Dayro d'Mor Yohannon

Dayro d'Mor Yohannon

The Monastery of Yohannan was a Syriac Orthodox site located north of Dara, a city situated on the southern edge of the Tur-'Abdin mountains, along the ancient route between Nisibin and Mardin. The monastery itself was likely nestled in the surrounding mountains and is attested to in the 9th century.

The Syriac sources mention four additional monasteries bearing the name of Yohannan, highlighting the commonality of the name. Gertrude Bell visited a structure she identified as a shrine of Mar Eyes from the Monastery of the Eyes, which, according to her map, was located about a half hour northeast of a Monastery of Yohannan. This suggests the two monasteries were in close proximity, forming part of a localized monastic cluster. 

The monastery is also associated with the legendary figure of Moses the Wonderful Monk. According to the Chronicle of Michael, this monk, who lived in the first half of the 6th century, originated from the Monastery of Johannan. He is credited with performing a significant miracle by healing the mother of King Khosrow from a demonic possession.

The Monastery of Yohannan was a center of spiritual and ecclesiastical learning, producing a number of high-ranking clergy for the Syriac Church:

• Petrus: Bishop of Arzon, ordained by Patriarch Cyriacus (793–817).

• Qyriaqus: Metropolitan of Edessa, ordained by Patriarch Ignatius I (878–883).

• Mattai: Metropolitan of Dara, also ordained by Patriarch Ignatius I.

• Georgius: Bishop of Circesium, ordained by Patriarch Theodosius (887–896).

• Cyndacus: Bishop of Ba'lbeck, ordained by Patriarch Dionysius II (897–909).

Status: Abandoned in ruins