Church of Saint Sergius

Situated in the city of Rusafa in Al-Raqqa governorate, the building consists of a large nave and side galleries, topped with a wooden roof covered with lead sheets. Behind the apse is a fluted marble niche. The roof rests on basalt columns with Corinthian capitals carved with vine leaves. Despite the roof’s loss, the walls remain intact thanks to the interlocking stone bond. A contemporary wooden roof has been proposed to shade the altar and protect visitors from the sun. The central foyer of the basilica, located above the two side foyers, was positioned to allow for the creation of windows. These windows illuminated the church and brought light into the foyers, providing a more profound view of the building. The painting in the main apse of the church, made from crushed marble stone dating back to 559 AD, shows that the church is dedicated to the Holy Cross. The inscription reads: ‘Abramycius, may God have mercy on him, Bishop of Sergius, built this church to honour the Holy Cross, in order to merit God’s mercy. It was completed in the month of Artemisius, in the seventh fiscal cycle of the year 870, which corresponds to May 559 AD.’