MONASTERY
Convent of Saint Thecla
Maaloula · Greek Orthodox
- Locality
- Maaloula
- Tradition
- Greek Orthodox
- Type of place
- MONASTERY
- Coordinates
- 33.84729° N, 36.54673° E
- Identity
- Matched to a public listing
A brief history
This Greek Orthodox convent at Maaloula was built in 1935 around the grotto venerated as Saint Thecla's, and is administered by the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch. Thecla is known from the second-century Acts of Paul and Thecla, a text outside the New Testament canon. In December 2013 twelve nuns were taken from here and held for three months before their release was negotiated.
An interesting detail
Maaloula is one of three remaining villages where Western Neo-Aramaic is still spoken.