Cultural Memory as a Mechanism for Community Cohesion: The Case Study of Dayr Mar Elian esh-Sharqi, Qaryatayn, Syria

Abstract

In August 2015 when the monastery of Mar Elian was destroyed in Qaryatayn, Syria, it was overshadowed in the international media by the events in Palmyra several hours to the east across the Syrian desert. Whilst the concentration on the destruction of a UNESCO listed World Heritage site is entirely understandable, what the majority of the world overlooked was the simple fact that most people are more emotionally invested in monuments that have played a formative role in their lives. Therefore for Syrians the loss of a much-loved regional shrine can leave a bigger hole in their existence than that of an internationally significant monument which, whilst undeniably beautiful, did not play an active role in the life of their community. This paper looks at the place of the monastery of Mar Elian in the lives of the Qurwani before the Syrian Civil War and discusses its pivotal role as the religious centre of the town for all inhabitants – regardless of their confessional identity. It then considers the impact of the destruction of the shrine on local people and what the possible repercussions of this loss may be for the Qurwani in the long term.