Saint George Monastery

St. George’s Monastery is located in the city of Mhardeh, on the western slope of the Orontes Valley, approximately 25 km north of Hama. This region, historically known as “Little Qalamoun,” is characterized by its significant Orthodox Christian population.
The monastery’s origins likely date back to the 7th-8th centuries CE. A Greek inscription carved on one of the lintels suggests the presence of an ancient basilica, whose structure served as the foundation for subsequent renovations. The current architectural appearance is attributed to a late Fatimid reconstruction, followed by an Ottoman expansion in the 19th century. During this latter period, the large stone structure with a vaulted roof was built, and the lead-covered wooden bell tower was added.
The monastic complex comprises a main church, measuring 29 meters in length and 18 meters in width. A prominent icon of St. George, dating from 1870, dominates the nave, while an intricately carved wooden iconostasis separates the sanctuary from the rest of the church. Beneath the ground, vaulted crypts extend, which were historically used as grain storage during sieges.
Commemorative inscriptions within the monastery indicate that it housed the oldest ecclesiastical school in the Ghab Plain during the 19th century. This is further substantiated by Arabic and Greek manuscripts, dated to the late 19th century, which are now preserved in the Patriarchal Library of Aleppo.