Michael’s article and photography from Syria’s Convent of Saint Thecla has been featured on Atlas Obscura, the global travel website created “to inspire wonder and curiosity about the incredible world we all share.” With more than 3 million visitors per month, the site is one of the world’s premier travel resources and one of our favorites for finding unique destinations to add to our itineraries.

The convent is located in Maaloula, Syria. Maaloula and its neighboring villages of Jubb’adin and Bakh’a are the last places on Earth where Aramaic, the language spoken by Jesus, his disciples, and untold ancients, is still recognized as the common tongue. a historic sanctuary in the last refuge of the Aramaic language.

Click here to read the article on Atlas Obscura.