Monastery of Saint George, al-Humayra
دير مار جرجس الحميراء
Historic Orthodox monastery in Wadi al-Nasara near Krak des Chevaliers, dating back to the 6th century, famed for its St George feast.
In Wadi al-Nasara west of Homs, close to Krak des Chevaliers, stands the Monastery of St George al-Humayra, one of Syria's best-known Orthodox monasteries, traditionally founded in the 6th century and dedicated to St George, venerated by Christians and Muslims alike.
It has two churches: an old one reached down a stair, simple and ancient in feel, and a newer one with icons and a finely carved Ottoman-era wooden iconostasis.
The monastery stands in Wadi al-Nasara, the Valley of the Christians, west of Homs between the coastal and inland mountain ranges, an area rich in Christian villages and monasteries and overlooked by Krak des Chevaliers. St George is among the most venerated saints of the East among Christians, and shrines attributed to him are also visited by Muslims under the name al-Khidr, which is why his feast brings members of both communities together in this region. The monastery celebrates the feast of St George on 6 May, with days of prayers and popular festivities before and after it.
Stone monastery buildings sit amid green mountains and the forests of Wadi al-Nasara, one of Syria's loveliest landscapes. The feast of St George each May draws thousands of pilgrims.
Note: photos may not reflect the site's current condition.
For the visitor
Location: 34.7672, 36.2681 · Open on the map
Photos
Photos: Vyacheslav Argenberg — via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY) · National Center for Scientific Research — via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY)
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