Church of Saint Elian

Saint Elian Church كنيسة مار اليان
Frescos inside the church
Basic information
Location	Homs, Syria
Geographic coordinates	34°43′44″N 36°43′27″E / 34.7288°N 36.7243°E / 34.7288; 36.7243Coordinates: 34°43′44″N 36°43′27″E / 34.7288°N 36.7243°E / 34.7288; 36.7243
Affiliation	Christianity
Year consecrated	432 CE
Ecclesiastical or organizational status	Active
Architectural description
Architectural type	Church
Architectural style	Byzantine architecture
Specifications

The Church of Saint Elian (Arabic: كنيسة مار اليان‎, Kaneesat Mar Elian) is a church in Homs, Syria, located along Tarafa bin al-Abd Street near the Gate of Palmyra.^[1] The Feast of St. Elian is held annually at the church on February 6, attracting a large number of pilgrims.^[2]

History

It takes its name from Saint Elian, a native of Homs, who was martyred for his refusal to renounce Christianity in 284 CE at the hands of his father, a Roman officer.^[1] St. Elian was a physician by trade and various miracles of healing are attributed to him.^[2] The church itself was founded in 432 on the claimed spot of St. Elian's death, with his remains placed in a sarcophagus in a small chapel to the right of the church's main crypt.^[1][2]

In 1969-70, Mar Elian was renovated.^[2] During the renovation, the plaster which covered the inner walls of the crypt was removed, revealing ancient frescoes depicting murals of Jesus, Mary, the Apostles, and various prophets. The frescoes date to at least the 12th century, but it is widely believed to date to the 6th century, making them the oldest surviving church paintings in Syria.^[1] Today, they are complemented by new frescoes in the main nave and side-aisles of the church painted by two Romanian iconographers, showing various scenes of St. Elian's lifetime.^[2]

See also

• Um al-Zennar Church

References

1. ^ ^{a b c d} Beattie and Pepper, 2001, p.55.
2. ^ ^{a b c d e} Mannheim, 2001, p.209.

Bibliography

• Beattie, Andrew; Pepper, Timothy (2001). The Rough Guide to Syria. Rough Guides. ISBN 9781858287188. http://books.google.com/books?id=9iCfkTe8v2EC&pg=RA2-PA53&dq=nouri+mosque+homs&ei=CNORScHgGZDUlQSX_pTJCg#PRA2-PA53,M1. 
• Mannheim, Ivan (2001). Syria & Lebanon Handbook: The Travel Guide. Footprint Travel Guides. ISBN 9781900949903. http://books.google.com/books?id=GOJ80DlXwwMC&pg=PA205&dq=nouri+mosque+homs&ei=CNORScHgGZDUlQSX_pTJCg#PPA205,M1.