Maaloula

Syria / Damaskus / al-Qutayfah /
 town, pilgrimage
Maalula
The famous ancient town of Maaloula. Its people, together with those in the smaller neighbouring villages of Jabadeen and Bakh'ah, still speak the Western Aramaic language--the modern form of the language spoken by Jesus Christ. Maaloula is home the very first convent, which dates back to the year 320 A.D. It is a mainly Christian town (Melkite) located 56 km to the northeast of Damascus and built into the rugged mountainside, at an altitude of more than 1500 meters. As of 2005, the town has a population of 2,000. There are also the remains of numerous monasteries, convents, churches, shrines and sanctuaries. There are some that lie in ruins, while others continue to stand, defying age. Many pilgrims come to Ma`loula, both Muslim and Christian, and they go there to gain blessings and make offerings.
Wikipedia article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maaloula
Nearby cities:
Coordinates:   33°50'37"N   36°32'53"E

Comments

  • Maaloula is thought to have been the home town for Jesus Christ and Mary for 27 years in hiding before returning to Jerusalem. This place was selected for it's natural protection that it can only be entered through a narrow crack between high mountains and hence easily defended and protected. While the place was not mentioned by name in the testements however the descriptions only matched this place and the second evidence confirming it actually the place is that Jesus natively spoke Aramic which was not spoken in Jerusalem or around Jerusalem.
This article was last modified 11 years ago