Al-Shibani Church
Encyclopedia
Al-Shibani Building also called Al-Shibani School and Church is a 12th century religious and cultural centre in the "Al-Jalloum" district, at the heart of the ancient city of Aleppo
. The complex is located west of Al-Saffahiyah mosque
, to the south of Suq Khan Al-Nahhaseen.
and called the "Glassy School" .
However, the current building of Al-Shibani is built during the 12th century. By the end of the 16th century, the building became part of the properties of the Ottoman
Wāli
of Aleppo Ahmet Pasha Matyab Zadeh. After many decades, the site had been purchased by Al-Shibani family, during the 17th century. The building along with the surrounding areas became to be known as Khan Al-Shibani.
During the 19th century, the Khan was possessed by the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary
, where they have founded the first college in Aleppo, the "Terre-Sainte College" (The Holy Land College ) along with a nearby church. The rehabilitation works of the building began in 1853 and the college was opened in 1859. However, the construction of the whole complex was completed in 1879. The college has played a significant role in the educational and cultural life of Aleppo and Syria, with the graduation of many prominent politicians and writers within the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century.
Finally, the Latin Catholic church of Al-Shibani complex was demolished in 1934 to be moved to the new Christian quarter of Al-Aziziyah. The stones were used to build the new cathedral of the Latins in Al-Aziziyeh quarter (completed in 1937) which was renamed after the Saint Francis of Assisi
.
In 1937, the Terre-Sainte College of Al-Shibani complex was moved to a new neighborhood located at the south-western suburbs of Aleppo (currently known as Al-Furqan district) and functioned until 1967 when it was turned into the "Partisans Enrollment Institute" of the Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party.
Later on, the building of Al-Shibani became a state property of the Syrian Government and turned into a tobacco warehouse without becoming a subject of maintenance works for more than 50 years.
The building functioned as a warehouse until 2001 when a new plan has been put in process for the revival of the building in the frameworks of the Syrian-German cooperation, funded by the Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development of Germany
. In December 2006, the rehabilitation works of the building were completed by the efforts of "Aleppo City Council" with the assistance of the "German Technical Cooperation" GTZ. After this major renovation, the building has become a unique venue to host cultural events and exhibitions, in addition to the permanent exhibition of the rehabilitation process in the ground hall of the building.
and the surrounding old quarters.
One of the halls in the ground floor depicts the rehabilitation process of the building.
The building is also home to the main offices of Goethe-Institut
and Aga Khan Cultural Services
in Aleppo, in addition to the Heritage Archive Centre of the Aleppo Archeological Society .
Al-Shibani school-church is one of the prominent samples of old Aleppine architecture.
Aleppo
Aleppo is the largest city in Syria and the capital of Aleppo Governorate, the most populous Syrian governorate. With an official population of 2,301,570 , expanding to over 2.5 million in the metropolitan area, it is also one of the largest cities in the Levant...
. The complex is located west of Al-Saffahiyah mosque
Al-Saffahiyah Mosque
The Al-Saffahiyah Mosque is a mosque in Aleppo, located to the south-west of the Citadel, at the Al-Jalloum district of the ancient city, to the east of Al-Shibani Church-School...
, to the south of Suq Khan Al-Nahhaseen.
History
The area that is currently occupied by the building, was used as the site of one of the four main churches of ancient Aleppo during the pre-Islamic period. After the Islamic rule, part of that church was designated to become used as an Islamic school or madrasahMadrasah
Madrasah is the Arabic word for any type of educational institution, whether secular or religious...
and called the "Glassy School" .
However, the current building of Al-Shibani is built during the 12th century. By the end of the 16th century, the building became part of the properties of the Ottoman
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
Wāli
Wali
Walī , is an Arabic word meaning "custodian", "protector", "sponsor", or authority as denoted by its definition "crown". "Wali" is someone who has "Walayah" over somebody else. For example, in Fiqh the father is wali of his children. In Islam, the phrase ولي الله walīyu 'llāh...
of Aleppo Ahmet Pasha Matyab Zadeh. After many decades, the site had been purchased by Al-Shibani family, during the 17th century. The building along with the surrounding areas became to be known as Khan Al-Shibani.
During the 19th century, the Khan was possessed by the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary
Franciscan Missionaries of Mary
Franciscan Missionaries of Mary, or the Franciscan Missionary Sisters of Mary is a Roman Catholic order founded by Sister Mary of the Passion, Helene de Chappotin, in 1877 at Ootacamund, India....
, where they have founded the first college in Aleppo, the "Terre-Sainte College" (The Holy Land College ) along with a nearby church. The rehabilitation works of the building began in 1853 and the college was opened in 1859. However, the construction of the whole complex was completed in 1879. The college has played a significant role in the educational and cultural life of Aleppo and Syria, with the graduation of many prominent politicians and writers within the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century.
Finally, the Latin Catholic church of Al-Shibani complex was demolished in 1934 to be moved to the new Christian quarter of Al-Aziziyah. The stones were used to build the new cathedral of the Latins in Al-Aziziyeh quarter (completed in 1937) which was renamed after the Saint Francis of Assisi
Francis of Assisi
Saint Francis of Assisi was an Italian Catholic friar and preacher. He founded the men's Franciscan Order, the women’s Order of St. Clare, and the lay Third Order of Saint Francis. St...
.
In 1937, the Terre-Sainte College of Al-Shibani complex was moved to a new neighborhood located at the south-western suburbs of Aleppo (currently known as Al-Furqan district) and functioned until 1967 when it was turned into the "Partisans Enrollment Institute" of the Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party.
Later on, the building of Al-Shibani became a state property of the Syrian Government and turned into a tobacco warehouse without becoming a subject of maintenance works for more than 50 years.
The building functioned as a warehouse until 2001 when a new plan has been put in process for the revival of the building in the frameworks of the Syrian-German cooperation, funded by the Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development of Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. In December 2006, the rehabilitation works of the building were completed by the efforts of "Aleppo City Council" with the assistance of the "German Technical Cooperation" GTZ. After this major renovation, the building has become a unique venue to host cultural events and exhibitions, in addition to the permanent exhibition of the rehabilitation process in the ground hall of the building.
Description
The building consists of two floors with a large courtyard in the centre. The building has many exhibition halls, being used for several purposes, such as the "Old Aleppo Reviaval Hall" which is proposed to commemorate the ancient city of Aleppo through a number of pictures and figures of old Aleppine districts, suqs, mosques and khans, as well as a pattern of the Citadel of AleppoCitadel of Aleppo
The Citadel of Aleppo is a large medieval fortified palace in the centre of the old city of Aleppo, northern Syria. It is considered to be one of the oldest and largest castles in the world. Usage of the Citadel hill dates back at least to the middle of the 3rd millennium BC...
and the surrounding old quarters.
One of the halls in the ground floor depicts the rehabilitation process of the building.
The building is also home to the main offices of Goethe-Institut
Goethe-Institut
The Goethe-Institut is a non-profit German cultural institution operational worldwide, promoting the study of the German language abroad and encouraging international cultural exchange and relations. The Goethe-Institut also fosters knowledge about Germany by providing information on German...
and Aga Khan Cultural Services
Aga Khan Foundation
The Aga Khan Foundation is a private, not-for-profit international development agency, which was founded in 1967 by . AKF seeks to provide long-term solutions to problems of poverty, hunger, illiteracy and ill health in the poorest parts of South and Central Asia, Eastern and Western Africa, and...
in Aleppo, in addition to the Heritage Archive Centre of the Aleppo Archeological Society .
Al-Shibani school-church is one of the prominent samples of old Aleppine architecture.