Monastery of Saint Moses the Abyssinian

Deir Mar Musa al-Habashi (Syriac: ܕܝܪܐ ܪܡܪܝ ܡܘܫܐ ܟܘܫܝܐ‎ deiro d-mor mūše kūšoyo; Arabic: دير مار موسى الحبشي‎, ALA-LC: dayr mār Mūsá al-Ḥabashī), literally the Monastery of Saint Moses the Abyssinian, is a monastic community of the Syriac Catholic Church located near the town of Nabk, approximately 80 km (50 mi) north of Damascus, on the eastern slopes of the Anti-Lebanon. The main church of the monastic compound hosts precious frescoes dating to the 11th and 12th century.

Fresco depicting Saint Bacchus at the monastery.
Monastery of Saint Moses the Abyssinian
Location within Syria
Monastery information
Other namesDeir Mar Musa al-Habashi
Established6th century
Dedicated toSaint Moses the Abyssinian
DioceseSyriac Catholic Church
Site
LocationNabk, Syria
Coordinates34°1′18″N 36°50′32″E
Public accessYes

An ancient building, stone circles, lines and tombs were recently discovered near the monastery in 2009 by archaeologist Robert Mason of the Royal Ontario Museum. Mason suggested that the ruins may date back 10,000 years and were likely constructed in Neolithic period (such as the Heavy Neolithic Qaraoun culture of the Anti-Lebanon). In 1838, the place, named Deir Mar Musa, was noted as having a Syriac population.[1]

See also

References
  1. Smith, in Robinson and Smith, 1841, vol 3, 2nd appendix, p. 173

Bibliography
  • Robinson, E.; Smith, E. (1841). Biblical Researches in Palestine, Mount Sinai and Arabia Petraea: A Journal of Travels in the year 1838. 3. Boston: Crocker & Brewster.
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