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This little church in Izra‘, Syria, about 50 miles south of Damascus, has been active since at least the fifth century CE. It already shows the form characteristic of many Christian houses of worship in the Near East and elsewhere, with a small dome over the central space, arched apses, rows of seats, and a pulpit or lectern from which the priest or others can deliver readings or a sermon. Icons (see image 10) form a prominent part of the décor. This church’s presence in this area reflects the steady spread of Christianity from its origins in the “Holy Land” (geographical Palestine, modern state of Israel), among both Greek-speaking and Aramaic-speaking populations in other parts of the Near East during the early centuries. The Greek-speaking communities tended to be Eastern Orthodox in rite and affiliated with the patriarchate of Constantinople (see image 13), but by the 6th century many speakers of Aramaic, Armenian, and Coptic had come to embrace doctrines deemed “heretical” by the Orthodox at the Fourth Ecumenical Council, held at Chalcedon in 451 CE.

 A Christian Church Converted Into a Mosque

Name: View of Izra’ Church

Material: Stone, metal dome

Size: Unknown

Date: 4th or 5th century CE

Place of Origin: Izra‘, Syria

Location: Izra‘, Syria

Registration # and Source: Photograph by Fred M. Donner, August, 1993 CE.

Material: Digital photograph from 35mm slide

Size: 1.226 x .86 inches (4800 dpi)

Date: 1993

Fred M. Donner

Professor of Near Eastern History, University of Chicago