There is no city in Eastern Christian relic, more vast, more rich, more archaeological and historical as the Church of St. Simeon the Stylite (388-459 AD.), Syrian hermit who tried to escape from the world "vertical", Simeon stood on a pillar for 37 years (up to 42 years, according to some sources). The church was later built between 476 and 490 around the column, tribute to Simeon, and is considered one of the wonders of Christian architecture. It consists of four basilicas located in an octagonal courtyard oriented to the four cardinal points to form a large cross.
The total area of buildings is estimated at 12000m2 . 5000m2 with 48m in height to the cruciform church, convent and 5000m2 for the courses and cemetery attached to them, and 2000m2 for the church dedicated to the baptism.
The Church of St. Simeon the Stylite remained The Pearl of the East, a sit popular with pilgrims, full of people, Syriac monks, Orthodox and Armenians until the 7th century, after the Muslim conquest of 638. The site returns to calm, especially after its capture by Sayf al-Dawla in 985.
Today, the al-Qaida terrorist group and the al-Nosra Front occupy the premises. "