St George Monastery

In Addition to its historical importance, Monastery of St. George [Deir Mar Gorgeous] (Al Humeiraa) is one of the most sacred places for all religions and sects in Syria, evidence for this is the large number of bless seeking visitors and the vows offered to its patron saint known for its healing power.

The monastery is located in Wadi anNadhara (Valley of Splendor) in Tal Kalakh district, 60 km from Homs. Just opposite the monastery is the ever green mountain of Emar al Hosn beholding Qla’at al Hosn (Krack des Chevaliers or Castle of the Knights), and Just near the monastery is, also, Naba’a al Fawwar, famous for its fresh water.

The monastery was built for St. George (Mar Gorgeous the Martyr) locally known as al Khodr. The title al Humeiraa probably came from the pagan God Humera (in Greek god of rain). People believe that the monastery was built on the ruins of the old temple of Humera in the 6th century AD at the same period Emperor Justinian built the Monastery of Saidnaya.

Others believe that the title was derived from the Greek word “Khatmaros” which means “flood” because the monastery is not far from a flood valley, while others believe that the title is derived from the Arabic word “Hamraa”, the red color of the ground on which the monastery was built. In the past, the monastery was no more than a cave with a southern entrance of 93X 64 cm, surrounded by simple cottages built by the monks.

Monks and worshippers used to present food to the needy and passers by, and to teach people basics of Christianity through a small stone window until the old church was built in the 12th century.

In the 12th century, the monastery was moved from the cave to the old church which has a 9X7 m hall specified for sheltering passers by and visitors and had a depot for oil, hay and wine.

The gate was used to bring the vows usually horses, cattle and sheep into the monastery.

The old church had an old wooden iconostasis with paintings representing figures and events such as the Herald of Mary the Virgin, St. George, St. Demetrius, angels, falcons and birds bearing flowers and olive branches. In the 17th.century a new church was built over both, the old monastery and the old church, and was finished only in 1857 AD. At the start of the 20th.

Century a second floor of 55 room was completed to be used by visitors. The new church has a wonderful wooden iconostasis built by an Aleppine carpenter.

It is long, slender and has many icons and frescoes for apostles and saints, in addition to pictures of huge snakes and dragons.

 The iconostasis was carved on both the Byzantine and Arabic style, in three stages from 1865 to 1899. This year a new nearby pavilion was added to the monastery, specified to include Byzantine and Cretan icons painted in the 17th and 18th century, an old manuscript called the Omari Document addressed to the churches of the orient with the signatories of Arab Moslem commanders, a stone board with writings from the 18th century, potteries from the 17th.

Century used for preserving oil, olive and wine, a 17th century Byzantine icon of the 40 martyrs, and two 18th century icons of the Christ’s Dolors and Burial, an 18th century Cretan icon of St. George representing his struggle and martyrdom, and another 18th century Byzantine icon of Mary the Virgin surrounded by 24 pictures, and a stone board with ambiguous Arabic writings.

On May 6, day of the Saint Patron, and September 14, Day of Ascension of the Cross, thousands of visitors flock to the monastery to celebrate and seek blessings.

Haifaa Mafalani