St. Mary Church, Diyarbakır, Syriac Orthodox church in Sur district, Diyarbakır, Turkey
St. Mary Church is a Syriac Orthodox place of worship in Sur district that features three connected courtyards joined by passages. Beyond the prayer spaces, the building holds rooms for education, gatherings, and other religious activities.
The building originated as a pagan temple in the first century BC but was converted into a Christian sanctuary in the third century AD. This transformation marks the spread of Christianity and the reshaping of religious spaces in the region during that era.
The church preserves religious manuscripts and sacred relics connected to early saints of the region. These collections show the spiritual importance of the place to the community across the centuries.
Visitors should know that access is guided by church representatives, which makes the visit informative and engaging. It is recommended to go during daylight hours and be aware that this is an active place of worship with possible restrictions to certain areas.
The building was repaired in 1954 using concrete and cement, which altered its historical structure and later required extensive restoration work in 2004. This recovery effort aimed to bring the structure closer to its original form.
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