Church of Saint Elian

Frescoes in the Church

The Church of Saint Elian (Arabic كنيسة مار اليان Kaneesat Mar Elian, Elian Kilisesi Turkish Aziz ) is a church in Syrian Homs, which is located along the Tarafa -bin -al- Abd- road near the gates of Palmyra. The Feast of St. Elian is held annually on February 6, in the church, attracting a large number of pilgrims.

History

The church traces its name back to the born in Homs Saint Elian, who reject Christianity because of his refusal, 284 AD, was murdered by his own father, a Roman officer, and made ​​a martyr. St. Elian was by profession a physician ago, and numerous miracles of healing are attributed to him. The church itself was built in 432 on the place of death of St. Elian, while his remains were placed in a sarcophagus in a small chapel on the right of the main crypt of the church.

In the years 1969 and 1970 the church was restored Mar Elian. During the renovation, the plaster that covered the interior walls of the crypt was removed what many ancient frescoes, wall paintings of Jesus, Mary, the apostles and prophets different abbildeten, brought to the fore. The frescoes themselves date back to the 12th century, but is now believed to date back to the 6th century - making it the oldest surviving church in the paintings today majority Muslim Syria. Today the ancient frescoes are complemented by new frescoes in the nave and the side aisles of the church, which were painted by two Romanian icon painters and depict various scenes from the life of St. Elian.