Syriac Monasteries in Syria

Syriac Monasteries in Syria

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

• Mor Bessus and Mort Shushan Monastery: Near Harim, between Aphamia and Homs, is a famous and great monastery which was built in 480 through the private donation of a Syriac merchant, Peter bar Joseph of Homs, who bequeathed a great deal of property for the sustenance of its monks. In the third decade of the fifth century, its monks numbered 6,300. It remained populated until 830 and produced three bishops. In 570, 124 bishops met in this monastery and declared their Miaphysite Christology .

• St. Simeon (Stylite) Monastery: A remarkable 5th-century complex of basilicas, considered one of the best-preserved churches from its period and is considered one of the oldest church complexes

• Mar David Monastery: Located south of Damascus near Busra, also called the Monastery of Hina,

• Mar David Monastery: Located in the city of Qenneshrin, mentioned in the second half of the sixth century.

• Monastery of Eusebius (Ousib): In Kafr Barta near Apamea. It was built in the fifth century, but received no mention by historians before 535. 

• Gubba Baraya Monastery: Located in the Euphrates desert between Aleppo and Mabbug, was built at the end of the fifth and the start of the sixth century. Nothing is known about it after the middle of the ninth century. It produced four patriarchs and three bishops.

• John Nayrab (Nárab) Monastery: The location of this monastery is near Aleppo. We know, however, that Anba George was its abbot from 563 to 569. 

• Moses the Abyssinian Monastery: It is located in the Smoke Mountain, an hour and a half from the town of al-Nabak in Syria. This monastery was built in the sixth century and renovated in 1556. It became a Metropolitan See at the end of the fourteenth century. Two Patriarchs and twenty bishops graduated from it. It was inhabited until 1832 but it belongs to the Syriac Catholic Church now.

• Pillar Monastery: in al-Raqqa, on the west bank of the Euphrates. The Empress Theodora (d. 548) gave money for its construction and in 635 it was enlarged by the monks. By 956, one Patriarch and ten bishops had graduated from it. but one patriarch and ten bishops graduated by 956 AD. The Empress Theodora (d. 548 AD) gave money for its construction, and it was enlarged by monks in 635 AD. It was a center of study from the 7th to the 9th centuries. Monks from Qidr Monastery moved here after the 635 AD massacre. The monk Theodosius was from here in 806 AD. Al-Raqqa (Callinicus). on the west bank of the Euphrates.

• Solomon Monastery: in al-Thaghr, near Duluk, overlooking Marj al-'Ayn, was inhabited between 875 and 1000. Thirteen bishops graduated from it. 

• Tar'il Monastery: very near Aleppo, towards the gate known as Bab Allah ("The Gate of God"), from which its Syriac name is derived. It was built in the sixth century and among its inhabitants was Thomas of Harkel, the famous translator of the Bible. It produced two Patriarchs and fifteen bishops. Nothing is known about it after 975. 

• Karous Monastery: It was located near Latakia, Syria

• Monastery of Mor Mama: Built in Latakia, Syria in the name of Mor Mama who was martyred in 274 AD

• Monastery of Mort Metrona: Mort Metrona and her daughter Theodota established a monastery near Homs and they established a second monastery near Beirut

• Monastery of Al-Beshel: It was located near Latakia, Syria

• Monastery of Mor Tuma (Thomas): It was located near Latakia, Syria

• Monastery of Al-Gird: It was located near Latakia, Syria

• Monastery of Mor Youhana: It was located near Latakia, Syria

• Monastery of Mother of God: It was located near Latakia, Syria

• Monastery of Watan: It was located near Latakia, Syria

• Monastery of Derona: It was located near Latakia, Syria

• Monastery of Mor Abrohom: It was located near Jabala, Syria

• Monastery of Mor Youhana: It was located near Jabala, Syria

• Monastery of Mor Barsawma: It was located near Jabala, Syria

• Monastery of Dirotan: It was located near Jabala, Syria

• Monastery of Derona: It was located near Jabala, Syria

• Monastery of the Rock (Al-Hajar): It was located near Tartus, Syria

• Monastery of Habash: It was located near Tartus, Syria

• Monastery of Mor Gurgis: It was located near Tartus, Syria

• Monastery of Derona: It was located near Tartus, Syria

Sources:

• De Tarrazi, Philippe (1947), Best of Lebanon History and Syriac History, Beirut, Lebanon