Saffron Monastery 1 - Boundaries and Borderlands 9 by brewgirlca
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No AI - This artwork was created entirely by hand or with traditional digital tools.
Description
Here we enter the Saffron Monastery which almost literally sits on the Turkish-Syrian border. The present Monastery was built in Roman times in 493 AD, but there are remains of an ancient sun worship temple, probably Zoroastrian or older, that goes back some 4000 years. It was the seat of the Patriarch of the Syrian Orthodox Church from 1160 till 1932, when the Christians were forced out of Turkey and the church moved to Damascus. For a long time there were only two monks, who ran an orphanage. However, there is now a hostel, a gift shop and the government has allowed periodic returns of Orthodox priests for religious services.
Boundaries are everywhere here. Firstly of course it is literally only a few 10's of meters to Syria. It is now the northern border of the Syrian Orthodox Church. It occupies a pagan site that is thousands of years old. It gives a cool looking appearance against a hot and hostile landscape and the appearance is real. The dark doorway shows the boundary into the inner spiritual realm. Somehow it just looks peaceful and inviting, in marked contrast to the hostile land it occupies.
Although it may be difficult for this simple image, I do appreciate your own visualizations of boundaries and borders. Your input has helped my project considerably and I will continue to prod you for your insights.
Comments (13)
Great photo !! and thanks for the beautiful interesting explanation !!!!
It is a very wonderful building. Simple and yet there is something about it that is so pleasing to the eye. I can imagine that would be intensified in the context of it's surroundings. Many boundaries indeed and so well written, Roxy!
Nice shot, and commentary.
Excellent capture and background information. Beautiful work!
Roxy, this is a superb presentation and I especially enjoyed your thoughts on passing through the doorway into the spiritual realm.
Thank you for sharing your adventures! Keep us posted.
the steps leading to the dark doorway makes me think of borders as each step brings you closer to that door as if you are passing a stage in your belief - the boundary will be your belief and how much you allow in based on your faith - this is more a representation of the internal boundaries and borders that exist within the mind and soul Wonderful capture
The journey continues, happy holidays B-Girl... :)
Interesting place and story Considerably tame compared to your last tale :) The doorway does make a very obvious border, but the others you mention are not as obvious, especially that it sits on a formerly pagan site. I'm intrigued if there are any remnants to that, few I imagine. I would imagine something somehow Sumerian related. Great series.
Well, hopefully you got this lovely shot without risking being shot, stabbed, robbed, abducted, folded, stapled or mutilated.... :-P Whatever the case, this is a lovely shot, Roxy! And yes - full of borders..... From the bottom up, I see borders between horizontal lines (stairs) and gridwork lines (stone wall), above which is another border with a deeper reddish color, and smoother surface - along with the repeating arches. Then of course there's the border between the rich warm tones of the building, and white and blue of the sky and clouds. A delightful series, indeed.
thans for sharing all the awesome place you have visited through the year dear, Roxy. a most pleasurble view of what you've seen. love this capture and always great info. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year my friend. //lol Steve
Beautiful shot! Great details!
To think that such an ancient spiritual sanctuary could exist so close to such an unstable part of the world. It says much about the separation between goodness and hate. Lovely colours too - I'm a sucker for sharp colours - the light blue of the sky set behind the fiery orange of the stone building. And then the deep green trees and grass imposed against the orange.