Images The site of Saint Simeon

In the 10th century a small fortified residence was built by the patriarch of Antioch Christophoros, who was the friend of the Emir of Aleppo, Saïf ad-Dawla. Being a friend of the emir, Cristophoros refused to take side against him and therefore had to flee from the Emir’s enemies, the Arab leaders of Antioch. He took refuge in the site of Saint Simeon between October 965 and August 966 and in that occasion he built the small fortress on the western side of the basilica, as a Greek inscription certifies.