Deir Mar Musa Syrian-Catholic Monastery

Deir Mar Musa Syrian-Catholic Monastery is an ancient monastic community has made interfaith dialogue a key part of its work. They work to convince local Christians to remain in Syria and build relationships with the Muslim community, rather than moving out of the country. Additionally, the monastery is a leader in environmental protection and has worked with Muslim leaders to protect the history-rich region around Deir Mar Musa. The monastery's leader, Father Paolo Dall’Oglio, was the winner of the 2006 Euro-Mediterranean Award for Dialogue. The monastery is also well-known for its 11th and 12th century CE wall frescoes depicting the life of Jesus Christ and the final judgment. The monastery is part of the Syrian Catholic Church, an Antiochene Rite church in communion with Rome, and was reestablished as an active community in 1991 after being vacant since the 1800s.