interreligious dialogue and mutual tolerance. martyr. martyrdom. Middle Eastern strongmen seldom enjoy tidy exits. But the ayatollah had carefully prepared for succession. By choosing to remain in his known compound, one commentator suggests, “he orchestrated his death”

Dialogue | 02.01.2009 | 05:30

A Monastery in Syria

Großansicht des Bildes mit der Bildunterschrift: The ancient Syrian monastery of St. Moses the Abyssinian (Deir Mar Musa el-Habashi) overlooks a harsh valley in the mountains east of the small town of Nebek, 80 km north of Damascus

中東強人很少能體面地退出歷史舞台。但這位阿亞圖拉顯然為繼任做了周密的準備。一位評論員認為，他選擇留在自己為人熟知的住所，「實際上是在精心策劃自己的死亡」。 https://econ.st/4rdFCuV

Middle Eastern strongmen seldom enjoy tidy exits. But the ayatollah had carefully prepared for succession. By choosing to remain in his known compound, one commentator suggests, “he orchestrated his death” https://econ.st/4rdFCuV

Photo: Hashem Shakeri

It is said that the Ethiopian St. Moses the Abyssinian lived as a hermit in the region. After his death monks built a church, founding a monastery in his name.

St. Moses was the son of a king who refused the crown and died a martyr. What makes the Monastery of Mar Mousa so special is that it attracts believers from all over the world - Christians and Muslims alike. It is a place of interreligious dialogue and mutual tolerance.

Report: Arian Fariborz / Sarah Stolarz