This church stands behind Keysan Gate, one of the gates of old Damascus. Although it is a modern church, it has special importance as well as the Church of Ananias, due to its connection with the memory of Saint Paul, who came to Damascus in the early days of Christianity as a Jew working for the Romans named “Saul of Tarsus” to pursue and persecute the Christians who were in it.

On its outskirts, near Daraya (A rural area near Damascus), a blazing light shone in front of him. He went with his sight, and heard Jesus Christ saying to him: “Saul … why are you persecuting me?”

It was a vision of faith, as it was soon after he was transferred unconscious to Damascus, where Ananias al-Dimashqi, a disciple of Jesus Christ, became one of the most important advocates of Christianity. This made his Jewish peers chase him to kill him, so he sought in a house adjacent to the wall. At night, his students carried him in a basket tied with a rope from one of the openings of the wall, and he fled from his pursuers. After that, he set out to Jerusalem and then to Antioch, Athens, and Rome as a missionary and teacher.

The phrase “Damascus Road” associated with the incident of the bright light that dazzled his eyes is still repeated in all languages of the world, a symbol of guidance and wisdom.