Church of Saint Simeon Stylites

A brief history

One of the oldest surviving church complexes, founded in the fifth century about 30 kilometres north-west of Aleppo. It was built around the pillar on which Simeon Stylites, the best known of the pillar-dwelling monks, spent his years. It is popularly called Qalaat Semaan, the fortress of Simeon, or Deir Semaan. This is a preserved archaeological monument, not an operating parish, and is counted separately from church buildings here.

Saints & traditions

The church was laid out as four basilicas meeting around the pillar itself, so the building's whole plan turns on a single object.