Maalula

One of the last villages where Aramaic – the language of Jesus – is still spoken

Maalula is a small village in the Syrian Qalamoun Mountains, around 56 km northeast of Damascus. It is one of only three villages in the world where Western Neo-Aramaic is still spoken – a direct descendant of Aramaic, the language of Jesus. About 70% of its population are Christians, reflected in ancient monasteries and churches, including the Monastery of Mar Sarkis dating to an early Christian shrine of the 4th century. The village is nestled into a rugged rock landscape and is on the UNESCO Tentative List for World Heritage. Though heavily damaged in the Syrian Civil War, many residents have returned.