This place of worship will never be the same.
The military, and State television, say Syrian soldiers have recaptured an ancient Christian town near the Lebanese border.
Backed by Hezbollah fighters, they've seized the town of Maaloula... Further impacting rebels' supply routes from Lebanon.
In recent months, government forces have recaptured a number of rebel-held border towns.
And in doing so, they're securing the main highway leading north from Damascus towards central Syria.
Control of the road would help secure President Bashar al-Assad's grip over central Syria, and would also enable safe passage for hundreds of tons of chemical agents which are due to be shipped out of the country.
