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Location
1.5 Km from Al Wadi
Hotel.
History
St. George
monastery of Homeyra lies in Wadi An-Nassara. Kadha Tel Kalakh,
between Homs and Tripoli, and close to the knights Castle (Krak des
chevaliers).
According to
Arabic and western sources, the history of the monastery goes back to
the sixth century during the reign of Emperor Justinian. It was
consecrated to St. George, the glorious martyr (Jirjis according to
the historian At-Tabari), called by non Christians as our lord Al-Khodr
Abou-L-Abbas.
It is probable
that the name of the monastery “Homeyra” is related to an historic
monument called “Homeyra” close to it or to an ancient village which
bore this name in regard to the god of rain among the primitive
peoples.
Some scholars say
that the word “Homeyra” derives from the Greek “Homyros” which means
the “torrent” and we know that, during winter, the region is open to
heavy rains and to great torrents.
Others say that
the monastery is built over the ruins of a pagan temple dedicated to
the god “Homeyra”. This temple became the foundation of the present
monastery known as the “old monastery” (it is actually the first
floor). Did the word “Homeyra” derive from “Homyra”? if we give an
affirmative answer this means that the old monastery is built upon the
temple “Homyra” in the 6th century and is contemporary to the
patriarchal monastery of Seidnaya. This fact led scholars to say
that the Byzantine emperor Justinian had built both monasteries
together.
There is another
possibility that the word “Homeyra” is an Arabic translation of the
Greek term “Klomyros” which means “the spiritual brotherhood of common
life”.
St. George
monastery was built near the public Roman Highway which leads from the
maritime coast to the interior land like Homs, Palmyra and through the
desert.
The monastery was
originally a cave surrounded by some cells of simple monks. It has a
southern Byzantine façade with the main entrance. The gate and the
fresh olds are of 93 cm × 64 cm and sculptured from black stone.
Near the gate,
there is a stone window used by monks to distribute bread and food to
the needy and to those passing-by. On the other hand, one of the
cultural the monks used the same window to teach the gathered people the
basics of ethics and religion.
The second floor
was built in the 12th century during the Crusades. Its door, made of
black stones, is as large as that of the first floor opens to the
west. A cross is sculptured on it and is called the door of the horse
because, in spite of its narrowness, a horse uses to enter through it.
On this floor,
there is a church called the “old” in regard to the new one the 3rd
floor, this old church has a semi-circular arch and a wooden
Iconostasis, accurately and strictly carved, has a group of Icons
painted by an 18th century Arabic school of painting which inherited
the Byzantine art, giving it a local tint. This art attracted a group
of Icon admires who stole the Icon of St. George and sold it in London
for 25000. Fortunately the international Police (Scotland yard) found
the Icon and a few years ago, it was brought back to the monastery.
The modern 3rd
floor has a splendid church which goes back to the 19th century. The
church has a magnificent wooden Iconostasis, considered one of the
most important in Syria and Lebanon. It took 34 years to be carved
and its Icons are painted by the Jerusalem school in the 19th century.
Among the
treasures of the monastery, we find ecclesiastical vessels like cups,
trays, crosses and others which are unique in the Christian world. We
find as well, manuscripts, documents, decrees and privileges from the
Arabic era and gifts from the Armenian, Georgian Russian kings.
The monastery is
registered among the most important monument in Syria. With the
knights Castle, it is considered as a famous tourist center. Above
all, peoples of different races and religions visit the monastery,
bring their vows and offerings and venerate the miracle of its patron
Saint.
There are about 55
rooms in the monastery to welcome the crowded visitors, namely on two
occasions a year: the first of the 6th of May. The feast of St.
George, and the 2nd on the 14th of September, the elevation of the
Holy Cross.
The monastery,
which lies in a valley surrounded by the perennial green hills, has a
park and a famous and miraculous bubbling spring close to it. |
