Mariamite Cathedral of Damascus

The Mariamite Cathedral of Damascus, also known as the Maryamiyya Church (Arabic: الكَنِيسَة المَرْيَمِيَّة, romanized: al-Kanīsah al-Maryamīyah), is one of the oldest Greek Orthodox churches in Damascus, Syria and holds the seat of the Greek Orthodox Church of Antioch. The church complex is located on the Street Called Straight.^[1]

Mariamite Cathedral of Damascus الكَنِيسَة المَرْيَمِيَّة
Religion
Affiliation	Greek Orthodox
Ecclesiastical or organizational status	Seat of the Greek Orthodox Church of Antioch
Year consecrated	unknown
Location
Location	Street called Straight, Damascus, Syria
Geographic coordinates	33°30′34″N 36°18′41″E
Architecture
Type	Church

History

A first church was built during at an unknown time. After the Muslim conquest of Damascus the church was closed until 706 AD when al-Walid ordered that it be returned to the Christians as a compensation for the Church of John the Baptist which was turned into the Umayyad Mosque.^[1]

The church was destroyed and rebuilt several times in later years.^[1] It was described by Ibn Jubayr as:

Inside the town there is a church which is very important to the Romans. It is known as the Church of Mary. Its importance comes after the Church of Jerusalem. It is a beautiful building includes miraculous pictures which appeal to mind and eyes. It is in the hands of the Romans and nobody objects to them at it.^[2]

In 1342, the Patriarchal See of Antioch was transferred from Antioch to Damascus and the church served as the seat of the Greek Orthodox Church in the East.^[1]

The church was burned down by mobs, along with most of the Christian quarter, when the 1860 Druze-Christian conflict in Lebanon spilt over into Damascus, and was rebuilt three years later. It was last renovated in 1953.^[1]

Sections

Church of Mary

The Church of Mary is the main church building, and dates back to the late 4th century.^[3]

Chapel of Saint Tekla

The chapel was added to the complex after the restoration of the cathedral in 1840. It comprises the patriarchal seat of the Greek Orthodox Church of Antioch.^[3]

Chapel of Catherine

The chapel was added after restoration works. It contains a small museum dedicated to the history of the church.^[3]

Gallery

• 
  Mariamite Cathedral, Damascus, with the 'Umariyya Minaret at the front, to the right
• 
  Façade of the cathedral in 2010
• 
  Belfry of the cathedral

References

1. Daniel Demeter: Damaskus – al-Mariyamiyeh Church. Syria Photo Guide, 16 July 2014.
2. The Travels of Ibn Jubayr. Ed. William Wright. 2nd edn, revised by M. J. de Goeje, Leiden/London 1907, E. J. W. Gibb Memorial Series 5. Chapter about Damascus online.
3. الكنيسة المريمية - تاريخ الكنيسة ‎ (Mariamite Church – Church History) Archived February 4, 2010, at the Wayback Machine