In the historic center of Damascus, Pro Terra Sancta rehabilitates and restores abandoned or destroyed properties. In the course of 2023, the Association contributed to the revitalization of the Sant'Anania area as part of the neighborhood and sanctuary redevelopment project, reclaiming seven abandoned houses and refurbishing the main square in front of the sanctuary.
It was in the land of Damascus, the Syrian capital, that Saul of Tarsus was converted to faith in Jesus Christ, thus acquiring the name of Paul. Like the story of Paul, the history of Damascus is also a testament to love and violence. A love that in Damascus brought together the first communities of Jesus' disciples, who were baptized as 'Christians' for the first time in this land. And a violence that, since 2011, the year the conflict in Syria began, has shaken and wounded the city.
The drafting of the project for the renovation of the entire sanctuary area is underway: the availability and upgrading of the buildings allow the local inhabitants, and all visitors, to bring the city and the stories it conveys to life.
With this project, Pro Terra Sancta aims to reignite a spark of hope in this area of Damascus, where brotherhood and encounter have flourished since the conversion of Saint Paul. To this end, alongside the restoration work, artistic training courses are provided to develop in the local residents a deep understanding of the historical value of the cultural heritage of the region and to promote dialogue and exchange with those who come to visit.
