CHURCH OF SAINT-ELIÂN (MAR ELIAS)

Place of worship dedicated to the life of the local saint, whose celebration is celebrated on 6 February. A unique son of a family of notables from Emesa to the Roman Emperor's balance, Eliân converted to Christianity. A decision that his father does not like. In the middle of the third century, followers of the new religion were persecuted. After attempting to fléchir his son's faith, the father must resolve to sacrifice him. Saint Eliân will be martyred in Homs in 285. The edict of Milan, 28 years later, was going to establish religious freedom through the empire. The worship of the saint could then burst into the great day. In 1970, during the restoration of the church (whose existence was not mentioned before the th century), a set of frescoes was discovered in what is considered a former martyrium. Some would be dated th or th century and would replace mosaics of the century. In the centre, Christ Pantocrator is surrounded by the right of the Virgin Mary and Marie-Madeleine, while on his left is Saint Jean Baptiste and an unidentified character. Four apostles are embedded in two niches: on the left, Luc and Jean and, on the right, Marc and Matthew. Finally, various medallions represent prophets and apostles. As a result of this discovery, the interior of the church was painted entirely by religious scenes with vivid colours. They were completed in 1973.