Syria: Russian Archaeologists and Scientists Plan to Restore St Helena Church in Aleppo

Syriac Press ^ | 11/1/21

[marshmallow]

HOLEB (ALEPPO) – In a large restoration project of 10 archaeological churches in Syria, Russian scientists and archeologists plan to renovate the St Helena Church in Holeb. Russian news agency TASS, reports that archaeologists from the Saint Petersburg-based Research Institute of Physical Culture have conducted a complete survey of the church of St Helena, which dates back to the fifth century and is one of the oldest churches in Holeb. The Russian scientists will rely on photographs, videos and a scientific description of the church to develop a 3D model that will help in the future with restorations.

The institute’s spokesman said that the mission has finished collecting data on the church, which was severely damaged by the shelling of Aleppo city. Some of its wooden components, estimated to be 1,500 years old, survived the destruction. The spokesman added that the scientists recorded the location of each architectural element, column and stone of the church and the state of its dome, to prepare a 3D model that allows to see the current state of the ancient church.

Since the beginning of 2021, a Russian-Syrian archaeological mission has assessed and collected data on several ancient Christian monuments in various Syrian provinces, including churches from the fifth and sixth centuries AD in the village of Deir Salib (“The Cross Monastery”) in the Hmoth (Hama) Governorate, the Qasr Ibn Wardan Church (The Temple of the Four Elements).

[ElkGroveDan]

What’s a Leppo?

[Hiddigeigei]

'What’s a Leppo?"

“Aroint thee, witch!” the rump-fed runnion cries.
Her husband’s to Aleppo gone, master o’ th’ Tiger;
But in a sieve I’ll thither sail,
And like a rat without a tail,
I’ll do, I’ll do, and I’ll do.