Monastery of Our Lady of Sednayah

Believed to be built in

547 by Byzantine emperor Justinian I, the Monastery of Our Lady of Sednayah is one of the oldest monasteries in the world. The monastery is currently maintained by a religious order of nuns and overlooks the small town of Sednayah. The religious outpost is about 34 kilometers north of Damascus. Inside the convent is an icon of St. Mary allegedly painted by St Luke.