Dayro d'Mor Sergius

Dayro d'Mor Sergius

The Monastery of St. Sergius is believed to have been built in the 5th century on the crest of the Barren Mountain, located between Balad (Aski Mosul)  and Sinjar, west of Mosul. Also known as al-Mu'allaq Monastery, it was named after three hermits: Sergius, Zura, and Ba'uth. The monastery's ruins are located near the Mosul Dam, overlooking the upper lake. A visitor in 1984 found only two rooms and some walls remaining. 

The monastery was an important center for Syriac Orthodox learning and leadership. It was a bishopric see from 1167 to 1345 and produced one Maphryono and several bishops. Patriarch Ephrem Barsoum noted that studies began there as early as the 8th century, and its reputation grew in the 9th century.

Some of the notable individuals connected to the monastery include:

• Mar Musa Bar Kifa: The Metropolitan of Mosul (813-903) studied Syriac there under Archpriest Qaryaqos. He was later buried at the monastery on February 12, 903.

• Gregory Ya'qub: The nephew of Patriarch Michael was appointed Maphrian of Tikrit in 1180. He later sought refuge in the monastery after the Abbasid armies besieged Tikrit.

• Maphrian Gregory ordained two bishops: the first for the Monastery of al-Mu'allaq and the city of Sinjar, and the second for Ma'arra, Nisibis, and the island of Qardu. He died in 1345. A Maphrian who ordained two bishops there, one for the Monastery of al-Mu'allaq and the city of Sinjar, and another for Ma'arra, Nisibis, and the island of Qardu. He died in 1345.

Its status as an Episcopal See ended in 1345 and after that, the monastery's influence waned, and it became deserted. It was mentioned in a 1408 census of Mosul monasteries, but it was later attacked by thieves, after which it was abandoned. 

The pictures below is for what's left of Mor Sergius' Cathedral that was part of the monastery

Status: Abandoned in Ruins