Monasteries in Tur-'Abdin

Monasteries in Tur-'Abdin

The monasteries in this list were mentioned in various sources but all of them are in ruin. They were abandoned for various reasons throughout the history of the Syriac Orthodox church but unfortunately there isn't much information about them.

• Dayro d'Mor Aho -  Kafro Eloyto 

• Dayro d'Mor Aho - Uranus 

• Dayro d'Mor Barsaumo - Kafro Eloyto 

• Dera Būbe - Beth Sqole

• Dayro d'Mor Stefanos - Benabil

• Dayro d'Mor Shemʿun/ Dayro d-Il 

• Dayro d'Mor Holo - Salah 

• Dayro d’Moshok 

• Dayro d'Mor Sharbil

• Dayro d'Mor Youhannon - Hah

• Dayro d’Hawro (Elabiad) - Dara

• Dayrod’Mor Elyo (the Prophet Elias) - Giftlik

• Dayro d’Mor Benjamin - Dugan

• Dayro d’Mor Dodo - Beth Sebrina

• Dayro d’Hamara - Mardin

• Dayro d’Mor Theodotus - Kuluk

• Dayro d’Zuqa - Mardin

• Dayro d’Kaphana - Zaz

• Dayro d’Kafar Shama - Midyat

• Dayro d’Ze'ora - Khabur area

• Dayro d’Mor Quriaqus - Mardin

• Dayro d’Mor Sarbil - Salah

• Dayro d’Mort Shmuni - Mardin

• Dayro d’Mor Tuma (Thomas) - Salah

• Dayro d’Harzam - Harzam

• Dayro d'Mort Barbara - Bir Ardiate

• Dayro d'Mor Demit - 

• Fsilta Monastery: or the Quarry Monastery, outside Tell Mawzalt, was built in the fifth century and it produced five metropolitans. Nothing is known about it after 880.

• Arabs' Monastery: between Tell Mawzalt and Tall Basam, nearer to Tell Mawzalt. It was built in the fifth century and is described in history as having been inhabited from 521 to 854. Four bishops graduated from it.

• Qidr (or Qidar) Monastery: near Rish 'Ayno, was first mentioned by historians in the sixth century. One of its graduates is the chronicler-priest Thomas, in 636. Its monks later moved to the Pillar Monastery. 

• Sharbil Monastery: in Kafr Shami in Tur 'Abdin, was first mentioned in history in 1210 and must have remained in existence until the end of the sixteenth century. It produced one Maphryono.

• St. John's Monastery in Beth Zaghba,

• John Orti Monastery: John the ascetic built this monastery in 390 near Diyarbakir. It produced three bishops, the most famous of whom is John of Ephesus, the historian (d. 587). We know nothing about it after 600. 

• Qanqart Monastery: built in the name of the prophet Elijah near Qanqart, a journey of an hour and a half from Diyarbakir, was first mentioned in history in 1050. It was twice renovated, once by Patriarch Michael the Great in 1173 and again in 1730 by Patriarch Ignatius Shukr Allah. It was abandoned at the start of the nineteenth century and on its site today stands a village called Qara Kelisa ("The Black Church," because of the black stones of the area). Its remains are still visible. 

• Gugel Monastery: believed to be in Tur 'Abdin, was also called Beth Gugi Monastery. It remained active until the beginning of the sixth century, but then was deserted. 

• Monastery of the Cross: a small monastery near the village of Dafna on the way to Hisn Kifa, now called Makhr or Wadi in Kurdish. Its church, built in 770, was destroyed in World War I and the last of its monks was killed. Three bishops graduated from it.

• Edessene monastery: In Amid