Seidnaya means “our lady” in Syriac. The village is spread out over a

hilltop and surrounded by vineyards and olive groves. The square houses,

with high airy arcaded fronts, rise like giants on the rocky hill which is

crowned by imposing buildings. It has a fortress with many columns which

vaults are blue, and a very old Byzantine church.

Hama is the oldest city in the world. It was a prosperous kingdom during

the Aramean period. The city is famous for its beautiful water wheels

(Norias) and green orchards round it. The most important monuments in

Hama are: the Great Mosque, Abil-Fida mosque, Al-Nouri mosque and Al-

Azem palace.

Homs is the third important city in Syria. It was called Emesa. It witnessed

several civilizations: the Canaanites, the Amorites, the Hittites, it was

conquered by Alexander the Great, the Seleucids, and the Romans until

636 A.D. when it became part of the Islamic Empire. The discovered traces

of man in this county date back to the stone age. Stone tools were found

on the banks of the Orontes. Throughout the centuries, it lost most of its

magnificence.

Its little houses cling to the face of the rocks look suspended in the mid-air.

There are two monasteries here: Saint Sergius and Saint Taqla’s. The

inhabitants still speak Aramaic, the language spoken by the Christ. Two

neighboring villages: Jab’a and Naj’a also speak this language. The word

“Maaloula” means “entrance” in Aramaic.

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