Jesus spoke to His Disciples in Aramaic. And nowhere else in the Holy Land does His language live as in Maaloula, where His words may still be heard exactly as He spoke them. For the believer, or for anyone who values traditions of faith, it is a deeply moving experience.
Maaloula is
just a short drive from Damascus, and home to Christian community that thrives
after 2000 years.
Maaloula, and the
neighboring towns of Jaba'din and Naj'a, are the last three Aramaic-speaking
strongholds in an area once completely dominated by a language so common it was
freely spoken in Assyrian and Persian courts, Babylonian councils, Hebrew
temples, by seamen and shepherds, prophets as they preached and merchants at
their trade.
References:
[1] http://www.syriagate.com/Syria/about/cities/Damascus/maaloula-cm.htm