Syria Winks

Bakirha and Sarjebleh - The Coolest Places in Summer near Aleppo

2009-06-29T13:56:00.003+03:00

St. Georges Monastery

2009-06-29T13:45:00.002+03:00

Visitors to Krak Des Chevaliers can have a look on this spot, just for enjoying a moment of silence.

Blue Sea - Tartous

2009-06-29T13:43:00.002+03:00

North Aleppo Countryside - Meydanki

2009-06-04T12:47:00.001+03:00

Cyrrhus

2009-06-04T07:43:00.005+03:00

Cyrrhus, Cyrrus, or Kyrros (Greek: Κύρρος) was a city in ancient Syria founded by Seleucus Nicator, one of Alexander the Great's generals. Other names for the city include Hagioupolis, Nebi Huri نبي حوري, Khoros (Arabic حوروس Ḳūrus). Its ruins are found about 14 km northwest of Kilis, Turkey, near the Syrian border.

Cyrrhus was the capital of the extensive district of Cyrrhestica, between the plain of Antioch and Commagene. A false etymology of the sixth century connects it to Cyrus, King of Persia due to the resemblance of the names.

The site of the city is marked by the ruins at Khoros, 14 km northwest of Kilis, near the village of Afrin. The ruins stand near the river Afrin Marsyas River a tributary of the Orontes, which had been banked up by Bishop Theodoret.

Cyrrhus was founded by Seleucus Nicator shortly after 300 BC, and was named for the Macedonian city of Cyrrhus. It was taken by the Armenian Empire in the 1st century BC, then became Roman when Pompey took Syria in 64 BC. By the 1st century AD, it had become a Roman administrative, military, and commercial center on the trade route between Antioch and the Euphrates River crossing at Zeugma, and minted its own coinage.[1] The Persian Empire took it several times during the 3rd century.[2]

In the 6th century, the city was embellished and fortified by Justinian. It was taken by the Muslims in 637 and by the Crusaders in the 11th century. Nur ud-Din recaptured it in 1150. Muslim travelers of the 13th and 14th century report it both as a large city and as largely in ruins.

Church history

Cyrrus became at an early date a suffragan of Hierapolis Bambyce in Provincia Euphratensis. Eight bishops are known before 536 (Lequien, II, 929; E.W. Brooks, The Sixth Book of the Select Letters of Severus, II, 341). The first was present at First Council of Nicaea in 325. The most celebrated is Theodoret (423-58), a prolific writer, well known for his rôle in the history of Nestorianism and Eutychianism. (His works are in Migne, P.G., LXXX-LXXXIV.) He tells us that his small diocese (about forty miles square) contained 800 churches, which supposes a very dense population.

A magnificent basilica held the relics of Saints Cosmas and Damian, who had suffered martyrdom in the vicinity about 283, and whose bodies had been transported to the city, whence it was also called Hagioupolis. Many holy personages, moreover, chiefly hermits, had been or were then living in this territory, among them Saints Acepsimas, Zeumatius, Zebinas, Polychronius, Maron (the patron of the Maronite Church), Eusebius, Thalassius, Maris, James the Wonder-worker, and others. Theodoret devoted an entire work to the illustration of their virtues and miracles. Under Justinian, it became an independent ecclesiastical metropolis, subject directly to Antioch. The patriarch, Michael the Syrian, names thirteen Jacobite bishops of Cyrrhus from the ninth to the eleventh century (Revue de l'Orient chrétien, 1901, p. 194). Only two Latin titulars are quoted by Lequien (III, 1195).

It remains a Roman Catholic titular see of the ecclesiastical province of Syria.

Andarin (Anderin, Androna)

2009-06-02T14:57:00.001+03:00

Andarin is one of the places that clearly shows how rich is Syria in history and how much are still under ground hidden, to be discovered.

Andarin is a large area, about 3 square km, now there are seen two churches unearthed, a bathroom complex, and some walls of the city. The work is ongoing and information is changed as time passes.

What is found is from Byzantine era. The structures are built in mud brick with the more significant buildings in stone, the local volcanic basalt. Two streets are found from north-south and east-west.

Inscriptions are found from the years 506 to 583 but assumed that a lot of works (e.g. walls) are older, some dating back to the second century AD. Barracks are found on the north-east of the main intersection about 80 m in length. They date from AD 558, late in Justinian's reign during which he carried out extensive defensive works in northern Syria including Resafe to the east and nearby at Qasr Ibn Wardan.

Breij Monastery

2009-05-28T10:19:00.003+03:00

The remains of St Daniel monastery are found at the western edge of the Jebel Barisha massif. They are in good state of preservation. The main building is inserted into the cliff. The first storey is built in the rock. Oil presses, cisterns and a tomb are seen here.

Khrbet Sharqiye

2009-05-28T10:16:00.001+03:00

One of byzantine era ruins in the Jabal Ola - Jabal Barisha area, overlooking the Omq valley.
We met here shepherds and had a good tea in the stony nature.

Khawabi Castle

2009-05-21T10:12:00.002+03:00

A forgotten castle by archeologists, but not neglected by people! One of the inhabited castles in Syria like Mudiq Castle (قلعة المضيق) and Qadmus castle.
Now there seem to be rehabilitating plans, as people are moving to the village nearby.
Khawabi castle is found near Tartous 20 km east in the mountains.

Dar Qita

2009-05-10T15:40:00.002+03:00

Dar Qita is found near Bakirha and other byzantine ruins, the area is near to Turkish border.
It is one of big piles of Dead Cities of Byzantine times. A big church is noted in the western part of the pile, and another one in the southern part. The place is beautiful for picnics too.

Ras Al-Hosn

2009-05-10T15:35:00.005+03:00

A typical intermix of an archeological site with modern village.

Bakirha

2009-05-10T15:35:00.004+03:00

Anyone will note easily two churches in these huge mass, the eastern chruch which dates back to 546 A.D., a columned basilica of six bays. Its western door resembles the famous architect Kyros's doorways. The western facade and narthex have survived intactly, but the rest are in ruins. The other church, the western, is probably one of within monastic complex, surviving only the eastern wall.

On the southern edge, there is a temple of Roman origin, dated to 161 A.D. The temple is dedicated to Zeus Bombos, but probably the site was a semitic cult center. The temple is preserved well.

Bakirha (Baqirha) is a beautiful picnic site with sweeping landscape, overlooking Amuq plain on the west.

Kseibjeh

2009-05-10T15:30:00.002+03:00

A lonely place on top of a hill near other piles of byzantine era ruins. People very rarely come here because this is not "on way" like other ruins places, which lately have become popular picnic destinations.

St. Simeon Spring

2009-05-10T15:22:00.003+03:00

Kesab Springtime

2009-04-27T09:22:00.005+03:00

Yakubiye and Qneyye Through Darkush

2009-04-09T09:39:00.007+03:00

The delicious food serving restaurants in Jabal Arbaeen, Ariha town.

Qneyye village and its surroundings.

Yakubiye village and St. Anna church.

Kaukanaya

2009-04-06T08:57:00.004+03:00

Kaukanaya is found south to the road uniting Qalb Lozeh with Qorqania little town. You can go directly from Qorqania also.
This site is notable for two tombs seen at the first instance, not far from the road. One of them is covered with pyramidal roof, inscribed 384 A.D. Next in the depth of the mass you see a two storey villa, which is notable for its beautiful columns. The site hosts also ruins of 3 churches.

South-east Aleppo: Jabal Al-Hass

2009-03-15T13:35:00.002+02:00

Qasr Mukharram

2009-03-15T13:09:00.002+02:00

Qasr Mukharram is found east to Hama at 25 km. You can see here an ancient church ruins, most of them seems to be underground. A small opening looking to underground structures proves that. Seperately situated (for now at least) few meters to east is aonther pile of beautiful black colored stones of crosses and greek inscriptions are found.

Qasr Ibn Wardan

2009-03-15T12:44:00.006+02:00

Qasr Ibn Wardan is a lovely place, so a second visit will discover more. For other pictures see the previous visit's post.

Kafar Daryan Byzantine Site

2009-02-03T14:14:00.002+02:00

Kafar Daryan is a byzantine village remains, located near Sarmada, at west of Aleppo. Ruins go back to 200-600 time interval, and the main olive business is either today is conspicuous.

Euphrates River - Wintertime

2009-01-20T12:40:00.002+02:00

In our imagination, the river has generally blue waters and green surroundings. Here is the answer of how can it be in winter?

Turin and Jabal Wastani Region

2009-01-20T12:03:00.005+02:00

A trip in a relatively unknown countryside of Jabal Al-Wastani is worth. The beautiful and abundant trees of olive are conspicuous.

Turin is a small village in a picturesque location, away from noise. Come and see these pictures:

Idlib district countryside at Jabal Wastani region:

Sunny Winter in St. Simeon Church

2009-01-20T12:01:00.003+02:00

The charm of this place is irresistable even in winter, but it was a sunny day afterall.

Bshendlaya

2009-01-20T11:54:00.003+02:00

Bshendlaya is near to Behyo, and one of difficult explorable places. This is not all what is really there.

The countryside of this area: