Saidnaya (also transliteratit Saydnaya or Sednaya frae the Arabic: صيدنايا) is a ceety locatit in the muntains, 1500 metres (0.938 miles) abuin sea level, 27 kilometres (17 mi) north o the ceety o Damascus in Sirie an wis ane o the episcopal ceeties o the auncient Patriairchate o Antioch. Though orthographically slichtly variant wi Arabic, the spellin is consistent wi Aramaic orthography (wi nae destinction atween "sin" an "sad") o the name for "Oor Lady" an refers, amaist certainly tae the Virgin Mary, a renouned icon o whom is revered in the ceety's main kirk bi baith Christians an Muslims tae this day. The toun is notit for the lairge number o (Wastren Neo-) Aramaic speakers, alang wi nearbi Maaloula an a few smawer touns nearbi. Addin tae the meethical character o the aurie, the Hellenistic-era name for thea region centered in the Barada Valley wis Abilene an frae that name local tradition haes lang held it as the steid where the grave o Abel, slain brither o Cain, lees. Scholars consider it likely that the caipital o Abilene wis the ceety o Saidnaya.
