Saint Mary Church of the Holy Belt

Saint Mary of the Holy Belt (Um Al Zennar) Cathedral[1] (Arabic: كاتدرائية السيدة العذراء أم الزنار‎, shortened to كنيسة أم الزنار; Um az-Zinnar) is a historical Syriac Orthodox cathedral in Homs, Syria. It is the seat of the Syriac Orthodox Archbishop of Homs and Hama.

Saint Mary of the Holy Belt Cathedral
Religion
AffiliationSyriac Orthodox
Year consecrated59 AD
Location
LocationHoms, Syria
Geographic coordinates34.7293°N 36.7200°E / 34.7293; 36.7200
Architecture
TypeChurch

The present structure dates from the mid-nineteenth century, but the site over which the church is built is claimed to have been one of Christian worship since 59 AD.[2] According to Ross Burns, the church may rest on Byzantine foundations.[3] According to Joseph Nasrallah, the existence of a church dedicated to Mary in Homs is attested as early as 478.[4]

The church contains a venerated Holy Girdle that is supposed to be a section of the belt of Mary, mother of Jesus.[5] The church was damaged during confrontations between the armed opposition and the security forces in the 2011–2012 Syrian unrest.[6]

In 2012, reportedly confrontations caused extensive damage to the exterior of the church.[7] The church was rebuilt by an extensive effort of the faithful and the Divine Liturgy was celebrated.

Other relics

This is the Syriac church's equivalent of the Cincture of the Theotokos of the Greek Orthodox Church and Girdle of Thomas of the Catholic Church

See also

References
  1. https://www.christiansofsyria.org/locations/saint-mary-of-the-holy-belt-um-al-zennar/
  2. Andrew Beattie; Timothy Pepper (2001). The Rough Guide to Syria. p. 155. ISBN 9781858287188.
  3. Ross Burns (2009). Monuments of Syria: A Guide. p. 171. ISBN 9780857714893.
  4. Joseph Nasrallah (1972). Marie dans l'épigraphie, les monuments et l'art du patriarcat du IIIe au VIIe siècle (in French). 1. Beirut. p. 65.
  5. "Biographie de Sainta Marie". Syrian Orthodox Archbishopric of Homs and Hama. Archived from the original on 14 March 2012. Retrieved 7 April 2012.
  6. Gallagher, Tom (29 March 2012). "Christians in Syria struggle amid violent clashes". Retrieved 7 April 2012.
  7. "كاتدرائية "أم الزنار" في حمص تتعرض لدمار جزئي". Linga.org. 5 June 2012. Retrieved 10 June 2012.


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