Sabeen Badr Writes about the History of Maaloula

Sabeen Badr is one of our regular readers from Damascus. Some days ago she visited  world’s most historical place Maaloula with her university fellows. Sabeen wants to share little about this historical place. She tells that Maaloula, in Aramaic, means “entrance”. Maaloula is some 50 kms from Damascus. On entering Maaloula a visitor would feel engulfed in an enchanted world of magic and legends that soon overwhelms the world of reality. Houses clinging to the rocks as birds’ nests cling to lovely trees will fascinate you. There are two important monasteries in Maaloula: Mar Sarkis and Mar Taqla. Enter Mar Sarkis Monastery, and you will find yourself in the midst of history. This monastery was built in the 4th century on remains of a heathen temple, with a simple, plain appearance. It was named after St. Sarkis, one of Syrian horsem