Deir Sita Monastery

Deir Sita: A Sanctuary of Ascetic Life
Perched on a hill overlooking the olive plains of Jabal al-Zawiya, Deir Sita was established around 520 AD as a spiritual haven for Eastern ascetics. Its architectural layout centers around a basilica with three arcades surrounding an open-air courtyard, used by the monastic community for communal prayers under the sky.

Excavations in 1998 uncovered a mosaic floor depicting a peacock—an ancient symbol of immortality—alongside marble columns inscribed with Greek verses extolling love and selflessness. In the western wing, small monastic cells with built-in grain storage basins reveal the monks’ reliance on sustainable agriculture.

Though the southern tower was damaged in the 2022 earthquake, the church’s vaulted ceiling remained intact, thanks to its robust half-barrel vault construction, known for its seismic resilience.