Al Ghassaniah Orthodox School

Arabic Arabic (, ' ; , ' or ) is a Semitic languages, Semitic language spoken primarily across the Arab world.Semitic languages: an international handbook / edited by Stefan Weninger; in collaboration with Geoffrey Khan, Michael P. Streck, Janet C ...

: (المدرسة الغسَانيَة الاورثودكسيَة الخاصة) is a

private Private or privates may refer to: Music * " In Private", by Dusty Springfield from the 1990 album ''Reputation'' * Private (band), a Denmark-based band * "Private" (Ryōko Hirosue song), from the 1999 album ''Private'', written and also recorde ...

school founded on 1887https://www.zamanalwsl.net/news/46142.html معالم حمص ومشيداتها الأثرية: المدرسة الغسانية.. منارة للعلم in

Homs Homs ( , , , ; ar, حِمْص / ALA-LC: ; Levantine Arabic: / ''Ḥomṣ'' ), known in pre-Islamic Syria as Emesa ( ; grc, Ἔμεσα, Émesa), is a city in western Syria and the capital of the Homs Governorate. It is Metres above sea level ...

, Syria. It consists of several branches across

. The main branch is located at Bustan Al-Dewan neighborhood. The main branch teaches from the seventh grade to the twelfth grade (Middle & High School).

Branches

* Bustan Al-Dewan. Grades: 7 to 12 * Al-Mahatta. Grades: 1 to 6 * Al-Hamedya. Grades: 1 to 6 * Al-Waar. Grades: 1 to 6

History

In 1887, the school was established under the name Internal Orthodox Scientific School;

: (المدرسة الداخلية العلمية الأرثوذكسية) by

Bishop A bishop is an ordained clergy member who is entrusted with a position of authority and oversight in a religious institution. In Christianity, bishops are normally responsible for the governance of dioceses. The role or office of bishop is ca ...

Athanasius Atallah, as a part of his on going program to develop more school for better education in

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 ...

, especially

. The School quickly became popular housing students from

Palestine __NOTOC__ Palestine may refer to: * State of Palestine, a state in Western Asia * Palestine (region), a geographic region in Western Asia * Palestinian territories, territories occupied by Israel since 1967, namely the West Bank (including East ...

Lebanon Lebanon ( , ar, لُبْنَان, translit=lubnān, ), officially the Republic of Lebanon () or the Lebanese Republic, is a country in Western Asia. It is located between Syria to the north and east and Israel to the south, while Cyprus li ...

, and Southern Syria including

Damascus )), is an adjective which means "spacious". , motto = , image_flag = Flag of Damascus.svg , image_seal = Emblem of Damascus.svg , seal_type = Seal , map_caption = , ...

. Bishop Athanasius Atallah sent an official letter the

Ottoman Empire The Ottoman Empire, * ; is an archaic version. The definite article forms and were synonymous * and el, Оθωμανική Αυτοκρατορία, Othōmanikē Avtokratoria, label=none * info page on book at Martin Luther University) ...

asking for funding for the school; no reply was sent back. On 11 May 1893, Athanasius sent a letter to The Palestinian Imperial Society, who responded quickly and sent over people to view the school capabilities and decided to take over the administration of the school in beginning of 1896.

World War I

In 1914; During

World War I World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

, the school closed fearing the safety of the students. The Ottoman Army took over schools as a part of training soldiers in 1916. When the school reopened again in 1919 after the war has ended, the administration decided to increase the number of classes available. The school was then changed to its current name.

Notable alumni

Al Ghassania Orthodox Private School early alumni

1. Metropolitan Philip

Syrian Civil War

During the Syria Civil War, multiple areas of old Homs where barricaded and closed off by the

Syrian Arab Army The Syrian Army, officially the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) ( ar, الْجَيْشُ الْعَرَبيُّ السُّورِيُّ, al-Jayš al-ʿArabī as-Sūrī), is the army, land force branch of the Syrian Armed Forces. It is the dominant military ...

, trapping the

Free Syrian Army The Free Syrian Army (FSA) ( ar, الجيش السوري الحر, al-jaysh as-Sūrī al-ḥur) is a loose faction in the Syrian Civil War founded on 29 July 2011 by officers of the Syrian Armed Forces with the goal of bringing down the governm ...

in the Gates of Homs. These areas include but not limited to Bustan Al-Dewan, Al Hamadyia, and Bab El Sbaa. The school was taken as a base by the Free Syrian Army. When the siege ended the school was in immense damage. No official status on how much the repairs will cost in the future. However the construction on the main branch of the school has already started courtesy of the

Mayor In many countries, a mayor is the highest-ranking official in a municipal government such as that of a city or a town. Worldwide, there is a wide variance in local laws and customs regarding the powers and responsibilities of a mayor as well a ...

of Homs Talal Al Barazi.

References

Educational institutions established in 1887 Religious buildings and structures in Homs Schools in Syria 1887 establishments in the Ottoman Empire {{Syria-school-stub