Barad ( ar, براد) is a mountainous village in northern

Syria Syria ( ar, سُورِيَا or سُورِيَة, translit=Sūriyā), officially the Syrian Arab Republic ( ar, الجمهورية العربية السورية, al-Jumhūrīyah al-ʻArabīyah as-Sūrīyah), is a Western Asian country loc ...

, administratively part of the Aleppo Governorate, located northwest of

Aleppo )), is an adjective which means "white-colored mixed with black". , motto = , image_map = , mapsize = , map_caption = , image_map1 = ...

. Nearby localities include

Burj Abdullah Birc Ebdalo ( ar, برج عبد الله) or Burj Abdallah is a village in northern Syria, administratively part of the Aleppo Governorate, located northwest of Aleppo. Nearby localities include Basouta and Afrin to the north, Kimar to the nort ...

to the northwest, Kimar to the north, Aqiba to the northeast and

Nubl Nubl ( ar, نبل, also spelled Nubbul or Nubbol) is a small city in northern Syria, administratively part of the Aleppo Governorate, located northwest of Aleppo. Nearby localities include al-Zahraa immediately to the south, Anadan to the southe ...

to the east. On March 21, 2018, the village came under the control of the

Syrian National Army The Syrian National Army (SNA) ( ar, الجيش الوطني السوري, al-Jayš al-Waṭanī as-Sūrī), previously the Free Syrian Army (FSA) and also known as the Turkish-backed Free Syrian Army (TFSA), is a coalition of armed Syrian oppo ...

Population

According to the Syria Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS), Barad had a population of 1,229 in the 2004 census.General Census of Population and Housing 2004
Syria Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS). Aleppo Governorate. Although the vicinity of Barad is still populated, it is listed as one of the

Dead Cities The Dead Cities ( ar, المدن الميتة) or Forgotten Cities ( ar, المدن المنسية) are a group of 700 abandoned settlements in northwest Syria between Aleppo and Idlib. Around 40 villages grouped in eight archaeological parks sit ...

, a

UNESCO World Heritage Site A World Heritage Site is a landmark or area with legal protection by an international convention administered by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). World Heritage Sites are designated by UNESCO for ...

. It is the most extensive ancient site in the area with an important group of buildings dating from the

Byzantine era The Byzantine calendar, also called the Roman calendar, the Creation Era of Constantinople or the Era of the World ( grc, Ἔτη Γενέσεως Κόσμου κατὰ Ῥωμαίους, also or , abbreviated as ε.Κ.; literal translation of ...

.Ball, 2001, p. 226.Ball, 2001, p. 210.

Archaeological remains

The archaeological remains in the vicinity of Barad include several old churches, an ancient monastery, a large public bathhouse, five warehouses, meeting house, a

magistrate The term magistrate is used in a variety of systems of governments and laws to refer to a civilian officer who administers the law. In ancient Rome, a '' magistratus'' was one of the highest ranking government officers, and possessed both judic ...

's residence, a ''

tetrapylon A tetrapylon ( el, τετράπυλον, "four gates"), plural ''tetrapyla'', known in Latin as a ''quadrifrons'' (literally "four fronts") is a type of ancient Roman monument of cubic shape, with a gate on each of the four sides, generally built ...

'', two monasteries and a cathedral. Most of these date from the Byzantine period.Ball, 2001, p. 226. The cathedral, known as the Church of Julianos, was built between 399 and 402 CE. It is a large building containing a sizable ''

bema A bema was an elevated platform used as an orator's podium in ancient Athens. The term can refer to the raised area in a sanctuary. In Jewish synagogues, where it is used for Torah reading during services, the term used is bima or bimah. Ancien ...

'' ("elevated position") in the center of the hall which represents the centrality of

Jerusalem Jerusalem (; he, יְרוּשָׁלַיִם ; ar, القُدس ) (combining the Biblical and common usage Arabic names); grc, Ἱερουσαλήμ/Ἰεροσόλυμα, Hierousalḗm/Hierosóluma; hy, Երուսաղեմ, Erusałēm. i ...

. At the end of its wall is a book rest. Of the seven churches that were built in northern Syria before 400 CE, the Church of Julianos was one of two large three-aisled

basilica In Ancient Roman architecture, a basilica is a large public building with multiple functions, typically built alongside the town's forum. The basilica was in the Latin West equivalent to a stoa in the Greek East. The building gave its nam ...

s; the other five were smaller, with only a single aisle. A second church was built in Barad in the 6th century. The monastery, known as Qasr al-Barad, is situated about southwest of the village site. In February 2010, Lebanese Maronite Christian

Michel Aoun Michel Naim Aoun ( ar, ميشال نعيم عون ; born 30 September 1933) is a Lebanese politician and former military general who served as the President of Lebanon from 31 October 2016 until 30 October 2022. Born in Haret Hreik to a ...

led a delegation to visit Barad, in order to commemorate the 1600th anniversary of St. Maron's death. On 22 March 2018, Barad was bombed by Turkish forces during the Operation Olive Branch. Several important structures were damaged or destroyed, including the tomb of St. Maron, and the Julianos Church.

References

Bibliography

* * * * * * * * {{Aleppo Governorate, afrin Populated places in Afrin District Villages in Aleppo Governorate Dead Cities