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Religions in Syria:
Since the very ancient history, Syria is known for its
great religious tolerance. A document found in Dura
Europos assures that at the beginning of our era there
were 14 temples, a synagogue and a church.
St.
Paul heard God’s voice on the way to Damascus, in the
walls of which a church is dedicated to him. Hundreds of
other churches and monasteries were then built in Syria,
the reputation of some of them traveled through the
centuries: St. Takla and St. Sarkis monasteries in
Maaloula, St. Sergio cathedral in Rasafa, Qalb Lozeh
church and St. Simeon monastery near Aleppo and many
others. Upon the Islamic conquest, many mosques and
Koranic schools called Madrassa were built. Today, Syria
offers an example of inter-religious harmony which has to
be mentioned as an example.
Syria in the Eyes of Foreigners:
A
lot of travelers, artists, poets and archeologists visited
Syria and liked it. Philippe Hitti, the eminent historian
wrote that the researchers consider that Syria presents a
lesson about what man was through all the eras. The
archeologist, André Parrot said that each one of us should
have two home countries: the one he was born in and Syria.
Openheimer said Syria is a paradise for archeologists
The First State in the World:
On
the Syrian and Mesopotamian land, the Amorite kingdom is
considered as the first state in the history of humanity.
Syria is the cradle of arts, sciences and religions. In
its origins, we can find the most ancient frescos,
sculptures of cults or decoration, a great knowledge in
the fields of mathematics, philosophy and mythology. All
these contribute in the early development of
civilizations.
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