Dayro d'Mor Quryaqus

Dayro d'Mor Quryaqus

The Monastery of Mor Quryaqos, also known as Dayr al-Qira and sometimes the Black Monastery due to its location near Black Rock (Karataş), was an important religious center. The monastery served as a bishopric see for the bishop of Zargal, in Al-Bsheriyya district in Tur-'Abdin from the early 15th century to the early 20th century.

The earliest known reference to the monastery is from 1415, when a patriarch ordained the bishop of Zargal there. A colophon from 1483 notes that the monastery had undergone renovations two years prior and housed 100 monks. Additionally, colophons from 1486 and 1488 mention that many monks from Tur 'Abdin were present.

According to a description by Gertrude Bell, the building lacks the typical brickwork vault seen in other structures in Tur-'Abdin and has no moldings or inscriptions, suggesting it was frequently repaired. However, Bell did not carefully study the inscriptions, and a detailed examination remains to be done. A notable feature, a ribbed dome in a room next to the church, may have been built after Bell's visit, as she did not mention it. This dome is comparable to the Patriarch's throne room at Dayr al-Za'faran, which was constructed between 1872-1876.

Although the monastery is still standing, it has been abandoned. According to Barsoum, it was vacated in the early 1940s, just two years before he wrote his history.

Status: Abandoned in Ruins