Dayro d'Mor Theodotus

Dayro d'Mor Theodotus

The St. Theodotus Monastery is a ruined Syriac Orthodox site located on Mount Qoros, above the village of Qelleth (Dereiçi), in the Savur district of the historic Tur Abdin region. The monastery was founded by Mor Theodotus, the bishop of Amida, shortly before his death in 698 AD.

As one of the many churches and monasteries built or repaired in Tur 'Abdin during the 7th and 8th centuries, the St. Theodotus Monastery is considered a small-scale structure, distinct from the more monumental monasteries of the 6th century.

The monastery is closely connected with two other nearby monasteries: Mor Dimet and Mor Abay, the latter being only 500 meters away. Mor Theodotus's biography provides important details about monastic life in the 7th century, mentioning his stay in a place called the "Cave of the Saints," which is likely the present-day Mor Dimet Monastery. With the encouragement of the prince of Dara, he founded his own monastery and built a church dedicated to the Virgin Mary, where he placed a collection of relics he had gathered throughout his life.

Historical records indicate the monastery was an active spiritual center. In 1470, it housed eighteen priests, and by 1589, there were three. Although the monastery is now in ruins, it continues to be a site of pilgrimage. People still visit in the belief that spending a night there can cure headaches and migraines, a testament to the enduring folk piety associated with the site. The continued visitation demonstrates how a saint's sacred memory and perceived powers can persist for centuries after the decline of the physical structure and formal monastic life.

Status: Abandoned in ruins