Homs, March 14 (SANA) – An exhibition highlighting the restoration of the historic Orthodox Theater opened on Saturday in the Old City of Homs, marking the reopening of one of the city’s oldest cultural venues after years of damage during the war.
Titled “From Rubble to Stage,” the exhibition was organized by the cultural group Turathna Foundation and documents the theater’s rehabilitation through photographs and archival materials showing its condition in recent years and the stages of restoration that led to its reopening.
Lama Abboud, chair of the foundation’s board of trustees in Homs, said the project is part of broader efforts to preserve the city’s cultural heritage. She noted that the Orthodox Theater is considered the second-oldest theater in Syria and one of Homs’ most prominent cultural landmarks.
Abboud said the building sustained significant damage from shelling by the deposed regime forces during the conflict but has now been restored as part of initiatives aimed at reviving historic sites in the city’s Old Town.
Gregorios Khoury, the Greek Orthodox metropolitan of Homs, described the theater as an important cultural space and a longstanding symbol of community life, adding that its reopening represents a step toward restoring cultural activity in the city.
The event also featured a musical performance by students from the Higher Institute of Music, who performed pieces from different historical periods.
Local officials, cultural figures and members of the diplomatic community attended the event, including the ambassadors of Greece and Cyprus, alongside artists and heritage advocates.
Founded in 2021, the Turathna Foundation works to preserve the cultural heritage of Homs through restoration projects, community initiatives and cultural programs aimed at safeguarding the city’s historic identity.
Kh.A
