Monastery of Saint Thecla

The Monastery of Saint Thecla (Mar Takla) in Maaloula is one of Syria’s most revered Christian pilgrimage sites, steeped in legend and history. Built around a rocky grotto believed to house the tomb of Saint Thecla — a 1st century disciple of Saint Paul — it is tied to the famous story of her miraculous escape, when the mountain is said to have split open to shelter her from her pursuers. A spring flows from within the grotto, and for centuries pilgrims have come to drink its waters, believed to hold healing properties. The present day convent, established in 1935 under the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch, includes a church, guesthouse, and access to the narrow gorge that leads to the saint’s resting place. Nestled against Maaloula’s dramatic cliffs, the monastery remains a living symbol of faith, resilience, and the enduring Christian heritage of the Qalamoun Mountains.