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Syriac Monasteries in Iraq
The monasteries in this list were mentioned in various sources but all of them, except for two, 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. There was more monasteries in al-Mada’in (Ctesiphon), capital of the Persians but they were destroyed after the death of Gabriel of Sinjar, chief physician of the Persian king in 610.
Dayro d'Mor Daniel - Mosul
Dayro 'dMor Youhanon Daylamaya - Mosul
Dayro d'Mor Sergius - Balad
Dayro d'Nardos - Dohuk
The Monastery of Aston (pillar) - Dohuk
Dayro d'Mor Behnam: also called the Pit Monastery, is situated about six hours' journey southeast of Mosul. It was built in the beginning of the fifth century. From it graduated one Maphryono and seven bishops. In 1839, it was usurped by a group which seceded and joined the Catholic church. It was deserted for some sixty years, but is now populated.
Khanushya Monastery: Located in the mountain of Sinjar, is first mentioned in history in the sixth century. From it graduated Maphryono Phaulus (Paul) in 722 and the monk David Bar Paul in the beginning of the ninth century
The Lower Mar Daniel Monastery, exclusively for nuns. It is near the other monastery of Mar Daniel.
The Monastery of Mar Zaina: It was also known as the Monastery of Qayyara and was built at the end of the sixth century and housed 170 monks. It was still populated in the thirteenth century. It was mentioned by Yaqut al-Hamawi in 1210, and by Gregorius Bar 'Ebroyo in his Chronicles. It is located on the bank of the Tigris River, in what is known today as Hammam al-’Alil.
The Monastery of ‘Ayn Qani, in the middle of Ba’arbaya. It was built by Mor Ahudemmeh of Balad and was still populated in 829.
The Monastery of Beth Asa: Located near Qoronta and was mentioned in the life story of Mor Ahudemeh. Its abbot was Yeshu’ ZKha
The Monastery of Afmariyya (Abu Marya): Was located near Talla’far (Tell ‘Afro, north of Mosul).
The Monastery of Takrit: Was mentioned in the life story of Mor Ahudummeh of Takrit.
The Monastery of J’atni: Was in the desert near the village of Qoronta and was built by Mor Ahudummeh .
The Monastery of Mar Shamu‘il (Samuel) the Mountaineer, on the northern bank of the Tigris River, opposite the Monastery of Mor Sergius near Balad. It housed forty monks. Mor Marutha of Takrit studied in it in the sixth century.
The Monastery of Bir Qawm: Was near Balad on the bank of the Tigris River. Few Maphryonos studied in it.
The Monastery of Shirin in al-Mada’in (Ctesiphon, south of Baghdad), built by the Christian Queen Shirin near the royal palace in 598. Shirin became a Syriac Orthodox adherent with the help of her doctor, Sergius of Sinjar
The Monastery of Shapur in ‘Aqula (modern al-Kufa in southern Iraq). It was still populated in 605.
The Monastery of Mor Sergius: Was located near a spring known as 'Ayn Gagga, in the desert between Takrit and Hit on the Euphrates river. It was built by Mor Marutha of Takrit on the highway leading from the Tigris to the Euphrates.
The Monastery of the Virgin in Takrit It is also known as Beth Ibro.
The Monastery of the Virgin: Built by the Syriac governor of Takrit, Ibrahim, son of Yeshu’, near the city in the seventh century.
The Monastery of ‘Aluk in Takrit, from which came the Maphryono Sergius (872-883).
The Monastery of Kukht: It was known also as Kukhi. It was built in the name of Mor Ibrahim near the Monastery of Mor Mattai. Its abbot, the philologist Athanasius, achieved fame in the eighth century. Its ruins still stand today.
A monastery in Sinjar: Built by Saint Shim’un (Simon) d’Zaite, metropolitan of Harran (734). It was mentioned in his life story.
The Monastery of Beznitho: Was located in the area of Nineveh, probably on the site where the village of Bahzani now stands. It was the ancient monastery in which the tyrant Barsoum of Nisibin killed ninety priest-monks in 480.
The Monastery of Mor Gurgeis (the martyr): Located in Bartelli and was still populated in 1701.
The Monastery of Mor Yuhanna Nagoro (son of carpenters) and his sister Shushan (the martyrs): Located in Bartelli. It was built by the learned Maphryono Mor Gregorius Bar 'Ebroyo in 1284 and It was still inhabited by monks in 1593.
The Monastery of the Forty Martyrs: Was north of Bartelli. These martyrs were mentioned in the Synazarium of saints.
A monastery near Jazirat Ibn ‘Umar, mentioned in the History of Maphryones in 1172.
The Convent of Nuns in Baghdad, still populated in 1002.
The Monastery of Beth ‘Urbo (the Raven): Was located near Takrit. Yuhanna, metropolitan of the Monastery of Dayro d'Mor Mattai, stayed in it in 685.
Monastery of Besqin: Was located near the village of Alqosh
White Monastery: It was a Convent of Nuns in Bakhdida (Qaraqosh) and was a 7th-century institution that served as a spiritual center within the city limits of Bakhdida. As recorded by the great scholar Gregorius Bar 'Ebroyo in his Syriac Chronography in 1276 AD, this convent was a small house for nuns that functioned as an annex to the nearby Monastery of Mar Yohanna al-Daylami. Because the monks' monastery was located in more isolated surroundings, the local population referred to it as the "Outer Monastery" (Deir Baraya) to distinguish it from the nuns' convent, which was nestled safely inside the city walls. Geographically, the convent was situated just south of what is known today as the Church of Mor Yohanna the Baptist. Its location within the city was a deliberate security measure; during the turbulent medieval era, characterized by frequent invasions and banditry, conenents for nuns were built amidst the populace and enclosed by protective walls for safety. This stood in contrast to the monasteries for men, which often lacked such fortifications. The community consisted of virgin nuns who traditionally wore white habits. This distinctive attire gave rise to the name "White Monastery," a title that has remained in common usage among the people of Bakhdida through the centuries. Despite its protected position within the city, the convent met a tragic end in 1261 AD, when it was attacked and its inhabitants were subjected to a massacre during a period of intense regional conflict.
Monastery of Beth 'Abi: Was in the Mosul area
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