Damascus - Street Called Straight

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Not far from the main Hamadiyeh Souk lies the Straight Street, the old Via Recta, a Roman street that runs from east to west through the old city of Damascus. The name is famous from the Bible as it was visited by St. Paul as recorded in the book of Acts and contains several interesting sights from the Roman, Christian and Islamic periods.
When the Greeks ruled the city they followed their usual grid pattern that dated from Hippodamus’ time, then under Roman rule the street was widened and colonnaded; many columns can still be seen.

The streets starts at it’s eastern end with the Bab Sharqi, what was the Roman gate of the Sun and close by is St Ananias’ House: "So the Lord said to him (Ananias), 'Arise and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for one called Saul of Tarsus, for behold, he is praying" (Acts 9:11).

Also close by is the window from St Paul was lowered: “At once he began to preach in the [Damascus] synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God. All those who heard him were astonished and asked, "Isn't he the man who raised havoc in Jerusalem among those who call on this name? And hasn't he come here to take them as prisoners to the chief priests?" Yet Saul grew more and more powerful and baffled the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Christ.

After many days had gone by, the Jews conspired to kill him, but Saul learned of their plan. Day and night they kept close watch on the city gates in order to kill him. But his followers took him by night and lowered him in a basket through an opening in the wall“. (Acts 9:20-25).

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