- Title: SYRIA: Christians celebrate Festival of the Cross
- Date: 14th September 2009
- Summary: MAALOULA, SYRIA (SEPTEMBER 13, 2009) (REUTERS) PEOPLE GATHERED AT THE BOTTOM OF MAALOULA MOUNTAIN VARIOUS OF MAALOULA MOUNTAIN VARIOUS OF PEOPLE PREPARING TO CLIMB MOUNTAIN PATRIARCH HEADING UP MOUNTAIN VARIOUS OF PEOPLE CLIMBING THE MOUNTAIN ++NIGHT SHOTS++ VIEW OF MAALOULA TOWN FROM TOP OF MOUNTAIN, FIREWORKS GOING OFF (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) CATHOLIC PATRIARCH GR
- Embargoed: 29th September 2009 13:00
- Keywords:
- Topics: Religion
- Reuters ID: LVA22V8RAVY360IJ0W4YQOICZ0R9
- Story Text: Syrian Christians in the historic town of Maaloula celebrated on Sunday (September 13) the eve of the Feast of the Cross, a festival to celebrate the cross used in the crucifixion of Jesus.
As part of the celebration, people gathered in the town square then climbed to the highest point of Maaloula's small mountain in order to erect a cross and light a fire. They then let fireworks off just after sunset.
The story behind the festival says that the Emperor Constantine wanted to find the actual cross which Jesus had been crucified upon. He sent his mother, St. Helen, to join the Roman convoy in search of the Holy Cross in Jerusalem. In 326AD, the cross was claimed to have been found after excavation at the pagan temple of Venus.
As a way of alerting the emperor to the news, fires were lit across mountain tops to publicise the finding of the cross.
"Today is about raising the cross and that is because when King Hercules got the cross back from the Persians at that time, he asked that a fire be lit on every mountain top as a way to get the news to Jerusalem. The fire was lit to say that the cross was returning to its rightful place in Jerusalem," said the Catholic Patriarch Gregoire III Lahham.
Many Syrian cities celebrate the day but Maaloula's Christian residents still organise the largest festival each year because they believe the village's small mountain top was one on which a fire was lit.
"St. Helen is the one who ordered that fires be lit on the highest mountain tops to give the sign that the cross had been found," Syrian Nabil Mahfouz said.
Maaloula, with an altitude of more than 1500 metres, is unique because it is one of the few places where the ancient Aramaic language, as spoken by Christ, is still used and taught as a living language.
Lebanese tourist Lina Abou Joude said she thought Maaloula was special.
"I have visited many places in Syria but not Maaloula," she said. "This is my first time here but there are many nice things whether it is the mountain, the historic places or the fire. It is a new thing for us."
There are two convents in the city which are Mar Sarkis and Mar Taqla, where Muslim and Christian pilgrims go to gain blessings and make offerings. Christians represent around 13 percent of the Syrian population. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
- Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2011. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
- Usage Terms/Restrictions: None