ar-rasafeh is located south of the euphrates and north of the semi-desert Syrian, 160 km southeast alepo and 30 km south of the alepo- Raqqa .
The palace of rasafeh was the residence of Hisham Ibn Abdul Malik, the third Caliph Omayyad, considered golden age due to its great interest in the arts and architecture. There were several palaces built in various parts of Syria . He was in favor of simplicity and modesty, for this reason it is for what he chose rasafeh as his residence. There he died and was buried.
The ar-rasafeh palace was originally a church, built to commemorate a Roman officer (San Sergio), who died in defense of Christianity in the fourth century. In 616, the Church was invaded by the Persians, stolen and destroyed. When Hisham Ibn Abdul Malik became a caliph in the 8th century, he built two beautiful palaces in place.
Later, what Hisham had built was invaded and destroyed. Very few ruins of the Sarkis Church are standing. Some parts of the Church have been used as a mosque. Registration in Arabic and Greek, recorded on the walls, indicate that Christians and Muslims coexisted peacefully in Syria from the 13th century onwards.