Church of Saint Simeon Stylites

Church of Saint Simeon Stylites
كنيسة مار سمعان العمودي
قلعة سمعان
Overview of the complex
Basic information
Location Mount Simeon, Aleppo Governorate, Syria
Geographic coordinates 36°20′03″N 36°50′38″E / 36.33417°N 36.84389°E / 36.33417; 36.84389Coordinates: 36°20′03″N 36°50′38″E / 36.33417°N 36.84389°E / 36.33417; 36.84389
Affiliation Christianity
Year consecrated 475 AD
Status in ruins
Architectural description
Architectural type Church
Architectural style Byzantine architecture
The remains of the pillar of Saint Simeon Stylites

The Church of Saint Simeon Stylites (Arabic: كنيسة مار سمعان العمودي‎, translit. Kanīsat Mār Simʿān el-ʿAmūdī) is a building that can be traced back to the 5th century, located approximately 30 kilometres (19 mi) northwestern part of Aleppo, Syria. It is one of the oldest surviving church complexes. It was constructed on the site of the pillar of Saint Simeon Stylites, a renowned recluse monk. The church is popularly known as either Qalaat Semaan (قلعة سمعان‎, Qalʿat Simʿān, the 'Fortress of Simeon') or Deir Semaan (دير سمعان‎, Dayr Simʿān, the 'Monastery of Simeon').

History

Saint Simeon was born in 386 AD in the Amanus mountains village. He lived in a monastery in this village at an early age, however, later on, he opted to transform into a religious solo hermit monk. Saint Simeon then resolved that he would not live in a cave, but instead, he would move to the top of a pillar that was approximately 12–18 meters high and estimated to be 2 meters in diameter to get closer to God. Significant multitude would soon be attracted by the preaching of Saint Simeon that was offered twice a day.[1] Saint Simeon stayed on top of the pillar for about 37 years and later died in 459 AD. His remains were majestically escorted to Antioch by seven bishops, numerous soldiers and a crowd of his devoted disciples. After the burial, Saint Simeon's grave in Antioch became a revered site for the pilgrimage, and so, did his pillar on the hill where he spent few decades of his life as a holy place for worshiping God.[2]

A few decades following Saint Simeon's death, a huge church was constructed in his honor in the rocky sites where his pillar stood. The church was made up of four basilicas that were glowing from the sides of a central octagon where the famous column was enshrined. The church’s floor space is over 5,000 square meters almost the same as that of Hagia Sophia in Constantinople. However, as opposed to Hagia Sophia, the church of Saint Simeon was situated on top of a barren hill nearly 60 kilometers from the nearest town.[3] Nevertheless, the church was not lonely. It was just a part of the magnificent walled structure that encompasses a monastery, two minor churches, and numerous significant hostels. Given that the church has long fallen into ruins, it currently forms part of the enormous multipart of ruins referred as the Dead Cities of Syria. Surprisingly, until just recently, the pillar of Saint Simeon still stood despite being carved down to a few meters from years of artifact seekers who cut down small parts for themselves.[4]

Architecture

As opposed to many cathedrals that were constructed in medieval Europe, the idea of the church of Saint Simeon was born and realized as one project over a short span of time. It was designed in a cruciform made up of four distinct basilica complexes. The grounds for construction of the church were born by the imperial authorities who later promoted the course. Primarily, the high number of pilgrims who frequently flogged the column of Saint Simeon to pray necessitated the construction of the church in 473 AD.[2]

The ambitious plan of the church of Saint Simeon complex portrays numerous architectural designs. The fundamental concept of the three-aisled basilica can be traced to the lasting traditions of the Romans. It is reported that the main basilica and the baptistery were the first to be constructed. Subsequently, the monastery and the fixtures to the baptistery followed. Ultimately, the other parts of the complex including the colossal arch on the Via Sacra concluded the construction process. Apparently, the best relics that are evident from the church of Saint Simeon are the massive arch that is located at the beginning of the start of the Via Sacra on the way to the cathedral on the mountain.[5] Besides, two monasteries are visible from the church; a bazaar which is a few little housings, and a tomb chapel. The following are the numerous grouped buildings that were arranged at the complex.

The four-basilica church

The shaped like cross church was finely preserved, and it offers an excellent view in the spring with all the freshly blossomed flowers. When viewed from inside, the pillar of Saint Simeon is still apparent, only that it has been reduced to approximately 2 meters high boulder in the middle of the courtyard.[6] The reduction in the length of the pillar can be attributed to many years of relic-gathering by pilgrims. The courtyard is octagonal and is bordered by four basilicas in the shape of a rood-tree and described as a four-basilica church. Apparently, the idea of a crucifix was to represent the crucifixion of Jesus on the cross. Evidently, the east basilica is considerably bigger compared to other basilicas.[1] The more significant size can be attributed to the critical role it played in hosting all the key ceremonies, making it most important.

The U-shaped monastery

Bordering the south partition of the eastern basilica laid a chapel and a monastery. Originally, Deir Semaan (Simeon Monastery) bore the name of Telanissos and was established to make the most of the two productive plains that surrounded it. In the mid of the 5th century AD, the locals established a monastery on the plains and in 412 AD, Saint Simeon opted to be part of it.[2] Later on, he left the locals to live there as he went to live in the mountain above the plains where the monastery was situated.

Baptistery

The baptistery was located on the opposite side of the southern basilica, down the sacred road known as Via Sacra. The baptistery was constructed shortly after the construction of the main church, and it served as a crucial part of the pilgrimage complex.[7] The design of the baptistery was impeccable and was often regarded to be amongst the remarkable artifacts of the Christian architecture in the entire Syria. The baptistery was constructed in two phases; the baptistery itself and then some related little basilicas later. The baptistery took the form of an octagonal drum that lay on the top of the square base of the building. At some point, it was filled with a wooden roof, with shape either like a cone or dome.[8] The inner octagon was covered in a rectangular outer building. Evidently, at the far end of the chamber to the east lays a semi-circular absidíola that encompasses a tunnel with steps heading down to its location.

Extensions to the Baptistery

The processional route guides towards the Deir Semaan (Simeon Monastery) emanates from the western side of the baptistery. Besides, at the opening of this road is the monumental arch, which comes from the monastery to the direction of the baptistery.[8] The location of the church on the hill provides views of the surrounding countryside.

UNESCO

As of June 2011, the Church and surrounding village were designated by United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) as part of the "Ancient Villages of Northern Syria", a World Heritage site.[9] There is much value attached to the building because of its representation of great sacrifice for a holy course as manifested by Saint Simeon.

Wars

Saint Simeon Church has continuously faced destruction by wars.

Arab-Byzantine War

The church was negatively affected by the Arab conquest during the agitation for the control of Syria between the Byzantines and the Arabs. Notwithstanding this, the Byzantines fortified the church even after such destruction. The complex was attacked and conquered by the Emir of Aleppo Sa'd al-Dawla, and it was considered a fortress. This compromised the symbolism of the complex as a holy site. This did not stop worshippers from continuing to visiting the complex for the purpose of worship of God.

The War Against Syria

The war against Syria has caused much damage to the historical sites because of the fighting between the opposing sides in the conflict. Additionally, the building has been destroyed by illegal digging and stone removal. The ruined building forms part of the ancient buildings on the Northern side of Syria, which have been ruined. The structure has been under threat from both the Syrian and Turkish governments through their conflict on the link contested by the two governments through the Bab Al-Hawa border crossing. On 28 May 2015, the church was captured by the Kurdish YPG/YPJ but was subsequently lost to terrorist factions opposing the Assad government.

Russian military intervention

According to activists, the site was furthered threatened after military intervention by the Russian government on behalf of Assad in the Syrian civil war. On 12 May 2016, the church was heavily damaged in an air strike by the Russian air force.[10] The strikes against the column caused much devastation and destruction of the church ruins.[11] Currently and illegally, the Turkish Armed Forces maintain an observation post at the site.[12]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Stevenson, Joseph (1853). The Church Historians of England. London: Seeleys.
  2. 1 2 3 Hase, Karl V.; Blumenthal, Charles E.; Wing, Conway P. (1855). A History of the Christian Church. New York: D. Appleton and Company.
  3. ↑ Greenfield, Richard P. H.; Stethatos, Niketas (2013). The Life of Saint Symeon the New Theologian. Cambridge: Harvard University Press.
  4. ↑ Lawler, Michael G; Salzman, Todd A.; Burke-Sullivan, Eileen (2014). The Church in the Modern World: Gaudium Et Spes Then and Now. Collegeville, MN: Liturgical Press.
  5. ↑ Untener, Ken. Treasures of the Church. Cincinnati, OH: St. Anthony Messenger Press, 1998. Sound recording.
  6. ↑ Bonsanti, Giorgio; Roli, Ghigo; Sartarelli, Stephen (1998). The Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi: glory and destruction. New York, N.Y: H.N. Abrams.
  7. ↑ M'Gavin, William (1833). The Protestant: Essays on the Principal Points of Controversy between the Church of Rome and the Reformed. Rochester, NY: Parsons & Phelps.
  8. 1 2 Williams, Issac (2011). The Baptistery: Or, The Way of Eternal Life. Ann Arbor, MI: Proquest LLC.
  9. ↑ "Ancient Villages of Northern Syria". UNESCO. Retrieved 14 July 2011.
  10. ↑ https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/05/13/syrian-monastery-where-st-simeon-sat-on-a-pillar-for-four-decade/
  11. ↑ Greenhalgh, Michael (2016). Syria's Monuments: Their Survival and Destruction. Boston: Brill.
  12. ↑ https://www.trtworld.com/mea/turkish-observation-posts-in-syria-s-idlib-14931

Further reading

  • Weitzmann, Kurt, ed., Age of spirituality: late antique and early Christian art, third to seventh century, no. 590, 1979, Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, ISBN 9780870991790

Media related to Church of Saint Simeon Stylites at Wikimedia Commons

  • Gatier, P.; T. Sinclair; M. Ballance; R. Warner; R. Talbert; T. Elliott; S. Gillies. "Places: 658606 (Symeon, Mon.)". Pleiades. Retrieved March 8, 2012.
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