Monastery of Saint Elian

The Monastery of St. Elian was a Syriac Catholic monastery near the town of Al-Qaryatayn, along a trade route between the two major cities of Palmyra and Damascus in the Homs Governorate of central Syria. It was destroyed on 21 August 2015 by members of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL or ISIS), whose acts of terror in the Syrian Civil War include widespread vandalism and violence against non-Salafists and historical heritage. St. Elian Monastery housed a 5th-century tomb and served as a major pilgrimage site, particularly to those seeking a cure for bodily ailments.[1] Parts of the monastery, including the foundations, were 1,500 years old.[2][3]

Not to be confused with the Church of Saint Elian in nearby Homs, Syria

Monastery of St. Elian

Deir Mar Elian al-Sheikh
Location within Syria
Monastery information
Other names	Mar Elian
Order	Syriac Catholic
Established	5th century
Disestablished	21 August 2015 (2015-08-21)
Dedicated to	St. Julian (Mar Elian)
Abbot	Jacques Mourad
Site
Location	Al-Qaryatayn, Homs, Syria
Coordinates	34°14′10″N 37°13′30″E
Visible remains	?

Destruction by ISIL

ISIL released images showing the demolition of the monastery.[4] The group had captured the area earlier in August. The group also imprisoned a number of Christian civilians.[4] The monastery's superior, Jacques Mourad, was abducted by ISIL in May 2015 and escaped after 5 months of captivity.[5] Threatened with execution, he escaped from the ISIL-held territory, leaving most of his congregation behind.[6] The area around the monastery was recaptured by the Syrian Arab Army from ISIS in April 2016. The bones and broken sarcophagus of Mar Elian were rediscovered and recovered in the ruins of the site at that time.[7]

Art and Architecture

The Monastery of St. Elian was constructed using stone decorated with circular patterns. It notably featured graffiti left behind by worshippers from other faiths, including Stars of David and Arabic script. The building also bore an inscription stating the monastery was under the protection of a local Muslim ruler, Emir Sayfudullah, reflecting the peaceful coexistence of Muslims and Christians living in region around the fifteenth century.[8]

The monastery was renovated extensively in the early 2000s, replacing the facade and restoring the recently excavated lower level.

Through various excavation efforts throughout the 21st century, the original structure is believed to have been a basic one, consisting of mud and brick walls with simple post and lintel entrances. Archeologists have also unearthed a large plastered iconostasis and a stone sarcophagus at the site, which some believe contained the bones of Mar Elian himself. [9]

References

1. "News from The Associated Press". Archived from the original on 9 November 2014. Retrieved 21 August 2015.
2. Nick Gutteridge. "Islamic State: ISIS digs up saint's bones after bulldozing Christian church in Syria - World - News - Daily Express". Express.co.uk. Retrieved 21 August 2015.
3. Kanishk Tharoor and Maryam Maruf (7 March 2016). "Museum of Lost Objects: Mar Elian Monastery". bbc.co.uk.
4. Islamic State in Syria demolishes ancient Mar Elian monastery, 21 August 2015, BBC
5. "'It's truly a miracle' – kidnapped Syrian priest escapes from Islamic State". catholicnewsagency.com. Retrieved 19 October 2015.
6. "The Syrian Catholic priest who escaped IS captivity - BBC News". BBC News. 28 October 2015. Retrieved 29 October 2015.
7. "Bones of saint 'found in ruins of monastery destroyed by ISIS'". 5 April 2016. Archived from the original on 25 July 2019. Retrieved 9 September 2016.
8. "Museum of Lost Objects: Mar Elian Monastery". BBC.com. Retrieved 30 June 2015.
9. "Architecture and Asceticism". exeter.ac.uk. Retrieved 30 June 2015.