CHURCH BUILDING
Saint John al-Sheer Church, Amioun
Amioun · Greek Orthodox
- Locality
- Amioun
- Tradition
- Greek Orthodox
- Type of place
- CHURCH BUILDING
- Coordinates
- 34.29983° N, 35.81207° E
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History: Saint John al-Sheer Church, Amioun
The domed church of Saint John the Baptist rises above Amioun’s steep al-Sheer cliff. The standing church dates to the nineteenth century, while the rock-cut chambers below belong to a much older landscape. Originally used as tombs in the Roman period, some chambers were later inhabited and marked with crosses. The church and cliff together show how a prominent ancient burial site became part of the town’s Christian setting.
An interesting detail
Al-sheer is the local word for a steep cliff, describing the dramatic rock face below the church.