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Churches of Beth Qustan Mor Eliyo "O Elias, how wast thou honoured in thy wondrous deeds! and who may glory like unto thee! Who was taken up in a whirlwind of fire, and in a chariot of fiery horses. Blessed are they that saw thee, and slept in love; for we shall surely live." (Yeshu' Bar Asiro)
Mor Eliyo is the main church of the village, named after the great prophet Elia. His holiday are on 1.february and 20 july. The Mor Eliyo-church was built in the year 343. When the church was built, three times the basis moved. The will of the prophet required that the church shouldn't been built in the centre of the village. Muslims tell also that they went blind when they had stolen objects from the church. When they brought the stolen objects back to their place, they got their eyesight back. It is also said that Mor Eliyo saved the village from an attack of the Muslims. Thereby he was only evident for the Muslims, the dwellers of the village couldn't see him. Muslims testify this fact. Mor Shem'un
The church is located in the region called "Deyrinto". The interior of the church today is in a poor state of preservation. Mor Barsawmo
The church Mor Barsawmo is situated on top of a mountain from which you can see most of the plateau of "Berhemiye". Many trees and vineyards determine this landscape. The church is restored by the population of the village. The Church of the Mother of God & Mor Osyo
In "Serhavdana", the 5 km eastern landscape from Beth Qustan, the remains of these two churches are. In the midst of the ruins stand the remarkably fine sculpted arches of the Church of the Mother of God. The arch may be dated to the eighth century. The church Mor Osyo is a place for pilgrims for ill christians. Muslims from the surrounding villages also seek its aid. The ritual requires that these people speak to nobody, till they reach the church. To receive healing they have to sleep for some hours in the church. On their way back they must give a sacrificial offering (often matzo) to people they meet. People assume, that both churches were destroyed by the army of Timur Lenk in 1400. In the eastern side of Sarhavdana there is an old monastery situating in a ravine. In the middle of the 80s people found there an old "firmo" of the church. In the past, Muslims wanted to attack this monastery to kill the the christians living there. But first the christians set for an attack and killed two of their leaders, among them a sheik. Mor Yakub
The church of Mor Yakub is located in Deyrkube and was built in 500 with massive squared stones. Opposite the village of Deyrkube, there are the ruins of a church, dedicated Mor Shem'un. In the near of this church there is the church of Mor Yawsef. In the residential estate of "Beylo" there is another church called Mor Shem'un. The churches of Beth Qustan have had their ups and downs depending on the periods in which they lived. As the owners and the inheritors of these churches it is very important for us to try our best to make every effort to preserve and look after them.
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