In a brilliant essay for New Lines Magazine, Diana Darke tells the story of these forgotten monasteries in the region known as "the Dead Cities" in Idlib.

"These remarkable early ruins of the Byzantine Empire reflect the great prosperity of those once-thriving settlements. Their wealth was based on trade in olive oil and wine. Syria was the beacon of early Christian piety and civilization" –Diana Darke.

Today, over a thousand years later, it is displaced Syrian refugees who live in the ruins of these once-magnificent buildings of early Christianity.

"Turkish, Russian, and Syrian fighter jets compete for control of the skies, with regular aerial bombardment of the ancient ruins themselves — unprotected and vulnerable as they are — despite the UNESCO World Heritage status they belatedly achieved in June 2011" - Diana Darke.

A beautiful essay that I highly recommend. A touching reminder of our lost heritage. Find it on New Lines Magazine here.