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Dayro d'Mor Athonus
The Athunos Monastery, also known as the Telbeśmai Monastery, was located just above the town of Tell Beshme in Rish 'Ayno region. It was situated near a location once known as Qarire, which is believed to have been a river.
The monastery was founded by Athanasius Sandalaia, a monk from the Qartamin Monastery who was also known as Athanasius al-Na'al (the cobbler) then he was ordained the metropolitan of Maipherqat. The exact date of its founding is not recorded, but the upper time limit is given by Athanasius's death in 758. The monastery's library was overseen by a librarian named Anastas, as mentioned in a British Museum manuscript. A note in a Syriac manuscript mentions several figures from the monastery, including Abbot Simeon and the priest Anastas, further solidifying its historical presence.
The Athunos Monastery was a significant center for the Syriac Orthodox Church and produced numerous high-ranking clerics. From 740 to 1042, it produced at least fifteen bishops and several metropolitans.
Metropolitans
Yohannon, Metropolitan of Amida, ordained by Patriarch Cyriacus (793-817).
Georg, Metropolitan of Anazarba, ordained by Patriarch Dionysius I (818-845).
Johannan, Metropolitan of Maipherqat, also ordained by Patriarch Dionysius I.
Timotheus, Metropolitan of Damascus, ordained by Patriarch Dionysius II (897-909).
Theodosius (or Theodorus), Metropolitan of Jerusalem, ordained by Patriarch Yohannon IV (910-923).
Sergius, Metropolitan of Apameia, ordained by Patriarch Yohannon VII (965-985).
Yohannon, Metropolitan of Amida, ordained by Patriarch Yohannon VIII (1004-1030).
Timetheus, Metropolitan of Bałes, ordained by Patriarch Dionysius IV (1031-1042).
Bishops
Serguna of Tell Beśme, from the Athunos Monastery, mentioned around 765.
Anthimus, Bishop of Ba’lbeck, ordained by Patriarch Joseph (790-792).
Methodius, Bishop of Telbeśme, ordained by PatriarchCyriacus (793-817).
Yohannon, Bishop of Armenia, ordained by Patriarch Dionysius I (818-845).
Simeon, Bishop of Tell Beśme, also ordained by Patriarch Dionysius I.
Theophilus, Bishop of Tell Beśme, also ordained by Patriarch Dionysius I.
Ahron, Bishop of Maipherqat, ordained by Patriarch Yohannon III (846-873).
Jonas, Bishop of Aphrah, ordained by Patriarch Yohannon III.
Daniel, Bishop of Tell Beśme, ordained by Patriarch Yohannon III.
Michael, Bishop of Samosata, ordained by Patriarch Ignatius I (878-883).
Ezechiel, Bishop of Melitine, ordained by Patriarch Theodosius (887-896).
Simeon, Bishop of Tell Beśme, also ordained by Patriarch Theodosius.
Severus, Bishop of Tell Beśme, ordained by Patriarch Yohannon IV (910-923).
Theodosius, Bishop of Zuptara, ordained by Patriarch Yohannon V (936-953).
By the 12th century, the monastery was in a state of disrepair until it was restored by Yohannon of Mardin. On his travels, Patriarch Joseph died at the monastery in December of 792. The monastery was a burial site, with Athanasius himself buried there. The festival for Athanasius is celebrated on May 21st.
Status: Abandoned in ruins
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