Holy Patriarchal Convent of Our Lady of Saidnaya, Syria

Introduction

The Saidnaya Convent is located in the mountains 20 miles north of Damascus in Syria. Saidnaya was the seat of the ancient Patriarchate of Antioch. Saidnaya has many ancient associations with the Holy Bible. Many scholars consider Saidnaya to be second in religious importance to Jerusalem.

Pilgrims from all over the world seek Saidnaya for renewal of faith and healing. Saidnaya is also an area renowned for its faithfulness to Christianity.

Description of the Convent

The convent rises above the town like a fortress and is dedicated to the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos. The Icon of the All-holy Virgin is believed to be one of four icons extant that were painted by St. Luke the Evangelist himself.

In the Syriac language this icon is called the Chahoura or Chaghoura, meaning “The Illustrious, Celebrated, or Renowned.” There are also many other fine icons of the Holy Virgin and the saints, dating from the fifth, sixth, and seventh centuries.

The Story of the Construction of the Convent

It is said that Justinian I, Emperor of Byzantium, while crossing Syria with his troops, came to this desert, where his army suffered thirst for lack of water. The emperor saw a beautiful gazelle, followed it, and then witnessed a miraculous vision of the Most-holy Theotokos.

Upon his return, Justinian ordered plans for a church. According to tradition, the Holy Virgin later revealed the plan for the convent in a dream.

The Icon of the All Virgin

In the late eighth century, Abbess Marina asked a Greek pilgrim named Theodore to buy an icon of the Holy Virgin in Jerusalem. After many miraculous events, the icon was brought to the convent and became the object of great veneration.

Saidnaya Today

Christians and Muslims from the region and from far away places seek the holy Lady of Saidnaya shrine for healing. Numerous miraculous healing stories have been reported and documented by those who experienced them.

Many Catholic, Orthodox, Syriac Catholic, and Syriac Orthodox churches and monasteries have been built in Saidnaya throughout history.

Address:
Convent of Lady of Saidnaya
Saidnaya, Damascus, Syria

Phone:
011-963-11-595-0547
011-963-11-595-2399