Convent of Saint Thecla, Christian convent in Maaloula, Syria
The Convent of Saint Thecla is located beside a natural grotto in the mountains and includes a church, reception areas, and guest rooms for visitors. The complex was built around the ancient grotto and serves both religious and practical purposes for its inhabitants and pilgrims.
The convent was established in 1935 around the ancient grotto, preserving the location where a follower of Saint Paul took refuge during Roman persecutions in antiquity. The founding occurred nearly 2000 years after the events that made this place sacred.
Both Christian and Muslim pilgrims visit to pray at the grotto and spring, drawn by the spiritual connection to the saint's story. The sanctuary serves as a place where visitors from different faiths come together in shared devotion.
The convent welcomes visitors throughout the year and is maintained by a small community that also creates religious items. It is best to dress respectfully and explore the site mindfully, as it remains an active place of worship.
The collection of icons from the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries blends local Orthodox traditions with European artistic influences, offering rare insights into the artistic exchange of that era. These works demonstrate how different artistic traditions converged at this remote location.
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