Sednaya Patriarchal Monastery of Our Lady

Perched atop a rocky cliff overlooking Saidnaya, 25 km north of Damascus, the Sednaya Patriarchal Monastery of Our Lady stands on the ruins of an ancient Phoenician temple. It was transformed into an Orthodox monastery during the Byzantine era and has drawn medieval pilgrims—including Crusaders—who came to venerate the “Shaghoura Icon,” attributed to Saint Luke. The monastery survived invasions by the Fatimids and Mamluks, and despite enduring earthquakes and massacres, its main church was rebuilt in a style reflecting late Ottoman architecture, while retaining sections from the medieval period. Today, the monastery features a softly lit shrine, a domed church, nuns’ cells, and a museum housing a rich collection of icons. It continues to welcome visitors and host its annual religious festivities.