Syrian Monastery Devotes Itself To Muslim-Christian Dialogue

NEBEK, SYRIA - MAY 31: Brother Putros prays in front of the altar of the church in the Monastery of St. Moses the Abyssinian May 31, 2005 east of Nebek, Syria. The 11th century Syrian monastery of St. Moses the Abyssinian (Deir Mar Musa el-Habashi) overlooks a harsh valley in the mountains east of the small town of Nebek, 80 km north of Damascus. The ancient Monastery was restored in 1983 by an Italian Catholic priest Paolo Dall-Oelio who in 1991 established a new monastic community devoted to, amongst other things, to Moslem-Christian dialogue. More than 50 000 people from their different religions and different countries visit the Monastery every year. (Photo by Ghaith Abdul-Ahad/Getty Images)