Syria, Lebanon, Palestine, and Jordan Regions

This list of cities and towns are where the Syriac people lived in ancient and modern times

• Abida: A village near Damascus

• Abila: Is called Suq Wadi Barada today, northwest of Damascus. Was a diocese of Lebanese Phoenicia

• Acre: Is called 'Akka today

• 'Adasiyya: A village near Jerusalem

• Adraa: A village on the Syrian-Jordanian border

• Afa: An extinct village in the northern Golan area in Syria. The village location is where Dier Ayoba archeological ruins are including a monastery

• Afra: A village on the Zabadani mountain near Damascus, Syria. 

• ‘Ahira: Is located near Mount Hauran in Syria. This village is known today as ‘Uriqa

• Alasis: Near Palmyra, Syria

• Aleppo (Berrhoea): A city in Syria

• Al-Latim: An extinct village in the Hawran region in Syria.

• ‘Almat: A village in Hauran region in Syria. Today is known as ‘Alma

• Al-Nabak: A town in Syria

• ‘Alqīn: A village in northern part of Hauran area in Syria

• Amin: A village in Syria

• Anasartha: Today is called Khanasir, sixty kilometers southeast of Aleppo.

• Antarados: Today is called Tartus in Syria

• Apamea: once a large city northeast of Hama, it is now in ruins and is called Qal'at al-Madiq.

• Ar’abneye: A village in the Golan eiHghts in Syria. It is on the Ra’bana slopes in the mountains. There are remains for a big church and a monastery in the village

• Arados: An island off the Syrian coast. Today Is called Arwad. 

• 'Arbàn: a town on the west bank of the Khabur River in al-Jazira, opposite al-'Ajjaja.

• Arethusia: A town in Syria, today al-Restan

• Arlana: A village near Damascus, Syria

• 'Arqa: A town located east of Tripoli, Lebanon

• ‘Aqraba: Was located near the city of Golan, Syria and about 10 km from the city of Qunaitra 

• 'Askalan: A city in Palestine

• Athàrb: a citadel between Aleppo and Antioch, some 15 km from Aleppo. It no longer exists.

• Attu: It was one of the important towns during the Ghassanids rule. It’s possible that it is where the town of Qirat is located today in Dara’a, Syria 

•  ‘Awdi (or ‘Awdin): An extinct village in Syria

• ‘Awira

• 'Ayn Haul: A town in the Zabadani area near Damascus

• 'Ayn Halyya: A town near Damascus, Syria

• Ba'albak (Heliopolis): A town in Lebanon

• Balanee: Present-day Banyas, on the Syrian coast

• Baltan: an extinct village in the province of Josya, seven hours journey south of Homs.

• Baniyas (Paneas): A town in the Syrian Golan Heights

• Bäqüfä: a village in the mountains of north Lebanon. The birthplace of Bishop Cyril Noah, a native of the city, when then became a Maphrian in 1490. It was the future patriarch Ignatius Nuh of Baqufa who would push the expansion of the Western Syriacs into the region.

• Barkousa: A town in Lebanon

• Beth Ar'a: A village located in the area of Huaran in Dar’a, Syria. 

• Beth 'Arid: A settlement outside Jerusalem. Also known as Adasyia and had a small monastery

• Beth 'Arif: A settlement outside Jerusalem

• Bath Balish (Balsh): A town in Syria between Aleppo and al-Raqqa, known in antiquity as Perpalisos, it is now called Maskana.

• Beth Hala: A village near Damascus, Syria

• Beth Naar: A town in Lebanon 

• Beth Zacharia: A town in Palestine

• Beth Zagba: A town in Syria

• Beth Zur: A town in Palestine

• Bithynia: A town near 'Adraa on the the Syrian-Jordanian border

• Botrys: Today is called Batrun on the northern Lebanese coast. Had bishops in the 5th and 6th centuries

• Busra: A town in Hauran, now called Eski Sham.

• Busra’il: A village in the Hauran region in Syria. It's known today as Buṣr al-harir, 

• Busa’: An ancient village in al-Swaida region in Syria. Today, this village is called ‘Uos and there are few building ruins from different eras including a monastery and church. There are 3 monasteries in this village

• Buta’: A village in the Hauran region in Syria. Today the village is called Ubuta’

• Byblos: Today is called Jubail on the Lebanese coast and part North Bishopric of Phoenicia 

• Bytlya (Bytarya): This village is in Ghuta area near Damascus, Syria

• Bytmyn: An ancient village on al-Sheikh mountains in Syria and today is called Byt Ima. Probably both names are from the Syriac name Beth Myn. There were more than one monastery in this village

• Canatha: A town near Busra, Syria

• Cercesium: A town on the Euphrates, at the confluence of Khabur, currently called al-Busayra.

• Cesaree de Philippe: A town on the Syrian coast. Today is called Banyas

• Chronocara

• Chrysopolis: A town near Busra

• Constantia: A town near Busra

• Coradia: A town northeast of Damascus. Had mentions of bishops in 451 and 553

• Cyrrhus: A city in Northern Syria.

• Damascus: A city in Syria

• Danaba: A town between Damascus and Palmyra. Had bishops from 451 to 553

• Darbel: An ancient village on al-Shiekh mountain in Syria. There was more than monastery in this village

• Daraya: An ancient village town near Damascus. There were 5 monasteries in this village

• Deir Atya: A village near Homs, Syria

• Dier Jifna and was located in northern Golan Heights in Syria.

• Dier Makir: Near Damascus, Syria. The village was bigger in previous times as it had a church inside the village

• Dionysias: A town in the province of Suwayda, Syria. Had bishops from 325 to 451

• Duluk (Doliche): A town on the border between Syria and Turkey.

• Esbous: In the province of Arabia which is in Syria now. Today is called Hesban

• Europos (Agropos, Garpos): Bishops attested from 451 to the 6th century. Today is called Jarablus on the Euphrates. 

• Evaria: A town near Saddad, Syria. Today is called Hauwarin

• Fadin: An extinct village in Syria

• Farsidin: An extinct village near one of the Damascus gates in Syria

• Fayruza: a village north of Homs, heavily populated by Syriacs.

• Gabala: A town south of Latakia, Syria, called Jeble today. Bishops attested from 325 to 553.

• Gabboula:  A town north of Aleppo, near the Euphrates, Today is called al-Jabbul. Bishops attested from 325 to the 6th century.

• Gabitha: A village in Syria

• Gadya: A village in Syria. As there are at least 4 villages with the same name, Jadya, it’s impossible to pinpoint the exact location

• Gashmin: A town in the Golan Heights. It's called Jasim today

• Gaulan: An area in southern Syria. Today is called Golan

• Gerasa: A town in Jordan. Today is called Jerash. Bishops attested from the 4th to the 6th century.

• Gigle

• Gindar: A city in Syria. One bishop attested in the 4th century.

• Hadshit: A town in northern Lebanon

• Hafar: a village in the province of Homs, about 5 km south of Saddad.

• Hagun: An extinct village in Golan Heights in Syria. 

• Hajira: A village near Aleppo, Syria

• Halbun: An ancient village about 20 km north of Damascus, Syria

• Haliyorum

• Hamah: A city in Syria

• Harkel: an ancient town in Palestine, whose location is unknown.

• Hardin: a village in the Batroun region in Lebanon, about 18 miles Tripoli. It might be thee first village to accept Christianity in Lebanon

• Harim: A village in Syria

• Harimaye: It was located in the western side of Bekka' valley, Lebanon

• Harta: A village in Dar’a, Syria 

• Hassaka: A city in Syria

• Hauran: A city in Syria

• Hawara: A village in Syria

• Hadta: An ancient villageabout 15 km east of Damascus, Syria. Today, it is known as Hatitat al-Turkman

• Hina: A village in Syria

• Hisn Batriq: a town formerly located between Aleppo and al- Raqqa.

• Homs (Emesa): A city in Syria

• Irqa: a town on the seashore between Raphina and Tripoli, Lebanon

• Jabiya: An ancient town in Syria that was the capital of the Gassanids tribes

• Jalliq: An extinct village near Damascus, Syria near the River Barada. The location was an important center for the Ghassanids  

• Jbil: An ancient village in the Golan Heights in Syria. Today, it is called Jibin. There are ruins from different eras

• Jerusalem

• Josya: a district about six leagues from Homs, towards Damascus, situated between the mountains of Lebanon and Sinnir. Today it is a small village, recently built near the ruins of ancient Josya.

• Jubbat al-Munaytara: A tow in Lebanon. Was the residence of an anonymous bishop in the 15th century

• Junia: Current Jounieh on the Lebanese coast.

• Jura: A village in Syria

• Kafar Al-Bira

• Kafar Ausha: A village in the Qunaitra area in Syria. Today, the village is called ‘Usha and it has ruins from different eras.

• Kafar Barta: A village near Apamea, Syria

• Kafar Bastas (Bastas): Located in current day Gerges in the Golan Heights in Syria

• Kafar Hareb: A village in the Golan Heights in Syria. The village was an important Gassanids center. It's called Haref today

• Kafar Hawwar: a village in the province of Tripoli.

• Kafar Hur: An ancient village on al-Sheikh mountains in Syria. There are some ruins outside the village

• Kafar Juza: A village in the Qunaitra region in Syria. Known today as al-Jueza

• Kafar Kila: A town in southern Lebanon

• Kafar Kile: A town in central Syria

• Kafar Kumre: A village in Golan Heights in Syria

• Kafar Nasig: An ancient village near the city of Dar’a, Syria

• Kafar Shamesh: A village in Syria

• Kafar Suga: A village in the Golan Heights in Syria

• Kafar Susaya: An ancient village in al-Ghuta area near Damascus, Syria. Today is called Kafar Sussa. There two monasteries in this village

• Kafar Tab: an ancient town in the Mu'attasha desert between Ma'arrat al-Nu'man and Aleppo.

• Kafar Tu’alat = It was located in the village of Tha’la on Mount Hauran in Syria.

• Kafar Za‘ura: A village on the Golan Heights in Syria. Today, it’s called Za’ura and has remains from different eras

• Killiz (Kilis): a town in the northern part of the province of Aleppo, Syria

• Khabara': a large territory containing many towns, extending between Rish 'Ayna and the Euphrates on the banks of the Khabur in al-Jazira, from which it derived its name. Among its ancient towns are Qarqisiyya, Macine, Majdal and 'Arban.

• Kusita: An ancient village near Damascus, Syria. Today, the village is called Kiswa. 

• Lakaf: A village in the Golan Heights in Syria

• Laodicea: A town south of Lake Hims. Today is called Tell Nabi Mend

• Lattakia (Laodicea): A coastal city in Syria

• Lebunta: A village on Mount Hauran in Syria. Today is called Dier al-Laban

• Lubib: An ancient village near Damascus, Syria. It is known today as Dier Ali. It looks like there is a monastery was built on an old church from the times of the Romans in 381 AD

• Luqad: A village in Syria

• Luwan: A village in Syria

• Mabbug (Manbeg): once a large town in the northeastern part of the province of Aleppo, three leagues from the Euphrates. Today it is a small town.

• Maximianopolis: A town in Syria

• Ma'daba: A town near Amman, Jordan

• Magdula: A village in the Golan Heights in Syria

• Mahgga: A village in Hauran area in Syria

• Mariamma: A town near Hims, Syria. Bishops attested from 451 to 536.

• Masfir: A village in the Golan Heights in Syria. Today, it’s likely be called Mashara and it was built on ruins for older village that has remains from different eras 

• Maskana: A village near Homs

• Masrin: An extinct village in the Golan Height in Syria

• Matalle: A village near Damascus, Syria

• Mayuma: an ancient port on the Mediterranean, near Gaza.

• Mnin: An ancient village near Damascus, Syria

• Nahra d’Qasṭra: Was located in a town of Qustra which is where the city of Qunaitra in Syria stands today

• Mitbin: An ancient village in the Hauran area in Syria. Today, it's called Mutbin and there are Roman and Byzantine remains including a church and inscriptions

• Namra: A village in the Hauran area in Syria

• Neapolis: A town near Busra, Syria

• Neocaesarea: A town in the Euphratesian province which is part of Syria today

• Neve: A town in Busra, Syria

• Orthosias: A town north of Tripoli, Lebanon

• Palmyra: An ancient city in Syria. Today is called Tadmor

• Paltos: A town in Syria

• Perrhw: A town in Syria

• Porphyreon: A town between Beirut and Saida, Lebanon

• Qala't Jandel: A town in Syria

• Qara: A village near Homs, Syria

• Qardaye (Qarda): It was an important Ghassanid center in the eastern Ghuta area near Damascus, Syria and there 5 monasteries around it. Qardaye was a bishopric center and its bishop took part at the Council of Chalcedon in 451. It stayed inhabitant until the 12th century 

• Qarqisun (Qarqisyya): a town near the place where the Khabur joins the Euphrates; it no longer exists. On its site lies the village of Abu Saray (Busayra).

• Qaryatayn, al-: a small town in the province of Homs, about ten day journey from there on the way to the desert between Sukhna and Arak.

• Qastra: A town located where the city of Qunaitra in Syria stands today 

• Qenneshrin: An extinct town between Aleppo and Homs. It was near Dayro d'Qenneshrin

•  Qunita:  A village in the Hauran region in Syria known today as al-Qanayya

• Rakhle: A town in Lebanon. Two bishops attested in the 6th century.

• Raphanea: A town in Syria. Bishops attested from the 4th to the 6th century.

• Raqqa: the ancient Callinicus, it was a big city near the Euphrates. Now it's a big city in Syriac

• Rashaya Al-Wadi: A town in Biqa' region in Lebanon.

• Rehabot: A town on the on the Euphrates

• Rusafa: A town on the Euphrates. Ancient Sergiopolis

• Sadad: an old, small town southeast of Hosmabout one day journey from Damascus.

• Safrin: An ancient village near Damascus, Syria. Today, this village is called Dier al-Asafir 

• Salamyas: A town in Lebanon 

• Salamiyya (Salamya): a town southeast of Hama, toward the desert.

• Salihiyya: a large village which was situated in the Ghuta of Damascus, at the foot of Qasyun Mountain. It has now become part of Damascus.

• Saqra: A village in the vicinity of Qenneshrin 

• Saracenes: A town in Lebanon. Attested bishops from 431 to 536.

• Sarepta: A town in Lebanon. Today is called Sarafand.

• Seleucia Pieria: A town in Syria

• Seleucobellus: A town in Syria

• Sermin: a small town in the province of Aleppo.

• Shamnil: An ancient village in Dar’a area in Syria. Today, it’s called Samlīn and have Roman and Byzantine remains

• Sh‘ari’al: A village in Dar’a province in Syria. The village is known today as Sha’ara

• Shayzar: A town on the Orontes River is Syria 

• Shura: It was located in a village that was abandoned at the beginning of the Ottoman rule near Damascus, Syria

• Sidon: A city in Lebanon

• Skaya: An ancient village in the Douma area near Damascus, Syria. Today is called Ska. There are few remains near the village including a monastery. There were two monasteries near this village 

• Sura: A town in Syria. Attested bishops in the 5th and 6th centuries

• Surmanin: A village in the Golan Heights in Syria called Surman today. It was abandoned in 1967 and there are many Byzantine ruins and an abandoned church in good shape 

• Tell Kurda: An ancient village near the city of ‘Adra in Syria. Today is called Tell Kurdi

• Tell Mahre: a small town near al-Raqqa, now called Tell al-Manakhir. The birth place of Patriarch Dionysius of Tell Mahre

• Tiberias: A town in Palestine

• Tripoli: A city in Lebanon

• Tubnin: A village in Syria

• Ufaniya: An ancient village in Qunaitra region in Syria

• 'Uqabta

• Yabrud: A town in Lebanon

• Zabirath: A village in the Hauran area in Syria. Today is called village of Zabayer 

• Zahle: A town in Lebanon

• Zimrīn: A village in the Hauran area in Syria

• Zaruye: A village in Hauran region in Syria. It is known today as Azre’ 

Sources:

• Hoyland, Robert (2009), Late Roman Provincia Arabia, Monophysite Monks and Arab Tribes: a Problem of Centre and Periphery, Brepols, Semitica and Classica , V 2 , p. 117 - 139

• Khalaf, Taysir (2008), The Forgotten Arab Church; Ghassanids Monasteries in Damascus, Golan Heights, Hauran, and Lebanon. Attakwin, Damascus   

• British Library, Syriac Manuscript Add. 14,602