Travel Guide Ezraa -Izraa

To visit the church, ask the key in the nearby houses of Thaura street. St. George's Church of Ezraa is one of the oldest basilicas of octagonal plan with cupola in the world and one of the oldest churches in Syria still in use. Its state of conservation and shape make it a particularly moving site. Consecrated to the worship of Saint George, it dates from the year 515. The dome, which has not withstood the injures of time, is replaced by a metal cover. Its square base is cut from inside to each angle to form the octagon whose pillars support the dome. In the east, the apse choir is flanked by two sacristies. Before iconostasis (wooden separation) was a kranioti: symbolic stone separation between 80 cm and 1,20 height. He was much more advanced than today's iconostasis.Last thing to note is the very beautiful stone ceiling of the region.At 200 m, the Saint Elias church, in the impressive plane, dates back to 542. It is devoted to Greek Catholic worship, while the church of St. George belongs to the Greek Orthodox. The modern dome replaces the original dome.