Damascus is a crazily fascinating place. History buffs feel like wandering around a treasure trove, always discovering new facts and details about one of the oldest continuously inhabitet cities in the world. It is particularly interesting from a biblical point of view as St. Paul (ex-Saul of Tarsus) spent some time here, being healed from blindness and baptized by Ananias. The house of Ananias, respectively the church in the cellar, is one of the earliest churches of the initial Christians which is still in use to this day. The city wall from which St. Paul was lowered to escape the Roman governor of Damascus still stands strong.

The ongoing present war seems like an old acquaintance when looking at the long pearlchain of conflicts that has accompanied the long and often painful history of the city. It is very sad to see that brute islamist forces may very well succeed in driving away pockets of christianism which have constantly been present in Syria since the early days of Ananias. I am certainly not a supporter of the Assad dictatorship, but under his and his predecessors rule there has been religious tolerance, as long as the clans´ power structure was secured. The longlasting and traditional peaceful coexistence between Muslims and Christians is in great jeopardy. It can only be hoped that this great city, and the country as a whole, will overcome this malady, as it has done so many times before in its 4,000 plus years of history.

Damascus street with the classic Orient Palace Hotel.

The Al-Hamidiyah Souq, one of the largest bazaars of the Orient.

At this corner of the souq we bought incense which we still inflame

once in a while. It spreads a unique fragrance,

reminiscent of the unique orient atmosphere.

Entrance to the Hamam, the turkish bath.

The great Umayyad Mosque, one of the largest and oldest in the world, with the

Minaret of Qaitbay. The walls date back to the roman temple.

The mosque courtyard with the Minaret of Jesus in background. Muslims believe that this is the place where Jesus will return at the End of Days. The main building with its dome dates back to the byzantine era when it was the Cathedral of St. John, and it, in turn was built on the site of the roman Jupiter temple, using its exterior walls which still stand today.

A shrine in the mosque contains the head of John the Baptist.

The Minaret of the Bride was the first minaret

to be built for the mosque.

A shrine for the Virgin Mary.

The Chapel of St. Paul with parts of the Bab Kisan, the ancient

city gate from which Paul was lowered during his escape.

A mosque and a church next to each other.

Jesus on the roof.

The church of Ananias, one of the earliest places where christians could

worship in times when the new faith was declared illegal by the romans.

There are many courtyards like this in the old town of Damascus.

Most of them out of sight from the narrow alleyways.

See more of Damascus and other parts of Syria.