Saint George Cathedral of Amioun, one of the largest in town, is built on top of the remnants of an ancient temple, which elements remain part of the structural and decorative architecture.
The cathedral, also referred to as “Mar Jawarjious Al Dahliz,” incorporates the term “Dahliz,” meaning “tunnel”, in its name because of a spacious entrance hall that runs from the base of the building to the tower adjacent to the nearby Church of Our Lady’s Dormition.
Structure
Measuring around 24.20 m long and 22.20 m wide, the cathedral is built from massive boulders, which once formed the base of the temple. The structure encompasses three sub-churches, each having one aisle, facing east to west, built according to the style of the arch, as each portico belongs to one of its three churches.
The central hallway, which is the largest and the highest, belongs to the Church of Saint George, the owner of the cathedral, which apse was reportedly built during the Crusader era. The other two galleries, the north and the south, return respectively to the church of Archangel Michael and the church of the Jealous Prophet Elijah.
In the center of the cathedral are four huge columns in the middle, on which the arches rest. Within the cathedral, there are roughly eighty icons, with the oldest being a depiction of Saint George situated at the northern entrance of the church, originating from 1760. Furthermore, on the southern side, a Corinthian capital from an ancient temple has been repurposed into a baptismal font. A comparable, yet more sizeable vessel, possibly dating back to the Roman era, is situated outside the church in close proximity to the primary apse.
Karim Sokhn
Tour Operator & Tour Guide
References:
https://visitamioun.weebly.com/st-george-cathedral-detailed.html
