes where he lived and preached love posted on september 16, 20by alisariram father paolo this is the story of a priest who fell in love with an ancient country and its people, a colorful country with amazing diversity and vitality, a. A syrian monastery lies at the nexus of islam, christianity. The monastery deir mar musa in the desert between lebanon and syria is an attraction for believers from all over the world. This book provides an engaging narrative of the history of mansa musas reign of an the african mali empire that rivaled and even surpassed its european counterparts. The syrian desert monasterydeir mar musa, north of damascus. It owes its recent revival to the determination of an italian jesuit. The spiraling violence in syria has affected all areas of life, including religious life.
Discover deir mar musa alhabashi in annabk district, syria. Mar musa, is properly known as deir mar musa alhabashi, the literally translation. Rumours began to swirl on social media, first about his kidnapping, then about his supposed latenight release. The syrian desert monastery deir mar musa, north of damascus, was once a center of pilgrimage and interfaith dialogue. He has been leading the reconstruction of the mar musa complex and its reinvention as a centre of interfaith dialogue. It is with the same spirit of a cathedral builder that father mourad, originally from aleppo, joined the monastic community of deir mar musa in his youth to live in the desert among the muslims. Be that as it may, all of the stories recount a black musa as as the founder of the monastery which sits precariously on the eastern slope of the antilebanon mountain range. Following refurbishment in the 1980s and 1990s, it became active again.
Uncovered in 2009 near the monastery of deir mar musa saint moses the abyssinian some 50 miles north of damascus, the strange features. It was an impossible hope, made in the depths of a sectarian civil war. The father of hospitality is abraham, and abraham is the guest of god in judaism, christianity, and islam, so hes a big symbol for all three. The deir mar musa christian monastery in the hills near nebek, syria one area of syria that is very beautiful. Deir mar musa alhabashi literally the monastery of saint moses the abyssinian, is a monastic. Desert monastery in syria season 15 episode 03082012. In my mind i climb the steps again, each step a prayerfor the people of syria. Trace of the sites many layers of history had been preserved. The roots of the evenings however go back to 2006 with a series of presentations that commenced on the 18th may with a presentation on the syrian monastery of deir mar musa. Feb 21, 2010 by the end of each week, i was ready to escape to the desert. Aramaic village, sednaya, syria stock image image of. Deir mar musas recent history begins with an expedition to the abandoned site by the american university of beirut in may 1981.
When i lived in deir mar musa, paolo dalloglio would sometimes press a very important book on me to read. Review of never can i write of damascus 9781682570067. It is late afternoon at the monastery of deir mar musa on the edge of the syrian desert and the only sounds are the call of desert birds and the whisper of the breeze over timeworn stones. Discover hidden attractions, cool sights, and unusual things to do in syria from palmyra to october war panorama. Paolo talked to me of improving the museum, and i knew several museologists back in toronto that would leap at the chance.
Middle arabic and mixed arabic diachrony and synchrony. It is this last group that made me want to return to deir mar musa to study the pottery. At the end of an 80 km ride from damascus on a plasticbag filled desert road leading to nebek, lies deir mar musa, or the monastery of moses the. Early work on the building likely began in the late 4th or early 5th century. Deir mar musa home to monastic community faithful to ideals of sixthcentury founder, article in national catholic reporter, december 29, 2006 we know we have brothers and sisters in the islamic tradition, interview with paolo dalloglio, november 11, 2009. Jul 17, 2017 it was an impossible hope, made in the depths of a sectarian civil war. Its long, rich tradition of oral history and tales. Abstract artwork sketchbooks journals syria knight magazines work of art sketch books. Deir mar musa, or the monastery of moses the abyssinian, is remote. Deir mar musa alhabashi monastery of st moses the ethiopian. Ancient monastery in the middle of syrias stonehenge.
But the catholic priest who leads the monastery was expelled from syria last month, and the future of his ministry is uncertain. The history of palestine is the study of the past in the region of palestine, generally defined as a geographic region in the southern levant between the mediterranean sea and the jordan river where israel and palestine are today, and various adjoining lands. Until, that is, a group of muslim schoolgirls arrive from a nearby town to fill the monasterys valley with laughter and joyful chattering. Jan 23, 2012 deir mar musa, or the monastery of moses the abyssinian, is remote. Deir mar musa equidistant between violencewracked homs and the syrian. Of particular interest in the first half of her memoir is her visit to deir mar musa, a monastery of the syriac catholic rite in westcentral syria. Deir mar musa alhabashi annabk district, syria atlas obscura. The structure of deir mar musa the monastery of st. It encourages debate and impresses the reader with the need for communication and respect for other peoples beliefs. Philosophy and religion contemplation religious aspects monasteries history monastic and religious life monastic life. On good friday, photographer cecile massie was sitting in the chapel at the monastery of deir mar musa in the heart of syria, observing the monastic community at prayer, when a young muslim visitor slipped in, carrying his prayer rug. Mentioned in the biblical books of mathew, mark, luke and acts. Paolo dalloglio born november 17, 1954 is an italian jesuit priest and peace activist. Paolo dalloglio the syrian tradition of coexistence and the present scenario of confrontation.
Although it is not yet in the travel guides, thousands of people are already beating a path to the door of this stunning late antique desert monastery which boasts the only surviving medieval fresco cycles in syria. Clinging to a mountain precipice in westcentral syria, its reached via a dusty 80km taxi or busride from damascus. Mar 10, 2020 of particular interest in the first half of her memoir is her visit to deir mar musa, a monastery of the syriac catholic rite in westcentral syria. The monastery of deir mar musa is perched atop a mountain, and it can be reached only by climbing 350 stairs. He believed that we must be changed by our meetings.
Moses the abyssinian deir mar musa elhabashi overlooks a harsh valley in the mountains east of the small town of nebek, 80 km north of damascus, and about 20 metres above sea level. The government of president bashar alassad, dominated by his own minority alawite sect, has long presented itself as the guardian of syrian minorities and pluralism. Thats why deir mar musa is part of the abraham path project, which seeks to create a pilgrimage route following the ancient patriarchs footsteps from turkey to hebron in the west bank. The story of father paolo dalloglio and the picturesque. Deir mar musa monastery beautiful places, syria, places. It was occupied until the 1800s, though damaged repeatedly by earthquakes. The art in the christian tradition act database is a regularly updated visual image internet resource. The syrian monastery, deir mar musa, has been affected by the syrian violence. It was the daytoday language of israel in the second temple period 539 bce 70 ce, was the original language of large sections of the biblical books of daniel and ezra, was the language spoken by. Situated at a strategic point between europe, asia, and africa, and the birthplace of judaism and christianity, the region has a long. Development cooperation handbookinterviewspaolo dalloglio. Last night 29 july the news came through from syria that father paolo dalloglio, a highly respected jesuit priest who has lived in syria for thirty years, had been kidnapped.
Chapter six offers an indepth study of images and religious practice in the levant, focusing on a set of icons at the monastery of st. Here, odonnell gives us a short history of the site and shares his experience of visiting. Teacher and activist duo theresa kubasak and gabe huck recount their years in iraq and syria amid the turmoil of the us. He had served for three decades at the deir mar musa, a 6thcentury monastery 80 kilometers 50 mi north of damascus, syria. The idea of studying these two varieties in one theoretical frame is quite new, and was initiated at the conferences of the international association. History mysterious structures found in syrian desert. Abandoned in the 19th century, it once again houses a. Oswald, steel and promise by alexa black, the new alpha.
Let nothing disturb you syrian priest and former isis. The stunning medieval frescoes of the church had been restored. Deir mar musa or the monastery of moses the abyssinian, is a remote place. Deir mar musa alhabashi annabk district, syria atlas. Its important to see how some of the architecture looked before any conflict. I am sure that wonder beyond belief is one of these books. In recent scholarship, the connection between middle arabic and mixed arabic is studied in a more systematic way. Jun 22, 2012 mason also talked about the monastery, deir mar musa.