Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
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We entered the Old Town of Damascus through the Bab Shar'I (Eastern) Gate, one of the
seven ancient gates into the city and the entrance to Straight Street.
Close by is the Kisan Gate famous for being the escape route of St Paul and, today, the Kisan
Gate incorporates the Chapel of St. Paul.
On his way to Damascus to wreak mayhem on the Jews, Paul claimed to have witnessed a
vision of Jesus, whereupon he lost his sight and changed his mind - the epiphany.
He was told by Jesus to go on to the city and do God's work. After his baptism in the House
of Saint Aananias he was said to have regained his sight and then began the tireless Christian
preaching that would characterize the rest of his life. But in time he was forced to flee the
city under the cover of night after explosive reactions from Jews who opposed his teachings.
This is described in Acts 9:20-25:
At once he began to preach in the [Damascus] synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God.
All those who heard him were astonished and asked, "Isn't he the man who raised havoc
in Jerusalem among those who call on this name? And hasn't he come here to take them
as prisoners to the chief priests?" Yet Saul grew more and more powerful and baffled the
Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Christ. After many days had gone by,
the Jews conspired to kill him, but Saul learned of their plan. Day and night they kept close
watch on the city gates in order to kill him. But his followers took him by night and lowered
him in a basket through an opening in the wall (at the Kisan Gate).
Down a narrow alley was the House of Saint Aananias that contained the crypt where St
Paul was baptized.
Five metres below ground level, the church is the only early Christian house of worship from
the 1
st
Century to survive in the city. It was a simple structure consisting of two small rooms
with bare stone walls, housing only an altar, some icons and several pews.
The Bible describes Aananias as "a devout observer of the law and highly respected by all
the Jews" living in Damascus.
